BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[Beer can]

The Scoby white film I just mix in also.
It is on the surface of homemade sauerkraut, we skim it off our kraut.

 

[Kassaundra]

A few pics from Wed's hatch

 

[Kusanar]

A few pics from Wed's hatch

That little scaleless is adorable!

 

[DesertChic]

Can I assume she is from Linda's stock?

She sure is! I was really hoping to get a fertile egg developing from her before the heat really kicks in.

 

[DesertChic]

Just like @jbkirk I mix mine very thick but there is almost always a bit of fluid that drips out into a different bucket that I set the strainer over and when it's time to feed, I pour the dripped liquid back into the mix. As jb said, if you keep the top covered with water, it will not mold.

I don't think you are feeding FF but rather wet food. That shouldn't harm them in any way but will give them additional fluid.

I haven't started a new batch in over 3 years but when my mix gets down to about 1/4 of material, I add a couple glugs of raw vinegar and more water, mix the whole mess up and immediately pour more dry crumbles into it. I don't even bother to stir the mess because it's so thick, it would take a machine to do it. I have learned by experience how much dry material to dump into the mix, rarely over-doing it. I watch it for a while and if I have added too much, I scoop some out into a smaller (2 gal.) bucket and cover it with water, to be added back after a couple uses.

If you don't understand any of this, just let me know and I'll try to make it more clear.

Edited to say, I'm wondering if what you are calling mold is what I call SCOBY?...A blueish film that covers the entire top of the mess?

Yeah, I guess what I've been doing qualifies more as soaked feed than fermented. I had actually started out with more of a fermented products, but once the summer heat kicked in last year I simply started soaking and just didn't get back to fermenting. I think it's time to change back to actual fermented feed.

Three more questions:

1 - What size/type of container do you keep your base fermented feed in? Right now my flocks are going through 1-2 5-gallon buckets of soaked feed per day.

2 - The mash feed I buy has fish meal in it, which stinks to high heaven after about 2-3 days of fermenting. Do you think it can become harmful to the chickens?

3 - Our summer temps routinely get over 100* in the daytime and rarely drop below 85* at night, and this lasts from May until as late as November. Is this too hot to properly ferment? I'm terrified of creating poison instead of food.

 

[katefollot]

Any thoughts on using a silver laced Wyandotte to breed lacing into some NN's? Their body size isn't horrible, and their laying rate is kinda everywhere, so I was planning on scoping out some reliable layers (hopefully locally). Is there a better breed to use for this or do you think the Wyandotte would work just as well?

 

[Turk Raphael]

Yeah, I guess what I've been doing qualifies more as soaked feed than fermented. I had actually started out with more of a fermented products, but once the summer heat kicked in last year I simply started soaking and just didn't get back to fermenting. I think it's time to change back to actual fermented feed.

Three more questions:

1 - What size/type of container do you keep your base fermented feed in? Right now my flocks are going through 1-2 5-gallon buckets of soaked feed per day.

2 - The mash feed I buy has fish meal in it, which stinks to high heaven after about 2-3 days of fermenting. Do you think it can become harmful to the chickens?

3 - Our summer temps routinely get over 100* in the daytime and rarely drop below 85* at night, and this lasts from May until as late as November. Is this too hot to properly ferment? I'm terrified of creating poison instead of food.

Obviously we have different circumstances. Since the grass has been growing like wildfire here, the birds are eating less fermented product of all types ( as mentioned, I ferment my grains separately) and tearing up the grass, worms and bugs. I use one of those blue food-grade 30 gallon containers that are pretty easily picked up around here but I don't fill it like I do in cold months.

Fish meal is great but I wouldn't ferment it at all but add it as top-dressing. Fish and other meats can certainly be fermented but requires a different process so If were you, I'd feed the fish meal as I said and ferment a mixture that is meat-free.

Your temps. are perfect for fermenting chicken feed. I would keep it in a shaded area but the temps. could be an advantage for you as when you back-slop. you will have well fermented feed by the next morning.

This is based upon my experiences. It does get hot as hell here in KY and we frequently hit the 100 + degrees a few times each summer.

EDIT: With the fish meal, you may well have seen mold or other unhealthy substance. Fish meal is easily found separate from the chicken feed and just as easily added at feed time. I'm back with the shaved horse meat but I have use fish meal with equal satisfaction...the birds love both!!!

 

[DesertChic]

Obviously we have different circumstances. Since the grass has been growing like wildfire here, the birds are eating less fermented product of all types ( as mentioned, I ferment my grains separately) and tearing up the grass, worms and bugs. I use one of those blue food-grade 30 gallon containers that are pretty easily picked up around here but I don't fill it like I do in cold months.

Fish meal is great but I wouldn't ferment it at all but add it as top-dressing. Fish and other meats can certainly be fermented but requires a different process so If were you, I'd feed the fish meal as I said and ferment a mixture that is meat-free.

Your temps. are perfect for fermenting chicken feed. I would keep it in a shaded area but the temps. could be an advantage for you as when you back-slop. you will have well fermented feed by the next morning.

This is based upon my experiences. It does get hot as hell here in KY and we frequently hit the 100 + degrees a few times each summer.

EDIT: With the fish meal, you may well have seen mold or other unhealthy substance. Fish meal is easily found separate from the chicken feed and just as easily added at feed time. I'm back with the shaved horse meat but I have use fish meal with equal satisfaction...the birds love both!!!

Unfortunately the fish meal is already mixed into the feed I buy. Hmm.....I may have to consider buying all of the grains separately, but that will undoubtedly add even more work to my already very busy life.

 

[Turk Raphael]

Unfortunately the fish meal is already mixed into the feed I buy. Hmm.....I may have to consider buying all of the grains separately, but that will undoubtedly add even more work to my already very busy life.

AS I see it, the grain is NOT the problem but rather the fish meal that comes in your regular feed.

 

[Beer can]

DesertChic, sounds like you need a 55gal barrel to ferment

I only use a 5gal bucket. Yeah the fish meal could prove a problem, and at those temps 24hrs would be good enough using slop back from previous ferment, I only go 24hrs all summer in 70s-90s.
Maybe your supplier might have a feed without the fish meal and you can add it yourself just before feeding if you want instead of mixing your own feed?