Fermented Feed Questions

I cover my jars with cheese cloth or a tea towel just because my cat thinks it smells good!!

And yes my ffeed is covered with water til I pour it through a small strainer. I thought the bubbling water on top was the sign that it's fermented??also no chance of mold

Anyone ferment for 30-40 birds? How much do they eat (how much feed do you start your mix with)?
Or do you just use the bucket/backslop method for that many birds?

I have 28 pullets. I use the backslop method. I've been doing it in 3 gallon buckets. I said in the beginning I would measure...and well it still hasn't happened. Each bucket is enough for about 3 feedings, which happens every 12 hours because of my work schedule. (Lack of light in winter will change that). Anyway I fill a couple one gallon feed pans half full so I guess you could say I feed a gallon twice a day. It seems like a lot seeing it in print. They eat every last bit of it, but it usually takes an hour to do so. I've read they should clean it up in a half hour or less but they just seemed half starved when I gave them a lesser amount. Since my feed is corn free I'm thinking too much fat isn't a big concern if I'm over feeding. But that could be wishful thinking. They do get other treats throughout the day, but it's more to give them something to do than actually feed them. My best advice is to experiment and see what works for you and your birds. Now the ladies and I are in agreement that their feed is good and they get enough to eat. Our next battle is heat and bordom. I'm hoping our new bout of feather pecking is from the heat/stress and not a lack of protein! I'm heading to those threads next...

cmak said:

I have 28 pullets. I use the backslop method. I've been doing it in 3 gallon buckets. I said in the beginning I would measure...and well it still hasn't happened. Each bucket is enough for about 3 feedings, which happens every 12 hours because of my work schedule. (Lack of light in winter will change that). Anyway I fill a couple one gallon feed pans half full so I guess you could say I feed a gallon twice a day. It seems like a lot seeing it in print. They eat every last bit of it, but it usually takes an hour to do so. I've read they should clean it up in a half hour or less but they just seemed half starved when I gave them a lesser amount. Since my feed is corn free I'm thinking too much fat isn't a big concern if I'm over feeding. But that could be wishful thinking. They do get other treats throughout the day, but it's more to give them something to do than actually feed them. My best advice is to experiment and see what works for you and your birds. Now the ladies and I are in agreement that their feed is good and they get enough to eat. Our next battle is heat and bordom. I'm hoping our new bout of feather pecking is from the heat/stress and not a lack of protein! I'm heading to those threads next...

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Do they also have access to free-choice crumble or pellets during the day?

I gave my girls their first taste of FF this morning with mixed results. I had used just straight Flock Raiser to make it with...

In the small coop by the house, I have five pullets that are 4-5 months old. They tried a little, but really didn't eat a lot. I did see them eat more than 3-4 bites each, which was better than I expected for their first try.

In the Taj MaCoop, I have a "broody" with ten 4-week-old chicks in the front feed room and in the back, main coop I have 17 assorted purebred pullets that are 10-12 weeks old and 8 yearling layer hens. I let the chicks out first and they devoured the FF. When I let the others out, they also started devouring the feed. I think it helped that they started running out of dry feed in their bulk feeder overnight (there was just powder sediment left in the bottom of their 30- and 10-lb feeders this morning before I introduced them to the FF. I was extremely pleased with their initial reaction to the introduction of the FF.

I have to run into town today for errands/feed store. I have a small, clear bin with lid that a jumbo set of Rubbermaid kitchen containers came in from Sam's. The bin is probably 3-4 gallon in size. I gave it to my husband bc it was too big for me to use in the kitchen. He put it out in the shop and has not used it (about a year ago). I think I'm going to reclaim it....it will be perfect for me to use for FF. Drill a few holes in the lid and it'll be good to go! I have two more jars of FF that are ready to use and I'll just mix them into fresh feed as "starter". I just have too many chooks to feed to use the "multiple-jar-method".

I'm also switching to pellets to use in their bulk feeders. Hopefully, this will cut down on waste (of course I will still use chick starter for the babies). They also either free-range or are turned into an enclosed "pasture" during the day. Their chicken lot "pasture" is currently off-limits....I sowed buckwheat, rye, alfalfa and clover in there about two weeks ago.

cmak said:

Hey timbowsr, thanks for the info. I guess my biggest concern was the dreaded mold. I haven't had any issues so far, so hopefully that theme will continue. I do stir the mix at least twice a day, sometimes 3. I try to scrape the sides down to avoid the crusty dried bits. I keep reading about this white fuzz (aka "good stuff) that people sometimes see...but I have yet to see it in the FF. I do gets lots of the bubbles though, and that sweet/sour smell. I'm guessing the bacteria is working, even if it doesn't show itself. Oh, my ladies like their FF at a peanut butter consistency too. They'll eat it when it's runny, but they give me dirty looks while they do it.

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If you got that sweet/sour smell, that is the best layperson's sign that your fermented feed is going in the right direction. Bubbles are also a good sign, but not required...sometimes you just don't get bubbles or they're so few you don't notice them...but it still has the sour smell. If it smells only sour (like fresh vomit) and no sweet, then you are also on the right track. If you get white fuzz on top, that's okay, too, as it is most likely a beneficial yeast bloom.

Even if you truly do get mold, just go ahead and stir it in and wait 12-24 hours before feeding. The healthy yeasts and bacteria will consume/overpower the mold and there will be little to no trace of it left. My understanding is that yellow, green, white and brown molds are all little to no toxicity, even to chickens. Most "black" molds, if looked at under bright light, will actually be dark brown. You can scrape it off or stir it in, your choice, but stir in either case. The dreaded "black mold" is more common in the South and even then it requires long periods (I've heard 1-2 weeks) of stagnant air and water. No stirring, or otherwise no disturbance to the black mold. It also needs to be fairly hot and humid. Keep your ferments out of direct sun and keep it stirred. No need to keep the feed under a layer of liquid. Just stir it every day or two, or 2-3x a day if you are just getting a bucket started and don't have any starter/backslop to kick-start it.

You can put in a splash of vinegar (white, apple cider (raw or not), etc.) into a new bucket to help lower the pH to "kickstart" it or you can use some FF from a previous batch. Either will lower the pH of a new batch and more quickly get it going. But vinegar nor a starter is not necessary. Just keep stirring and in 1-5 days (less time in warmer temps), you will have fermented feed.

A lot of folks are fearful of letting moist food sit out at room temp. We've been trained that unless it goes into a fridge or freezer, it will go bad. I know, I had the same fears. It's really difficult to screw up a ferment like fermented feed. Even if you don't stir it and mold has grown on top, you just scrape the mold off (or stir it in) and stir it for a day or so and it will come back to life.

If your fermented feed smells truly foul, I mean really really nasty, you will know it. If it smells like nasty sewer/septic waste, then chuck it, don't feed it. In that case, it has gone bad and you probably don't want to feed it. You could bury it deep in a compost pile. But I have yet to have a batch of fermented feed turn septic like that, but have had other ferments do that (on purpose, like compost tea).