Fermented feed in 90-100* weather

[proudmommie31]

Quick question: how do you approach leaving out fermented feed when it’s 90-100 degrees out? We don’t have to deal with this heat on a regular basis in Michigan, but we are in a hot hot spell. The chickens are doing great, they don’t have all their feather yet (4.5 weeks old) so they are actually doing fabulous in the shade outside. But I like to leave fermented food out for them to pick at most the day. Does it matter that it’s so hot or does it just keep fermenting in the feed bowl???

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Quick question: how do you approach leaving out fermented feed when it’s 90-100 degrees out? We don’t have to deal with this heat on a regular basis in Michigan, but we are in a hot hot spell. The chickens are doing great, they don’t have all their feather yet (4.5 weeks old) so they are actually doing fabulous in the shade outside. But I like to leave fermented food out for them to pick at most the day. Does it matter that it’s so hot or does it just keep fermenting in the feed bowl???

it's been 100 to 107 here for 2 weeks, I add extra water to the fermented feed because oherwise it dried up in the bowl and they didn't like it, I also don't ferment it as long, only 1 to 2 days instead of 3 or even 4 like I do in cooler weather. Just because it ferments so much faster.

The problem I have if I try to leave fermented food for their whole days food is they smash it flat and then don't know it's food! So I leave them some dried food too, in a separate area.
They don't do that as bad when i add more water either... also any leftover fermented food at the beginning of the next day, I remove or knock out of the bowl.( I have a hard time judging how much the growing ones need so often there's extra)

it won't go bad in the bowl though if that's your worry, it just keeps fermenting all day like you thought.

 

[proudmommie31]

Thank you! Mine smash it flat and then still eat it lol. But I’ll add a little more water tomorrow that’s a great idea! It can’t hurt to keep it from trying out so fast

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

Thank you! Mine smash it flat and then still eat it lol. But I’ll add a little more water tomorrow that’s a great idea! It can’t hurt to keep it from trying out so fast

Yeah and they don't seem too mind, as long as it's not like soup anyway haha!
I wish mine would eat it flat but all of them just stand around on top of it like it doesn't exist! Silly birds

 

[lazy gardener]

Put the FF in the shade. When the weather is hot, I only mix up as much as they will eat in a 24 hour period. And when I mix it up in the summer, I may use cold water. While in the winter, I use warm water.

My babies are 10 days old. Mama brought them out of the coop for the first time today. The whole flock has been converted to fermented starter.

 

[snow5164]

I too make it more mushy in the heat , think oatmeal ... by the next day any little left overbits get stirred into the new food . My problem with the heat is to keep my bucket covered at all times to keep out the bugs , but if I recognize them it’s a bonus for the

 

[proudmommie31]

I def keep the food dish in the shade. And I usually mix it to the consistency of um....oatmeal before it has set and been left on the table for a half hour by the kids . I have a back entrance room in the house that is a bit closed off from the air conditioning but not completely (and certainly not 90-100) and i keep my fermented feed there. I just went out and they were happy and active and the little stinkers had ate all the fermented feed except the black sunflower seeds. Those they picked out and threw on the ground . I guess I won't add them in the next batch lol.

 

[Morrigan]

I've been struggling with fermented feed in the summer too. Even in the shade, it would dry out and they did not like it "crusty." Also, it was fermenting so fast in the heat and getting too sour.

I finally got a system figured out. I got a big towel to drape completely over the fermented feed bucket and wet it thoroughly every morning and night. The wet towel keeps the feed nice and cool inside and prevents the uber fast fermenting.

The other change I made is to put out smaller amounts of the FF only 2 or 3 times a day and leave dry food inside the coop. They now swarm the FF and clean it all up within a few hours, before it gets crusty and nasty.