FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

I started on day 3 because it takes 3 days to ferment and I hadn't prepared ahead of time. I only offered fermented (took away their dried food), and they ate it right away. After that I put their "bottomless" dry feed out again, along with fermented feed (my guess at their 1/2-to-full ration fermented). They always have finished their fermented feed.

Now that they are outside and the wet feed will freeze if not eaten timely (they are 13 weeks old), I've been putting out 1/2 ration of fermented in the morning, and they always have their bottomless dry feed available as well. The fermented is always eaten in a few hours.
What do you ferment?
 
What do you ferment?
I use scratch and peck organic soy-free feed. This is why I am spending $7 per dozen for eggs I can only sell for $4 per dozen in our impoverished area! That's another story; we are working at lowering our feed costs...

Scratch and peck includes probiotics which will kick-start fermentation. But sprouted grains will ferment spontaneously. If I wanted to kick start grain fermentation I might add whey from yogurt...? Not sure if the microbes would be the right ones. But ferments often don't need any kickstart anyway ...
 
I use scratch and peck organic soy-free feed. This is why I am spending $7 per dozen for eggs I can only sell for $4 per dozen in our impoverished area! That's another story; we are working at lowering our feed costs...

Scratch and peck includes probiotics which will kick-start fermentation. But sprouted grains will ferment spontaneously. If I wanted to kick start grain fermentation I might add whey from yogurt...? Not sure if the microbes would be the right ones. But ferments often don't need any kickstart anyway ...
a pack of fleischman's yeast. the sediment that settles to the bottom in a bottle conditioned beer, the liquid from a batch of sourdough starters. Or yes, just wet it down and hope what's in the air does it for you.

The only advantage to "starting" the ferment is that you innoculate the process with yeast you know are desirable (or at least, not bad) so that they have a chance to colonize and crowd out bad yeast before they can become established.
 
Hey Linda, I love to talk about fermented feed. It's my greatest discovery when I came on here the very first day. I found BeeKissed, the lady who started this thread, and never looked back. I've got the healthiest birds in the town. I'd like to say that I followed the Homestead sites instructions perfectly but what works for me is to get within a couple of serviings from the bottom and add hot water and 1/2 cup AEM and about 1/3 c molasses. Stir really good and add water to about halfway up the 5 gallon pail. Stir and start adding feed or grains. Rice Bran is really good for chickens and since I live in the deep south I can buy it for $8 for 50#. It's 12% protein. I also buy catfish food 34% or so protein. 2 Scoops of rice bran, 2 qt scoops of layer or grower and 1 scoop of catfish food. I also add 1/2 scoop of BOSS black oil sunflower seeds. I have azomite rock dust with 70 something trace minerals and I add about 4-5 tbls. I make this the consistancy of thick oatmeal and set it overnight. I lay a gallon size baggie on top of the feed itself before putting the lid on loosely. It keeps it from getting the white scoby on top. If I forget to do that I just stir the white film down and it dissolves back into it. Never throw any out until you check with us.
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My daughter came to the coop with me today and was taking pictures for me. She hadn't seen them since they were babies. I told her how healthy they were and she said she could tell. I asked her "Can you smell anything?" No, not at all. No poo smell ever with FF
So I am making my first 5 gallon batch should I keep it in the dark and how long can I keep it?
 
Hey all, How long should it take, in your experience, for me to see the benefits of fermenting feed? I've been feeding the girls FF for 2 weeks and have not noticed any improvement in feather regrowth, feather shine, no changes in their poops. Am I being impatient? Is this a slow and long term project?
 
Hey all, How long should it take, in your experience, for me to see the benefits of fermenting feed? I've been feeding the girls FF for 2 weeks and have not noticed any improvement in feather regrowth, feather shine, no changes in their poops. Am I being impatient? Is this a slow and long term project?
You say its 2 weeks , What are doing To ferment the food ? Are you just adding water to it ? It has To set For a while Before it ferments .
 

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