Fermented feed

[DobieLover]

I’m relatively new to feed fermenting. I’m using a large plastic food container with holes punched in the lid.
I don’t fully ferment any more although I may try again this winter. In the summer, it was fermented in the morning and mouldy by the afternoon and the feed got wasted.
What I really like about it is there is minimal mess and if done right, minimal waste.
Given the chickens here are free range and eat the most disgusting stuff in the compost I’ll never be able to tell if fermenting makes a health difference.

Are you sure it was mold? You can look at pictures of molds vs. SCOBY. I have been fermenting for 3 days minimum for nearly 6 months and have never had a batch go bad.

 

[DobieLover]

I'm thinking a piece of PVC pipe cut in two and put on a stand. I think that will make for easier cleaning and long enough one cant hog the dish

This is what I made to feed my fermented food. It is a 4' long piece of 4" PVC with caps screwed onto the ends. It has two eye bolts on the ends. I used S-biners attached to the eye bolts to hang it from chains. I also put a pc of 1/2" pvc suspended on a length of wire to keep them from sitting on the trough. It works great. I just remove the feeder twice a week for a cleaning.

 

[Shadrach]

Are you sure it was mold? You can look at pictures of molds vs. SCOBY. I have been fermenting for 3 days minimum for nearly 6 months and have never had a batch go bad.

Pretty sure. The white froth is what I've taken to be fine. The mould was, well like bacteria on blue cheese, or stilton.

 

[Shadrach]

This is what I made to feed my fermented food. It is a 4' long piece of 4" PVC with caps screwed onto the ends. It has two eye bolts on the ends. I used S-biners attached to the eye bolts to hang it from chains. I also put a pc of 1/2" pvc suspended on a length of wire to keep them from sitting on the trough. It works great. I just remove the feeder twice a week for a cleaning.View attachment 1563062

I need to make something like that!

 

[DobieLover]

Pretty sure. The white froth is what I've taken to be fine. The mould was, well like bacteria on blue cheese, or stilton.

I've read that you can stir it in and the good SCOBY will kill it. I don't know if I'd be willing to take a chance but it should work.

 

[Shadrach]

I've read that you can stir it in and the good SCOBY will kill it. I don't know if I'd be willing to take a chance but it should work.

If I had a bit more experience I would try stirring it in but I'm still learning and atm, I'm okay with partial ferment, or mash I beleive its called.

 

[jonezjollyfarm]

I went with cheapo plastic serving trays I found at Walmart. They should he easily enough to store when not in use and easily cleaned.
So is scoby good or bad.... see to many contradictions. Lol

 

[snow5164]

You won’t have Scoby that fast . I leave some in the bottom of my single bucket for months and don’t get scoby.

Just fill bucket with feed
Add water til it’s easy to stir
A splash of acv for good gut flora
Let sit til it bubbles ,
Scoop out 3/4 if it
Add feed and water acv
Repeat

 

[DobieLover]

You won’t have Scoby that fast . I leave some in the bottom of my single bucket for months and don’t get scoby.

Just fill bucket with feed
Add water til it’s easy to stir
A splash of acv for good gut flora
Let sit til it bubbles ,
Scoop out 3/4 if it
Add feed and water acv
Repeat

I respectfully disagree. You don't get a thick colony but the white film is the beginning of the SCOBY. And it should be stirred into the feed and given to the chickens.

 

[PirateGirl]

I respectfully disagree. You don't get a thick colony but the white film is the beginning of the SCOBY. And it should be stirred into the feed and given to the chickens.

What happens quickly for some happens slowly for others. How hot or cold the air temperature is makes a difference to the fermentation process. How humid or dry it is can be a factor. What mold spores are present in one environment may not even exist in another. The SCOBY that can form is safe to eat, just like we use yeast and bacteria to make bread rise or make cheese or yogurt. Mold is different and may not be safe to eat. You can do a google image search for food molds vs. SCOBY to help you identify what's going on in your ferment batch. If you are ever unsure if it's safe to feed, toss it out, or post a picture on BYC and maybe someone more experienced can help you identify it.