Fermented feed:is this batch safe!?

[DMichaelW]

This is my fermented feed, it’s 3 days old tomorrow morning and ideally should be fed to my flock. This is the same water I used to ferment their feed 3 days ago. This batch, unlike the others has this white bubbly film on top. Is it safe?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yikes, I don't do fermented, that stuff scares me. @lazy gardener does fermented. Maybe she will give some advice.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I make fermented feed and give to all my poultry animals.

Thanks for the picture. It **appears** that there is mold growing on top of the feed. I would toss it, wash out hte container really well, possibly boil it/sterilize it, and let it completely air dry before making a new batch of feed.

While you are waiting for it to ferment, it's ok to give wet feed to the chickens.

Are you using tap water? Bottled water? Well water? City water?

Do you tightly cover the feed while it's fermenting? Loosely cover with a towel or cheesecloth? Or leave it completely uncovered?

Is there an inch or so of water ALWAYS covering the feed during the process? The occasional burping of the feed would be the exception.

Do you stir your feed while it's in process?

 

[Kiki]

I think that is mold too. I'd trash that batch.

I too ferment but I do it on my kitchen. Is it really hot where you live?
If so you might want to do this indoors.

 

[DMichaelW]

I Stir daily, sometimes more. The jar (a large pickle jar) has several holes in the lid, which is all that I use to close it. I’ve been doing my fermenting in the shed, and temps have been in the low 90’s so definitely hotter in the shed.

 

[DMichaelW]

I Stir daily, sometimes more. The jar (a large pickle jar) has several holes in the lid, which is all that I use to close it. I’ve been doing my fermenting in the shed, and temps have been in the low 90’s so definitely hotter in the shed.

Always water covering as well

 

[lazy gardener]

This is my fermented feed, it’s 3 days old tomorrow morning and ideally should be fed to my flock. This is the same water I used to ferment their feed 3 days ago. This batch, unlike the others has this white bubbly film on top. Is it safe?

That white bubbly stuff on top is SCOBY. This is the good blend of bacteria and yeast that produces the ferment. it is fermenting faster, I presume b/c you are saving some of the previous day's ferment to start the new batch. During the summer, I typically mix the ferment and feed it out the next day. I always keep a bit back in the bucket to "seed" the next batch. I keep my ferment much dryer, so don't typically see the SCOBY, but it is still there.

 

[blackdog043]

Yep that's SCOBY, black or green would be mold. Your shed is processing it faster because it is so hot, 70 degrees is the ideal temp to ferment. I keep mine on the kitchen counter in a crock. If you put it in the refrigerator it will basically stop fermenting, I do this when I go away. When I get home, I get it out and start feeding it, I don't have to start over again. I keep mine a lot dryer, there is no water on top. What I don't feed out for the day, I add to for the next day. I typically only mix enough for one day. I mixed this batch but you can see how dry mine is, they don't like it real wet.

 

[blackdog043]

Here's a link for yeast fermented pics, not mold.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fuz...Q_AUoAg&biw=1138&bih=501#imgrc=G4v2iYzvNchVJM:

 

[Seaecho]

I also feed mine dry, like blackdog. My chickens also don't care for wet, or worse, soupy ferment.