The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[aoxa]

Love it!!



Grrr..... I can't wait until I can get my mash again!!! The co-op was out last month and I've had to buy organic crumble locally - since I don't really like fermenting crumble, I've just been feeding dry until I can get my usual feed. They are going through almost 50lbs in 1 1/2 weeks!!!! With my fermented mash, I can make it almost a month!

Why can't you ferment the crumble? That is what I ferment. I find it does well

 

[countrygirl74]

Why can't you ferment the crumble? That is what I ferment. I find it does well

I can - I just prefer the mash because it's so easy to drain, like grains. I wish now that I would have with how horribly fast they are eating it!! If my regular feed doesn't arrive soon, I will probably ferment the next bag of crumble - I can't believe how much they eat and how much they are costing me without fermenting.

 

[RedRidge]

Grrr..... I can't wait until I can get my mash again!!! The co-op was out last month and I've had to buy organic crumble locally - since I don't really like fermenting crumble, I've just been feeding dry until I can get my usual feed. They are going through almost 50lbs in 1 1/2 weeks!!!! With my fermented mash, I can make it almost a month!

And THIS right here is why I like "options"

 

[520farmer]

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/- this site has an article by Harvey Ussery.

couldn't get the link to work

 

[520farmer]

And THIS right here is why I like "options"

Im on your side RR info junkie lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Me too (Like lots of options...).

I think the link they were posting was to the feed section: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding.html

 

[TipihlowLadies]

do chickens like citrus.

 

[FarmerJH]

Being a scientist by trade, this is incredibly interesting to me and I am also trying to provide the best diet I can, like many of you. We're so fortunate to have such knowledgeable people contributing to this thread and I have learned an incredible amount in the past few weeks. I've only had chickens for a litte over a year now and I notice my birds are much happier, their feathers are softer and glossier and they are more energetic and less irritable when they are foraging in addition to just dry or even fermented feed alone. Their condition definitely improved when I switched from dry to fermenting their feed on top of foraging, but the foraging adds that extra bloom to them that noticeably waned this past winter when they weren't foraging hardly at all with the snow.

I don't have enough birds to do it, but if one did, and had the room to separate them, and happened to be motivated enough to do a long term study, one could do a well controlled experiment to determine how much of different feeds the chickens ate and estimate based on that (you would have to have the offerings nutritionally profiled at some point) the relative amounts of various nutrients necessary for a chicken approved healthy diet. For example, 1 pen on dry feed ( layer and non-layer and another on non-layer + different calcium supplement options if you're REALLY motivated), 1 pen on those dry feed fermented, 1 on each of the afore + animal protein supplement, 1 pen offered free choice of multiple different feed sources separated, ex field peas in 1 bowl, oats in another, various types of animal sourced proteins in others, etc and come up with a list of measurable variables to test each pen against each other. You would learn which method produces the healthiest birds based on the variables you chose to measure in addition to (from the separate bowl/ingredient pen) approximately how much of each ingredient offered should be included in a mixed ration. However, its much more difficult to do an experiment to determine min and max nutrient levels because of how some nutrients require others for uptake/absorption or proper functioning. Each nutrient would be a pretty big experiment all on its own. This, of course, would depend on if the chickens ate to satisfy nutritional needs or tastes. The offering separate bowls for each ingredient wouldn't work if they ate purely for taste preferences. I would love to do this.

 

[aoxa]

I can - I just prefer the mash because it's so easy to drain, like grains. I wish now that I would have with how horribly fast they are eating it!! If my regular feed doesn't arrive soon, I will probably ferment the next bag of crumble - I can't believe how much they eat and how much they are costing me without fermenting.

What does your mash look like? I was yelled at on the FF thread because I assumed it was more whole than crumble. They said it was fine and powdery. Completely not what I expected/heard of. Here mash looks like scratch but with a base of something - and it only comes in layer form.

 

[countrygirl74]

What does your mash look like? I was yelled at on the FF thread because I assumed it was more whole than crumble. They said it was fine and powdery. Completely not what I expected/heard of. Here mash looks like scratch but with a base of something - and it only comes in layer form.

Sorry you were yelled at - silly people... Yes, the mash is more fine and powdery but still has some whole grains. Mine in particular has dried peas too. Here is a photo dry and wet...