Winter nutrition?

[Thompsonv]

Someone earlier on in this thread said that it helps in the fermentation process and helped keep mold away? If you have more information I'd love to hear, I found a few threads of people using it but like I said more information is always welcome! Knowledge is power

 

[chickens really]

To be honest I stay away from FF......I feel my Birds do great without it.....Just my opinion and it's up to everyone to do for their own Birds......FF can be done in pineapple juice also.....I have never bothered trying it...I know my Birds would never eat that.....


Cheers!

 

[Adalida]

Your ducks are very pretty!

I don't have any experience with fermented feed so I can't give you any advice there. I just was curious how much your ducks get to roam around? You mentioned they don't seem to eat much. Mine just pick at their food if they spend the day in the coop/run, but if they get out and about, they work up more of an appetite. We've got several feet of snow but it's got a thick crust on it now so the ducks can walk around on top of it. They're having a grand time right now roaming around the yard gobbling the snow. Yesterday they didn't eat much because we were gone for the day and they didn't get let out, but today they'll be out all day and I'm sure I'll have to refill the feeder.

 

[Thompsonv]

Clint and Crackers appreciate the compliment Adalida! In the spring summer and fall they roam all they want, I tried so hard to keep them outside this year in the winter but we got some days/nights of -35 with the windchill and they were moved into the shop which is all insulated and they have basically free roam in there they don't go far it's probably a 6'x7' space with hay. I was letting them outside on nice days but we just got a storm that dropped 40" of snow at one shot and I am having all i can do just keeping a path shoveled. I tried letting them out but they just pull their feet up and lay there. The snow is powdery too and there's no way of them walking on top of it, and we're due for another foot tonight. Ugh

 

[Miss Lydia]

My Ducks only eat what they need....some days I think they are on a hunger strike and other days they eat fine.....I actually never worry....They won't starve themselves....Just bratty and hope for something better...lol

Not sure why you give ACV ????.....Not needed with Ducks or Chickens.....That could be why they do not want to eat? ACV is making the feed less palatable ........


Cheers!

@chickens really when you make up FF you have to use ACV, it does not come through in the taste of the FF.

 

[Miss Lydia]

To be honest I stay away from FF......I feel my Birds do great without it.....Just my opinion and it's up to everyone to do for their own Birds......FF can be done in pineapple juice also.....I have never bothered trying it...I know my Birds would never eat that.....


Cheers!

Never heard of making FF with pineapple juice not sure that would keep the fermenting process going or the mold away. I have fed my flock Ff for over 5 yrs now and they love it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The battle goes on. So Clint and Crackers have been trying their new food and I've got it to a mix of roughly 2cups layer pellet to 3cups water and roughly half of a third of a cup of ACV. When I feed them in the morning I give them just about a cup of the ff mixed with a cup of their layer pellets, they just now seem to be actually eating it, I've added their favorite peas into it a few times and a little black oil sunflower seeds. The little treats I put in the food seemed to help and they are starting to kinda eat it on their own now without the treats. I was just wondering if anyone knew how much the typical ducks eats? They generally forage in the summer along with the feed I put out for them, but with it being winter that mix of 1cup ff and 1cup layer pellet lasts them for 24 hrs and that seems a bit under what I would anticipate them eating. They do have an area made of hay and seem to root through the hay a lot but it still doesn't seem like much is all. Anyway, as always I appreciate the feedback and never mind Clint and Crackers below, they snuck out of their pen the other day to go sliding

Oh my gosh how cute a pic is that.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Clint and Crackers appreciate the compliment Adalida! In the spring summer and fall they roam all they want, I tried so hard to keep them outside this year in the winter but we got some days/nights of -35 with the windchill and they were moved into the shop which is all insulated and they have basically free roam in there they don't go far it's probably a 6'x7' space with hay. I was letting them outside on nice days but we just got a storm that dropped 40" of snow at one shot and I am having all i can do just keeping a path shoveled. I tried letting them out but they just pull their feet up and lay there. The snow is powdery too and there's no way of them walking on top of it, and we're due for another foot tonight. Ugh

May I ask where you are @Thompsonv That's alot of snow. lol My Muscovy's would probably be on a Greyhound headed south if they lived there.

 

[Thompsonv]

We had a break through today! Clint and Crackers ate all their food today it made me soooo happy! I gave em a bit more tonight and even put some in my hand and Clint mowed right down on it, I think i'm going to gradually cut back what I mix in for dry pellets and see how that goes but i'm happy they're finally coming around

 

[Thompsonv]

Oh by the way Miss Lydia I am in Maine Central ish part of the state