Mash, Pellets or Crumbles? Poll!

[JesNflock]

Is there a thread that talks about the fermenting process? Or can you explain a little about what you do to ferment it? I have seen a little bit in passing about it and would really like to know more about it

I have used crumbles for my little ones and pellets for older ones...still learning all about them. What is mash?

 

[Katt66]

I fed crumbles when they were babies of course. Then switched to pellets, they wanted no parts of them but I insisted because they were wasting way too much with the finer crumbles as they got bigger. Then I started wetting it so my crossbeak rooster could eat more easily. They all go crazy for it. So now I ferment a mix of layer pellets, BOSS, and cracked corn. Every morning I put about 2 cups into a raised dog food bowl in the middle of the run. They all pick at it all day long till the bowl is scraped clean. I do still have a feeder full of the same mix only dry hanging in the coop as well but they only pick at it while waiting for me to open the door in the morning to let them down into the run.

With the addition of the 4 4wk old pullets though I've changed the feed in the coop to starter crumbles just this morning. The goofy rooster dove right into the top the feeder headfirst after it and stood there for a good hour nomming away and clucking happily to himself. XD I finally had to shoo him out into the run with the rest of the girls.

 

[Weasleymum]

I use a soy-free, organic layer feed that looks like... food. You can see the peas, corn, oats, etc. I once brought a bowl of it into the kitchen (to experiment with fermenting it), and my husband said, "ugh, this granola doesn't look as good as usual, are you trying a new recipe?"

If's kind of like a mixture of birdseed and instant oatmeal-- part chunky, party powdery.

 

[ChickenNanny]

Mine were on crumbles up until just a few weeks ago, but they made such a mess and wasted a lot of food. I bought a small bag of pellets ( I only have 4 girls) just to see how they would take to it before getting the 40# bag. They took to it right away so now I have much less mess on the ground to worry about attracting any pests and no waste, so far.

 

[Aaisha]

it is pellets for me. i give my chicks mesh, and the adults pellets.

 

[Triple Willow]

Is there a thread that talks about the fermenting process? Or can you explain a little about what you do to ferment it?  I have seen a little bit in passing about it and would really like to know more about it  I  have used crumbles for my little ones and pellets for older ones...still learning all about them. What is mash? 

Here is a great thread about fermented feed. It is long and full of information (over 10,000 posts) and there are always experienced people there to answer questions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

Fermenting is so easy and the benefits are wonderful. ALL you need is a NON-METAL CONTAINER, the FEED and WATER... and WAIT for it to ferment. I have used a glass jar for chicks but now I use a 5 gallon plastic bucket for feeding adult birds. You just put your feed in the container, add water (cool or luke warm-NOT hot), stir it up really good to be sure all of the feed gets wet then just wait and it will ferment. The time it will take to ferment varies quite a bit with different locations. You don't have to but I use buttermilk (1-2 cups in a 5 gallon bucket) to give mine a quick start. There is also some debate over whether to leave water standing over the feed. I don't make it that wet. Mine turns out like a thick oatmeal. When I first mix it I leave a little water on top but it is quickly absorbed by the feed. When about 1/4 of it is still left in the container you just add more feed and water and stir really well and within 8-12 hours you will have more fermented feed. You also have to learn how much feed/water your container will hold because it will overflow when it soaks up the water. If you can leave it completely uncovered that is good but never seal the container or it can explode. A lot of people cover it with a towel or a loose fitting lid. Give it a try, you (and your chickens) will be glad you did.

Here is a pic of mine. In this pic I made too much and it overflowed - but you can see fairly well what it looks like.

 

[Tacampbell1973]

I know this is probably not a great plan but at night I cook corn kernels (frozen or off cob depending on the season). I boil it and throw scratch in and make a gruel and chickens and guineas love it. It warms them up for the long cold night. For the babies I just throw corn kernels and a small handful of meal worms and they love it. I started doing this when my chickens were about a month old. with the guineas I started giving them kernels to play with at three days old, being game birds. As I said, I know this is not recommended. They always have laying pellets at all times and they also free range. They are not overweight and the only down side is runny poo. I miss my clean deck.

 

[Serrin]

It's not a question of what I prefer, but what the flock prefers. Yes, ours are a spoiled bunch of hooligans! They simply will not eat pellets, unless I wet it and smoosh it down. And then, what do we have but wet crumble!?! So, I save myself the trouble and just buy the crumble.

On really cold mornings, I'll "cook" up a big pan of it for them. Simply put, I douse the crumble with boiling water and stir it up into something that resembles hot oatmeal. And yes, I add in some quick oats for the heck of it, along with some yogurt, green beans, corn, wheat, frozen berries......just about anything I have on hand. By the time I get it from the kitchen to their yard, it's nice and warm and just right. Within about 15-20 minutes of giving it to them, the bowl is completely empty and they're looking expectantly at me for more! LOL!

We also raise meal worms for year round treats. You just can't beat live meat protein!

Since the gang usually gets to spend most of the day free ranging, I feel pretty confident that they're getting a fairly balanced diet.

 

[BarnChickyOO]

I personally prefer pellets because there seems to be less waste.


Also, some feed stores sell them cheaper.

 

[La Casa de Pollo]

I buy 18 Percent protein pellets, and mix it with 20 Percent protein mash. About 2/3 pellets to 1/3 mash. The younger ones seem to prefer the mash, so the extra protein goes to the growing pullets. I don't like to give them straight mash, they dig in it and kick it around and more goes to waste.

I feed a separate pan of fermented feed to them through the winter, and occasionally during the rest of the year. I use ACV to get the fermentation going. It is more supplemental, something with a different texture for them. I also feed them wheat fodder (sprouted wheat seeds, about 3 inch long wheat grass)when they have no grass to eat during the colder months. I give them one tray either every day or every other day ( I get behind growing it through the holidays )

**ETA: And lots of garden scraps in the summer and fall...we grow extra banana squash and pumpkins and keep them in the garage and ration them out to them until about February...then I keep a bucket in my kitchen that we scrape our plates into and add scraps/peelings/bacon grease/ expired grains from food storage etc. and feed that to them each day.