Chicken Mash

[Okiepan]

Has anyone ever made or used a mash consisting of 2 way and 14% creep , and let the water do its magic in fermentation of this food ?
Comments greatly appreciated as hopefully my girls will love this new food .

 

[Mini Horses]

Nope. But my girls LOVE the goats milk I leave on counter for a day to begin its ferment. They get it about every other day. My cats jump right into the eating frenzy. Good for everyone!

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

I have tried fermenting feed before, likely not fully the same as what you are asking but is was a lot more work for not much more gain.

 

[Finnie]

Wh

Has anyone ever made or used a mash consisting of 2 way and 14% creep , and let the water do its magic in fermentation of this food ?
Comments greatly appreciated as hopefully my girls will love this new food .

What is 2 way? (I tried Google, but “2 way feed” wasn’t enough to go on.) And 14% is low for chickens, not to mention it’s formulated for cattle. @baymule has used a multipurpose feed for all her different animals with success. Maybe she has input on whether 14% cattle feed is close enough nutritionally to what she used. You will probably still need to offer oyster shell on the side.

I’m with @Trying2keepitReal . I really liked fermenting feed, but it was too labor intensive to keep doing it. (My flock ranges from 100-200 depending on time of year.) Now I just keep a small batch fermenting for only the chick brooders.

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

Wh

What is 2 way? (I tried Google, but “2 way feed” wasn’t enough to go on.) And 14% is low for chickens, not to mention it’s formulated for cattle. @baymule has used a multipurpose feed for all her different animals with success. Maybe she has input on whether 14% cattle feed is close enough nutritionally to what she used. You will probably still need to offer oyster shell on the side.

I believe the 2 way is a scratch mix of corn and then another grain. and agree with @Finnie oyster shell and grit on the side. Grit maybe not so much if free ranging but it can't hurt to offer

I also believe that 16% is minimum for laying hens to get needed nutrients--the feed I use has 20% which is good for the harder winters and molting, then I don't need to change up anything.

 

[Okiepan]

It has roughly 14% protein I then add some Creep protein to the mix , The girls love it.

 

[baymule]

I used a 14% all purpose feed for sheep, horses, feeder pigs and laying hens. All did well on it.

 

[Hinotori]

All depends on breed. Some do fine with lower protein. Some will try to eat each other if they have any less than 18%. Found that out personally.

 

[Dreamz]

Wh

What is 2 way? (I tried Google, but “2 way feed” wasn’t enough to go on.) And 14% is low for chickens, not to mention it’s formulated for cattle. @baymule has used a multipurpose feed for all her different animals with success. Maybe she has input on whether 14% cattle feed is close enough nutritionally to what she used. You will probably still need to offer oyster shell on the side.

I’m with @Trying2keepitReal . I really liked fermenting feed, but it was too labor intensive to keep doing it. (My flock ranges from 100-200 depending on time of year.) Now I just keep a small batch fermenting for only the chick brooders.

OMG! 100-200? I go crazy with 17,lol Can't imagine 30 even,

I tried fermenting but too dumb and then stopped trying. Too much work. However in the winter, I do give them 22% for meat birds with warm water like oatmeal, and they love it. Nothing goes to waste. My girls do not like pellets. They scratch it out and pick them out of the feeder unto the floor and ends up as waste. They prefer crumbles. Then again, they like to pick it out of the feeder no matter how high it is hung. But they also love oatmeal. Summer they do veggies and frozen fruits and just free range when I am home, even all day. I just sit outside and let them be.

 

[Hinotori]

Chickens billing food out is a problem. I haven't had any issues with that since they all have treadle feeders now. The feeders keep out rats, too. Even the 2 pound silkies can manage one.

I have about 50 silkies right now and 15 birds in the large fowl pen. There is some soup candidates out there after I'm done hatching eggs this year.