Please forgive the not posting in The Thread; this site crashes my computer if I'm on it for too long, so I don't have time to wade through all those pages looking for answers. I'm hoping some knowledgeable folks can answer my questions.
I'm going to be switching to a commercial seed-and-grain feed mix after crunching some numbers and determining that I can't afford to spend $150+ a month mixing my own when I can get the same good-quality stuff for half that. I'm looking into fermenting it to allow it to stretch a bit. My questions are as follows:
1. What happens to the protein content of fermented feeds? Some grains lose protein when sprouted; does fermenting make feed lose protein? If so, should I add extra mealworms to their daily diet to make up the protein loss?
2. How young can I start giving fermented feed? I've been considering it mostly for my big girls (6 months old and laying), but is it safe/okay to give to young chicks? (My babies are currently two weeks old, but I do wonder if I can give fermented feed to day-olds, for future reference.)
2a. If I can give fermented feed to chicks, do I use the same feed mix as I'm fermenting for the big girls, or do I use the starter crumbles they're currently on? Does it make a difference if the starter is medicated?
3. How much fermented feed do I put out for each age group and how often? My three big girls are currently going through two cups of dry feed plus foraging and greens every day. I have no idea how much the six babies are actually eating because I fill their feeder every morning (feeder holds 5 cups of dry crumbles) and by noon they've scattered it all over the brooder.
I'm going to be switching to a commercial seed-and-grain feed mix after crunching some numbers and determining that I can't afford to spend $150+ a month mixing my own when I can get the same good-quality stuff for half that. I'm looking into fermenting it to allow it to stretch a bit. My questions are as follows:
1. What happens to the protein content of fermented feeds? Some grains lose protein when sprouted; does fermenting make feed lose protein? If so, should I add extra mealworms to their daily diet to make up the protein loss?
2. How young can I start giving fermented feed? I've been considering it mostly for my big girls (6 months old and laying), but is it safe/okay to give to young chicks? (My babies are currently two weeks old, but I do wonder if I can give fermented feed to day-olds, for future reference.)
2a. If I can give fermented feed to chicks, do I use the same feed mix as I'm fermenting for the big girls, or do I use the starter crumbles they're currently on? Does it make a difference if the starter is medicated?
3. How much fermented feed do I put out for each age group and how often? My three big girls are currently going through two cups of dry feed plus foraging and greens every day. I have no idea how much the six babies are actually eating because I fill their feeder every morning (feeder holds 5 cups of dry crumbles) and by noon they've scattered it all over the brooder.
