Fermented Feed for Quail

[EastTex]

So, for a dryer ferment, what's the ratio of water to feed that should be used? (Just starting on FF).

 

[Kusanar]

So, for a dryer ferment, what's the ratio of water to feed that should be used? (Just starting on FF).

It depends on your feed... So, I would start with a 50/50 and if it's too wet after it finishes expanding, then add some more feed and mix again until it gets to the texture you want. Keep track of how much water and feed you put in, and once you get it where you want it, you know the ratio for the future.

 

[BReeder!]

I have fermented feed for my chickens. I used mason jars for 7 birds. We mixed store bought crumble type layer feed with a mix of seeds and grain (I purchase a high quality bird seed mix containing about 12 different grains and seeds and mix that with cracked corn) 50/50. We Fill the mason jar about 5/8 the way with that and then the rest of the way with water, leaving about an inch or so at the top for expansion. I put the lids on but not super tight. The do bulge. I let that sit for 3 days before feeding. I found that for me 3 days was ideal because it wasn't broken down too much, I could tell from bubbles and smell that there was an active culture in the feed and there were no signs of bad bacteria taking over. When I went longer I would get mold or black streaks (nasty bacteria) in the feed and had to toss it out. I also found that small batches just the size of what my birds eat is ideal. we rotated 4 jars: day 1, day 2, day 3, one in the dishwasher. This cycle allowed us to fill a jar (from the dishwasher) when we go to get a jar to feed the birds. Then that dirty jar would just get rinsed out and go into the dirty dishes to be washed before the next day. It was less back and forth this way, and we would start each batch fresh with a clean jar. If you do want to kickstart the fermentation with some from the last batch, just take a tablespoon from the jar you are about to feed the birds and add it to the new jar you are making. This way you transfer some of the good, but are not starting out with a filthy jar possibly full of nasty pathogens.

 

[igorsMistress]

I just cover crumble with filtered water and let it sit over night in a bucket. Nothing fancy.

 

[BReeder!]

I just cover crumble with filtered water and let it sit over night in a bucket. Nothing fancy.

Does the feed actually ferment overnight just or does it only expand by absorb water? Overnight sounds great as it would be lead to less to manage, but I know that my 3 day process provides added microbes and access (to digestion) to more nutrients in the feed. Does you overnight blend show signs of fermentation (bubbles, sourdough/yeast smell)?

 

[igorsMistress]

Does the feed actually ferment overnight just or does it only expand by absorb water? Overnight sounds great as it would be lead to less to manage, but I know that my 3 day process provides added microbes and access (to digestion) to more nutrients in the feed. Does you overnight blend show signs of fermentation (bubbles, sourdough/yeast smell)?

My environment is pretty warm most of the time so over night is about right. The first batch I fermented for a couple days, just a small amount that I added to a fresh batch of food and water to give it a jump start. Max it goes is 2 days, after that they don't seem to care for it much.
It gets nice and fluffy and smells of yeast. The only thing I do in winter is move the buckets to the kitchen where it's warmer than where I usually keep them, otherwise the fermenting slows.

ETA I've fermented chicken feed a couple of years this way. Sometimes I'll ferment scratch and use the liquid from that to give just wet feed and everyone seems to love that as a treat once in a while.

 

[BReeder!]

My environment is pretty warm most of the time so over night is about right. The first batch I fermented for a couple days, just a small amount that I added to a fresh batch of food and water to give it a jump start. Max it goes is 2 days, after that they don't seem to care for it much.
It gets nice and fluffy and smells of yeast. The only thing I do in winter is move the buckets to the kitchen where it's warmer than where I usually keep them, otherwise the fermenting slows.

ETA I've fermented chicken feed a couple of years this way. Sometimes I'll ferment scratch and use the liquid from that to give just wet feed and everyone seems to love that as a treat once in a while.

Do you do anything differently for fermenting scratch? I mix feed and scratch when I ferment for my chickens, and the one thing that bothers my is that I always have sunflower seeds (in the shell and part of my scratch) floating to the surface of my jar. I would like to keep everything under the waterline, but it just doesn't work out that way for me because of the darn sunflower seeds.

 

[igorsMistress]

Do you do anything differently for fermenting scratch? I mix feed and scratch when I ferment for my chickens, and the one thing that bothers my is that I always have sunflower seeds (in the shell and part of my scratch) floating to the surface of my jar. I would like to keep everything under the waterline, but it just doesn't work out that way for me because of the darn sunflower seeds.

No I just throw it in a bucket to do its thing. Stir it a couple times a day. My friend uses a plate a bit smaller than her bucket to hold down the sunflower seeds so it's all under water for hers. Might be worth a shot.

 

[BReeder!]

No I just throw it in a bucket to do its thing. Stir it a couple times a day. My friend uses a plate a bit smaller than her bucket to hold down the sunflower seeds so it's all under water for hers. Might be worth a shot.

plate is a good idea. I ferment in small batches though because we only have 7 chickens. when the quail grow (still eggs at the moment) I will ferment larger batches possibly as there will eventually be 100 quail around here. I am envisioning some like a french press, with a sort of plunger to hold things down in a small container. I may have to check Good Will for some used cheap French presses.

 

[igorsMistress]

plate is a good idea. I ferment in small batches though because we only have 7 chickens. when the quail grow (still eggs at the moment) I will ferment larger batches possibly as there will eventually be 100 quail around here. I am envisioning some like a french press, with a sort of plunger to hold things down in a small container. I may have to check Good Will for some used cheap French presses.

A 5 gallon bucket, a dinner plate and a plunger?

I do small batches too, 8 chickens and 14 quail here. In Spring I'll be hatching more quail, can't wait!