North Carolina

[Tikkijane]

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

And, the FF thread here on BYC is *loaded* with research studies. Loaded. It's a hefty thread, though, so it will take a bit to fibd all the goodies. I linked a few on the FAQ.

Not to mention, fermented foods world-wide have been around for eons. There are numerous studies done.

One of these days when I have time {hah!} I'll compile research and do a post on research links. Having done both dry and FF, I'm still kind of kicking myself for waiting so long. My kids breezed through molt and never totally stopped laying. Average molt time was less than 2 weeks. And some of them were pretty nekkid.

 

[BHep]

Most of what I've read on fermenting is on whole grains...which are not easy to come by around here. Corn and oats are about it. Would need to find a barley source to go with that. Since barley isn't grown here, that has been difficult. Anyone know sources?

I will look into it and plan on trying it in the summer when I'm off, if the research is supportive. Doesn't look like something I need to try to do during the winter when I'm stretched thin already.

I ferment my feed. I use pellets & scratch grains...all the birds love it. It is less waste...but does not appear to save any $ on feed.

 

[ramirezframing]

Hello All. I live in Johnston County near McGees crossroads. I'm a country boy from this area but, have traveled all over the world. Just returned a year ago from the Philippines. Lived there for a little over a year. Had lots of chicken there. Built a new chicken house and pen to accommodate about 50 chickens. Have a few already and expecting 25 Australorps in mid Jan. Will be raising the chicken basically for my wife as a little extra income. I do the work, she gets the money. Eventually hope to have about 30 Light Sussex.

Hope to meet some of you down the road sometimes.

new flocker

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: I would think that less waste is the same as less feed $ spent and lees for the mice and such to eat and feed more little growing feed thieves.
Just a thought.
Scott

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Good morning folks
and welcome to the flock anjovi6

It is down right cold this morning.....brrrrrrr. DH and I did
not sleep so well.......old worn out joints and weather fronts
are not a good mix but we'll manage........just going to be a
bit slow and maybe even gripe some.

It makes no sense to me why the showing season starts when
the birds are molting and look their worst and then have to wait
until they finish growing those feathers back in. Then there is
trying to bath and dry in cold weather season..........makes
no sense to me.

hope everyone has a good day

 

[Fireantz iceman]

Anyone looking a polish andilusian cross rooster, I have a beautiful black/blue splash look boy I will let go if interested....did I say cheap?

 

[Tikkijane]

I ferment my feed.   I use pellets & scratch grains...all the birds love it. It is less waste...but does not appear to save any $ on feed.

Then you are likely feeding too much. I like a 1:1 ratio so it's not soupy. The feed is going to nearly double in volume as it ferments.

Because it's a superfood and nutritionally dense, they need less of it. Adults need 1/2-1 cup 1-2 times a day. Mine get a total of around a cup a day and they are hefty.

Scratch is in the treat category. It's like candy, more or less. It doesn't have much nutrition. Plus, it gives a heat boost during digestion, which is great in the winter, but not good really any other time. When I feed scratch, it's dry.

But yes, there is no waste. I feed twice a day. They should eat what they need in 10-30 minutes. They clean it up, and the fines in the bottom of the bag go right in.

Seriously, I've saved well over 2/3 on my feed bill, which is HUGE for the size of my flock. I'm still kind of kicking myself for having waited so long to try it. I thought it would be too complicated; too much work. It's actually easier for me to backslop and refresh every 4/5 days and feed twice a day compared to trying to constantly monitor their feeders. Easy, easy, easy.

Molting was astonishingly easy. Their feathers are soooo shiny, which was one of the first benefits I saw. Poop smells better. That was not so much of an issue with the chickens, but oh my GOSH, what a difference with the guinea poo!

Anyhow. . There's a full list of pros on the FAQ and lots of really good links, including to the BYC thread for FF.

 

[BHep]

I would think that less waste is the same as less feed $ spent and lees for the mice and such to eat and feed more little growing feed thieves.
Just a thought.
Scott

Then you are likely feeding too much. I like a 1:1 ratio so it's not soupy. The feed is going to nearly double in volume as it ferments.

Because it's a superfood and nutritionally dense, they need less of it. Adults need 1/2-1 cup 1-2 times a day. Mine get a total of around a cup a day and they are hefty.

Scratch is in the treat category. It's like candy, more or less. It doesn't have much nutrition. Plus, it gives a heat boost during digestion, which is great in the winter, but not good really any other time. When I feed scratch, it's dry.

But yes, there is no waste. I feed twice a day. They should eat what they need in 10-30 minutes. They clean it up, and the fines in the bottom of the bag go right in.

Seriously, I've saved well over 2/3 on my feed bill, which is HUGE for the size of my flock. I'm still kind of kicking myself for having waited so long to try it. I thought it would be too complicated; too much work. It's actually easier for me to backslop and refresh every 4/5 days and feed twice a day compared to trying to constantly monitor their feeders. Easy, easy, easy.

Molting was astonishingly easy. Their feathers are soooo shiny, which was one of the first benefits I saw. Poop smells better. That was not so much of an issue with the chickens, but oh my GOSH, what a difference with the guinea poo!

Anyhow.

. There's a full list of pros on the FAQ and lots of really good links, including to the BYC thread for FF.

HMMMMM>
Guess it is the fact that I am feeding 180 plus birds...but I see no difference in feed bill. JMO !!!

 

[Tikkijane]

HMMMMM>
Guess it is the fact that I am feeding 180 plus birds...but I see no difference in feed bill.  JMO !!! 

Huh. I'm around 100 here. HUGE, huge difference in cost. I figured because the volume doubles, I'd cut at least 1/2 my feed bill. I documented for several months, and in reality, I save 2/3 over what I was feeding dry. It has to be actually fermented, though. And if refreshing is done as it's fed, that will weaken the ferment until there's really not much difference than feeding wet.

That little bit took me a while to figure out. Once I got back to backslopping every 4/5 days {I had gotten down to 2 days; sometimes every night}, consumption dropped back to where it was supposed to be. The longer it ferments = the more nutritionally dense = the less they need to eat.

 

[cwhittington]

I have 21 hens and haven't gotten any eggs in four days! What gives?

Okay, I know the answer is that I'm in that weird period between molding and pullets not quite laying yet but still...put out or get out, I've actually got orders for Thanksgiving!!