FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Windy Bay Farm]

Alright, Bee.... C'mon back real soon, please...

 

[LindaB220]

Here are the sources I found most helpful:

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/im-using/

And her follow-up FAQ blog: http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

I use one crock-style glass jar that I already had sitting around, wishing it had a purpose. It's like the first jar picture on the first link. I find that my girls like it best just put on the ground. I think it's because perhaps the bowls I was using allowed the feed to be too wet for them as they ate it and they walked away from the bottom of the bowl before finishing it. If I put it on a patch of dirt that I brush off straw and poop from then they eat all of it. I think it's because the extra moisture drains away, leaving the feed easier to eat. Now, this is my experience with the grain-style feed I'm using but your experience may be different with pellets, plus you might choose a different style bowl than I was using.

-Laurie

Hey Laurie, Love the one on the Fermented Feed Faqs. She modeled her method after Bee's recipe. She researched all the sites and got the best one. I'm so proud of Tikktoc, her blog is doing so well. I'm trying to help out because when people ask a question about fermented feed, I put a link to her site. It's the quickest way to get the correct information. Bar none.

 

[EmeraldSkye]

Hey Laurie, Love the one on the Fermented Feed Faqs. She modeled her method after Bee's recipe. She researched all the sites and got the best one. I'm so proud of Tikktoc, her blog is doing so well. I'm trying to help out because when people ask a question about fermented feed, I put a link to her site. It's the quickest way to get the correct information. Bar none.

Yes, it's the quickest, most thorough place to look for all of the information and answers!

I started my first batch following the first link of the three but then am maintaining it like Tikktoc does, more dry, and adding more feed and water when it's almost to the bottom rather than putting more feed in each day.

 

[Tikkijane]

[COLOR=444444]Here are the sources I found most helpful:[/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444][COLOR=0068CF][COLOR=000000]http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444][COLOR=0068CF][COLOR=000000]http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/im-using/[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444]And her follow-up FAQ blog: [COLOR=0068CF]http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/[/COLOR][/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444]I use one crock-style glass jar that I already had sitting around, wishing it had a purpose. It's like the first jar picture on the first link. I find that my girls like it best just put on the ground. I think it's because perhaps the bowls I was using allowed the feed to be too wet for them as they ate it and they walked away from the bottom of the bowl before finishing it. If I put it on a patch of dirt that I brush off straw and poop from then they eat all of it. I think it's because the extra moisture drains away, leaving the feed easier to eat. Now, this is my experience with the grain-style feed I'm using but your experience may be different with pellets, plus you might choose a different style bowl than I was using.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444] [/COLOR]
[COLOR=444444]-Laurie[/COLOR]

The natural chicken keeping post has erroneous information. Glass will explode and FF does *not* need to stay covered by water.

The other two are great.

 

[Tikkijane]

Hey Laurie, Love the one on the Fermented Feed Faqs.   She modeled her method after Bee's recipe.    She researched  all the sites and got the best one.   I'm so proud of Tikktoc,  her blog is doing so well.  I'm  trying to help out because when people ask a question about fermented feed, I put a link to her site.   It's the quickest way to get the correct information.   Bar none.   

I confess to totally stealing Bee's method. I diddled around for a loooong time, reading, before Bee did the cooler. Once I determined that was working perfectly for her, I figured it might be easy enough for me.....

 

[RoseMarie1]

I confess to totally stealing Bee's method. I diddled around for a loooong time, reading, before Bee did the cooler. Once I determined that was working perfectly for her, I figured it might be easy enough for me.....

yup me to. Conistancy of peanut butter and no straining etc. Easy peasy as Bee would say.

 

[EmeraldSkye]

The natural chicken keeping post has erroneous information. Glass will explode and FF does *not* need to stay covered by water.

The other two are great.

Not entirely true. Glass will explode if it's sealed up tight. If it's loose and allowed to breathe then it won't. I use a glass crock and I have no explosions.

I agree it doesn't have to be covered with water once it's going but for my first batch I did cover with water. Once I have the ferment going and perpetuating, I don't cover with water. I learned with the first link and then discovered the rest and follow those now. Except I do use a glass crock still. ;-)

 

[momofthehouse]

Yay mine is farting haha!

 

[Tikkijane]

Not entirely true. Glass will explode if it's sealed up tight. If it's loose and allowed to breathe then it won't. I use a glass crock and I have no explosions.

I agree it doesn't have to be covered with water once it's going but for my first batch I did cover with water. Once I have the ferment going and perpetuating, I don't cover with water. I learned with the first link and then discovered the rest and follow those now. Except I do use a glass crock still. ;-)

A cracked lid = yes. Many folks don't read that part and crank the lid down.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Alright, Bee.... C'mon back real soon, please...

yes PLEASE do because we love you and miss you soooo bad. You know what I have told you how you have helped me soooo much and if it wasn't for you I'd probably done killed my chickens from lack of what to do and stupidity.