New to fermentation

[Paularodgers]

I've been raising chickens for years but just getting into fermentation and microgreens. I have 22 hens and trying to calculate how much feed to ferment for a day? I usually just feed one time a day. Thank you in advance!!

 

[Perris]

hello @Paularodgers , welcome to BYC

Are you supplying all their feed, or do they get to forage for their own as well?

Edited to add, for info, a link to a useful resource on fermented cereals from the FAO
https://www.fao.org/3/x2184e/x2184e06.htm

 

[Paularodgers]

hello @Paularodgers , welcome to BYC

Are you supplying all their feed, or do they get to forage for their own as well?

Edited to add, for info, a link to a useful resource on fermented cereals from the FAO
https://www.fao.org/3/x2184e/x2184e06.htm

I let them out on occasion. But generally they are in their enclosure. Which has grass.

 

[Perris]

an average widely quoted for confined birds is to give 1/4 lb feed/bird/day. Perhaps start with that and adjust based on how much is left over or how quickly it's all finished? and keep an eye on the grass coverage, because enclosures are often stripped bare quite quickly by hens eating the grass and digging for bugs beneath, and if it's big enough to avoid that, they could be getting a significant portion of their needs from the forage. I estimate mine get about 50% from foraging.

 

[Badger Farm]

I’ve been feeding my nine, 3.5 week old chicks fermented feed daily. They love it! Tonight I watched them “wipe” their beaks from left to right after eating. Is this normal chicken behavior, or is my fermented feed not fermented enough? I usually feed them two-day old fermented feed. Thanks as always

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

I've just gotten into fermenting too. Each bird eats an average of 1/4 pound dry feed. Fermenting cuts your usage in half, so calculate based on 1/8 pound dry feed per bird. So, 22x1/8=2 3/4 pounds feed every day. I found this article very helpful, especially they way it explained how it cuts the feed so well. http://wondrousacreshomestead.websi...al-change-all-homesteaders-need-to-make-asap/

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

I’ve been feeding my nine, 3.5 week old chicks fermented feed daily. They love it! Tonight I watched them “wipe” their beaks from left to right after eating. Is this normal chicken behavior, or is my fermented feed not fermented enough? I usually feed them two-day old fermented feed. Thanks as always

Wiping their beaks is usually just because their beaks are messy. Sometimes they also do it even though their beaks aren't messy. I guess they just think they are. I'd be more concerned with fermenting too much than too little. Even if it's just soaked up the water it's fine.

 

[Perris]

Tonight I watched them “wipe” their beaks from left to right after eating. Is this normal chicken behavior,

yes, completely normal. They like a nice clean beak and anything stuck to the sides is wiped off, on the ground, on grass, on a doormat, or I once had a very tall roo who would wipe his on the back of unsuspecting hens

 

[Badger Farm]

Wiping their beaks is usually just because their beaks are messy. Sometimes they also do it even though their beaks aren't messy. I guess they just think they are. I'd be more concerned with fermenting too much than too little. Even if it's just soaked up the water it's fine.

Thanks! For all that grooming, they sure don’t care about where they poop!

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

Thanks! For all that grooming, they sure don’t care about where they poop!

I know, right?!