Texas

[galanie]

Making a wet paste out of it and giving it to them in a bowl cuts out the waste. Downside of this is that you can't just fill up the feeder and forget it. You have to feed them once or twice a day this way. But it does cut the waste almost all the way to zero and if you have wild birds getting in the food, they won't get in the wet food.

Well, I already go out there before work, after work to let them free range, then before bed to close their coop after they've settled onto their roosts for the night.  I open their feeders between morning and coming home from work then I close them the rest of the night.  So it wouldn't be an issue to feed them with paste.  Thanks for the suggestion.  How do I know how much to give 15 chickens of the paste though?

Start out with the same volume of food you give dry. Generally that's what they'll eat. Mine take a bit of watching because for some reason they eat like pigs some days, and some days they don't.

 

[GFamily]

Start out with the same volume of food you give dry. Generally that's what they'll eat. Mine take a bit of watching because for some reason they eat like pigs some days, and some days they don't.

I will try this. I mentioned it to my husband last night and he seems interested. He was going to make a platform or something underneath the feeders, but this will help. Do you make one big bucket of paste or daily? I have a five gallon bucket I empty half the bag of feed into then once that's empty I'll empty the rest of the bag into it. So could I just make the paste out of the whole 5 gallon bucket or would that make it go bad? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[galanie]

Start out with the same volume of food you give dry. Generally that's what they'll eat. Mine take a bit of watching because for some reason they eat like pigs some days, and some days they don't.

I will try this.  I mentioned it to my husband last night and he seems interested.  He was going to make a platform or something underneath the feeders, but this will help.  Do you make one big bucket of paste or daily?  I have a five gallon bucket I empty half the bag of feed into  then once that's empty I'll empty the rest of the bag into it.  So could I just make the paste out of the whole 5 gallon bucket or would that make it go bad?  Sorry for all the questions.

Make the paste a bit runny. And add some apple cider vinegar, the kind with the "mother" in it (just a glug or two, nothing in any way exact) and an whamo - you'll have what they call Fermented Feed if you mix it up and leave it a few days till it's empty. Ok it won't be the Fermented Feed like they talk about on that thread, but close. No, it won't go "bad" though it may get a bit of a film on it and you might notice bubbles. Give it a stir with a stick just before dipping some out to feed them. It's actually better for them this way.

PS - it will swell up a LOT so you won't be able to get half a bag of food in that bucket then soak it. I'd not put more than 1/3 bucket of dry in there before adding water. It swells. You'll find they eat less and do just as well, maybe even better. What I mean is, you'll save on feed but they will be eating the same volume. It's because they can digest it better.

 

[TammyTX]

I tried making fermented feed and my chickens did not like it. My chickens are weird, though...other people say theirs will lap up yogurt and I have to disguise yogurt in something else before they eat it. I think I have spoiled my chickens with sweet treats and oatmeal.

 

[wlhtx]

Tammy, my birds took FOREVER before they showed interest in the FF. I was so skeptical about it in the beginning because my flock just wasn't reacting like everyone else's that I read about on here. I really think it is a texture thing for them. Like a picky toddler. So, just as I did with my toddlers, I kept offering it to them. After a couple weeks they started devouring it. Now they really will mob me for it at feeding time.

Obviously it's up to you, but I would suggest trying it awhile longer. The benefits are SO noticeable once the birds switch over.

 

[TexasLisa]

Tammy I agree with 'wlhtx'. My flock has been fed the ff since last year. I free range them along with a spoonful of ff in the morning. If they pick it clean, I give them a bit more in the evening. Mine don't mob me when I come out, but they do eat it. Just hang in there with it for a bit longer.

Lisa

 

[TammyTX]

I tried it with the baby chicks and used Texas Naturals chick starter. How easy will it be to feed 32 grown birds?

 

[wlhtx]

I feed 45 grown birds and it's not a hassle. I feed mine once a day, usually before I close them into their pen at night. Though sometimes if we get home late, I'll skip the night feeding and just feed them when I let them out in the morning. Just takes a few minutes to scoop the ff out for the birds and them another few minutes to replenish the bucket. Much, MUCH less time then it takes to feed my 2 children every night.

 

[galanie]

I was a meanie about it. I gave them that and nothing else till they started eating it. Not even scratch. Now, they love it.

 

[mandaleigh1981]

Hi, I am from Pleasanton. We have 25 chickens; 4 leghorns and the rest are a mix of RIR and New Hampshire Reds. Already all laying steadily. Does anyone here do 4H showing of chickens and have advice? My son wants to do chickens this year!

Mandy