Fermented Feed -should you be doing it?

[subhanalah]

I got sidetracked and didn't until after my last post. Yep, she explained it down to the basics, thanks so much for sharing! I still don't understand your first picture, though Is it in a pan? It looks like a cake that just got taken out of the pan! Your 2nd picture is more what I was expecting.  Also was expecting more of a slop look to it. Looks great!

it sticks together pretty well. Not really a slop, I need to be able to scoop it out and not spill it everywhere making a mess!

The first picture I posted is after I've packed it down after feeding the flock I smooth it out to keep the ferment healthy. When small pieces aren't kept within the "batch" it can dry out.
Oh, and, the picture of the plate was after it had been stepped in some...

 

[bustedchicks]

Maybe I am using too much water. How do you strain out the water to backslop?

 

[subhanalah]

Maybe I am using too much water. How do you strain out the water to backslop?

I do believe you are using too much water.

I've had a lot of questions lately when I post my favorite fermented feed guide on BYC.
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

I don't want to hijack that thread, so I'm going to quote it here and answer what I can.


I fill the container a little less than half way, then Fill it past the water level a bit. Stir it through, it should be pretty hard to stir by the time you are finished.

That's when starting a new bucket. If you already have some fermented food, you add a scoop or two to the water and stir it up before adding the dry and incorporating that to a uniform consistency.

Others have said an adult chicken eats from 1/2-1 cup per day. It varies dependent on forage available as well as other things included in the diet, such as scraps.

If they don't have any left the next day, feed more this time. If they have a lot left over, feed less.

As with mixing it, determining how much to feed your flock is too dependent on too many variables for any one answer to be correct.

p.s. I stir daily when starting a new ferment, but not after the first time. If it has been pre treated with fermented media, I don't stir, but I go through it pretty quickly. I keep it covered slightly to keep humidity in. If the sides get food on them, it can cause mold from not being in contact with the ferment culture and drying out too much.

 

[JAZsMom]

Thanks for the further explanation.

Much appreciated.

One more question, that I seem to have missed along the way...I plan to do it nice and simple, ferment for 3-4 days, and just add to it...I assume I add more water also, right?

 

[subhanalah]

Yes, the directions I gave are for starting a new batch, once you start a new batch, you do pretty much the same thing, but you don't have to let it sit as long before you use it.

I don't refill as I go, I have difficulty when I try to do it that way.

It's much easier for me personally to use it almost all the way up and then refresh it.
I have two buckets going when I can, but if you have fewer birds, you won't need that. They also aren't very big buckets.