LOTS of feed being wasted

[crazy4chicksmeg]

I would definitely continue giving Fermenting feed. It may not seen like it but it is very important. When a chick is young it is easy to catch diseases and even a simple sickness. Without special food this can happen and they can die within a few days. After a week of being without a heat lamp I start giving them real chicken food, just to be safe. Hope this helped! (and yes, I know it is very expensive but it will only be a few weeks, my six chicks only use a small bag of special feed until I give them normal food.) Good Luck!

 

[Beekissed]

It's the pro-biotics ("friendly" bacteria that will populate the gut) that are part of the fermentation process, that make fermented foods so important. For the benefits of fermentation, once a week I mix a pan of uncooked oatmeal and plain yoghurt. The chooks polish it off in about 60 seconds. If anyone is concerned about fermenting chicken feed, yoghurt is psychologically easier to deal with.

You've got it partly right. The other benefits are the nutrients in the feed are converted to something a monogastric animal can actually utilize.....right now a goodly portion of your chicken's feed is being passed right through the bowel and out the other side, to be deposited on the coop floor, only to lie there and stink to high heaven and attract flies due to the undigested matter still in the feces. Fermentation predigests that feed for the bird, converting the sugars into amino acids which can be absorbed directly into the blood stream and there to be utilized by the cells more quickly and fully than the feed you are currently feeding. Meanwhile it is also making the vitamins and minerals more available.

On top of that, studies have shown that feeding fermented feeds on a daily basis actually causes the villi in the small intestine to grow in length, thereby increasing the total blood supply to the area which increases the absorption of nutrients also. The acidic environment caused by the consumption of the fermented feed also discourages attachment and colonization of the bowel by parasites and harmful bacteria.

Fermented chicken feed is nothing to concern anyone...it's completely safe, economical and easy to do. The probiotics you are providing can be boosted by the prebiotics in the fermented feeds also~yogurt does not have those. Here's a list of the benefits of feeding fermented feed...and you won't find many of those listed for just feeding yogurt once a week.

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[crazy4chicksmeg]

Very useful, Thank you!!

 

[GardenerGal]

Thanks, Beekissed! I just learned something new. And useful.

 

[Tabatha]

Does it matter what kind of feed is used when Fermenting feed.  Is it only scratch or am i missing something.  Or can i add a portion of crumbles into the mix. 

Scratch is expensive stuff where i live and i don't want to go the BigR store to buy the scratch that is 25% sand that they claim is quality birdseed. 

I use half layer crumbles and half scratch...Mix in some fresh mealworms right before feeding. Non medicated feed for chicks. I can't remember reading why non medicated, but dont use medicated.

 

[subhanalah]

Does it matter what kind of feed is used when Fermenting feed.  Is it only scratch or am i missing something.  Or can i add a portion of crumbles into the mix. 

Scratch is expensive stuff where i live and i don't want to go the BigR store to buy the scratch that is 25% sand that they claim is quality birdseed. 

I use flock raiser crumbles and water to make fermented feed.
You can add scratch, but you don't want total snacks (scratch, fruits, etc.) to comprise anymore than 10% of their total daily ration (including foraging).

 

[Beekissed]

Does it matter what kind of feed is used when Fermenting feed. Is it only scratch or am i missing something. Or can i add a portion of crumbles into the mix.

Scratch is expensive stuff where i live and i don't want to go the BigR store to buy the scratch that is 25% sand that they claim is quality birdseed.

You can ferment any kind of chicken feed, medicated or unmedicated, scratch or layer, pellets, crumbles, etc. No need to even get fancy by adding other ingredients...feed, water, air and time will ferment what you have and save you money on it at the same time. Here's a good site for FAQs on it and if she doesn't have an answer for one of your questions she will find it and get back to you.....she's great that way.

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[seann]

Any kind? Even mash? If so I'm going to try that.
Does 5 gal homedepot bucket work? No lid according to that blog.

I still can't find difference between feed with yeast vs with mold.

 

[Beekissed]

Any kind? Even mash? If so I'm going to try that.
Does 5 gal homedepot bucket work? No lid according to that blog.

I still can't find difference between feed with yeast vs with mold.

Especially mash...I use mash. You can use a lid but just leave it cracked open on one side or drill a hole for gassing.

The difference is immense and you'd have to put in the time to learn about it to discover the difference. As for me, I've been feeding "moldy" feed for the past 3 yrs now and the chickens are thriving, healthy and laying well, my coop has no smells, I'm feeding half the feed I used to feed, and I am loving not shelling out the bucks to feed plain ol' dry feeds.

 

[poodlechicks]

Nice info about fermented feed, beekissed.
I haven't read all posts, but wanted to share what works for me. I place my feeder on an empty cat litter tray. My hens tend to waste a lot of feed, which gets caught in the tray. At the end of the day, I just pour the wasted feed right back into the feeder. The food remains clean and dry because the hens don't defecate in the tray.
I had tried to elevate the feeder, but they would just keep throwing feed everywhere. Now, I no longer have this problem.
Best of luck to you!