Fermented feed consistency

[LCG Chicken Coop]

I have fermented some pelleted food as a trial for our birds and tomorrow is day 3. However the consistency is like...cornmeal soup. Do I strain in cheesecloth to obtain something more like a mash? This looks too fine for a metal strainer. How do chickens eat this as a mash??

 

[Perris]

you could just add some more pellets to sop up the liquid until it is the consistency you want.

 

[DobieLover]

you could just add some more pellets to sop up the liquid until it is the consistency you want.

This is what I do with my fermented grains/fish meal. But I use Flock Raiser crumble and mix it in with the damp grains until it absorbs the excess liquid and the consistency is easier to feed and eat.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

Thanks, by the way! It worked really well and the entire flock was happy to eat it!

 

[blackdog043]

I ferment non medicated starter grower crumble. When I back slop, after feeding out every morning, I add more water and feed to make a thick mixture. There is no water on top of the feed after a few minutes, if there is I add a little feed, or if it's to dry I add some water. When I feed it out, it's like thick oatmeal. If your not happy with the consistency when it's time to feed, add whats needed. After three years of fermenting, I still add water or feed on occasion, before feeding.

This is how thick my flock likes it.

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

I ferment non medicated starter grower crumble. When I back slop, after feeding out every morning, I add more water and feed to make a thick mixture.

thanks—this is a term I keep hearing: back slop. Does this mean just taking out what’s needed and leaving a “mother” amount to jump stop the next batch?

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, back slop is leaving some of the fermented to add fresh feed and water to. It will ferment by the next morning, if it's kept around 70 degrees. I keep the crock on my kitchen counter. I usually have about 1/2 - 1 cup left over.

If you get a white covering on top of the fermented, it's perfectly fine to feed, it's not mold, it's yeast. (second pic)