Right Amount of Fermented Feed?

[GlicksChicks]

Hello all,

I have 27 chickens in my main flock, and they free range all day. I ferment feed for them and split it between 2 meals, but I want to be sure they are getting enough.

After fermenting, there is around 5lbs or more of feed. I add in RPF, egg shells, oats, herbs, and ACV sometimes, and alot of times I leave it plain. I also add in veggies and sometimes meat with the feed when I am feeding them, not when it is fermenting.

The chickens seem to be happy and healthy and are laying eggs as they would with the shorter days and some molting. Their eggs are also thicker shelled and have richer yolks since having fermented feed. (I only started adding RPF 3 days ago, so it is not related to that.) They also recover from molting alot better.

I know different flocks eat different amounts, so here is the makeup of my flock.
4 roosters, 3 of them are around 10lbs and one is maybe 7lbs (2 Buff Orpingtons, 1 Buckeye, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte cockerel).
23 hens, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 4 Black Copper Marans, 1 Speckled Sussex, 8 Barnyard mixes from my flock, 2 Golden Sexlinks, 3 Black Sexlinks.

Are my chickens getting enough food between the fermented feed, veggies, and all the free ranging? I live in Texas so it is still nice and green where they range. It has been in the 60s and 70s. I want my chickens to be the happiest and healthiest they can be!

 

[Debbie292d]

I just fed mine this morning. I have about 30 silkies ranging from 6 years to 3 months.

I just make one quart and split it into 3 dishes for where the three "herds" hang out as they free-range on nice days. Mine is 1/2 Kalmback's Henhouse Reserve, 1/4 whole red winter wheat, 1/4 whole oats I have dry in a big bin, then when I make a jar, I add a tblsp each of fennel and chia seeds.

I pick those up at night and toss in the yard anything they left behind. It's usually the whole oats laying in the bottom.



It's mostly for the probiotics/prebiotics that I do it as their feed is already good and fortified with 1/2 dosage of Rooster Booster granuals. I want them to eat more of their feed than the ferment, and this is like a treat to them.

 

[Penpal]

When you write 'fermented feed' is it commercial feed, or is it your own mix of whole grains?

Either way, since they free range I am sure they are getting enough.

 

[GlicksChicks]

When you write 'fermented feed' is it commercial feed, or is it your own mix of whole grains?

Either way, since they free range I am sure they are getting enough.

It is a mix of Golden Oak layer feed, Scratch feed, chick feed, and whole oats.

 

[saysfaa]

What is RPF?

 

[Shadrach]

It is a mix of Golden Oak layer feed, Scratch feed, chick feed, and whole oats.

I can't say they are not getting enough of something, but I will point out that your feed mix isn't going to give all the essential nutrients in the right quantities. This may not matter if the forage is decent and the meat and veg you give is enough to cover the shortfalls in the feed mix above.
The layer feed and the chick feed have already been processed, ferementing these types of feed is pretty pointless to be frank. The scratch feed may be different. It depends on whether it's whole grains and maize or not.
I assume the chick feed is included to boost the crude protein?
Wouldn't a high protein all flock feed be more economical?
All day ranging is going to be a major factor in their health. On mixed forage including bugs given a large enough area to range on, the chickens should thrive on the most basic of supplied feed. A wholegrain and seed mix fermented could be an option replacing the commercial feed worth considering. Only you know what the forage options are like throughout the year where you are. For 27 chickens I would be looking at two to three acres of mixed brush, cultivation and woodland.

If they look healthy, lay eggs, are active and interested in life then they are probably fine.
Morning droppings checks are a must with day ranging chickens. If the droppings are good and consistant with your knowledge of what they've eaten then that can be a good guide to feed quality and quantity not to mention signs of sickness and intenal parasites.

 

[Kiki]

It is a mix of Golden Oak layer feed, Scratch feed, chick feed, and whole oats.

Don't use the scratch or whole oats at all.

 

[Perris]

Are my chickens getting enough food between the fermented feed, veggies, and all the free ranging?

what they need varies from bird to bird, and from day to day. Their individual appetites tell them what they need, what they don't need (too much of something is toxic), and how much of it they need. If you are offering a changing variety of foods from which they can select what they want, and they can range and forage, it is highly likely that each bird will select exactly what they want and need and in the right quantities from what you supply to supplement what they find by foraging (which are their natural foods).

It sounds from your description that you're doing fine, though I suspend judgement on RPF as I have no idea what that is. None of the options on wikipedia fit your context.

 

[bearcreekbees]

I ferment a mix of whole grains which includes some or all of the following- corn, oats, wheat, barley, triticale, rye, and field peas. I start with 1/4 pound per bird of the dry mix. No idea what it weighs after fermenting. After fermenting I add in meat, animal organs, and suet for additional protein and fat. I actually do a bunch of different variations, sometimes adding sunflower seeds, alfalfa pellets, and/or mealworms, isopods, dubia roaches, and/or worms. I use a feed calculator whenever I make up a new mix to ensure that I am including all of the right nutrients and enough of them.

Rarely I will add some table scraps but not often because they throw off my entire ration. My flock has a 15'x50' fenced run to forage in during warm weather but it is definitely not free range.

If you aren't sure that your flock is getting enough food you could try adding a bit more and then increasing the amount a little at a time and see what happens. If I was feeding your flock I would start with 6.75 pounds of dry feed, but my grain mix is a lot more nutritious than what you are feeding- but on the other hand if your flock is free ranging they will be foraging for part of their day's nutrition. You probably aren't far off if the hens look and act healthy and are laying plenty of eggs.

 

[GlicksChicks]

what they need varies from bird to bird, and from day to day. Their individual appetites tell them what they need, what they don't need (too much of something is toxic), and how much of it they need. If you are offering a changing variety of foods from which they can select what they want, and they can range and forage, it is highly likely that each bird will select exactly what they want and need and in the right quantities from what you supply to supplement what they find by foraging (which are their natural foods).

It sounds from your description that you're doing fine, though I suspend judgement on RPF as I have no idea what that is. None of the options on wikipedia fit your context.

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