FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

I have a question about the Fermented Feeds. I have only been Fermenting my Layer Pellets and Scratch Grains for two weeks. I am using the two bucket system....I put in the layer pellets, covered with water and then put in about 1/4c of ACV and stirred...I have tried to stir every couple of hours. It started to bubble within 48 hours, I have put in fresh water and fresh pellets about every two days, when the mixture seems to get low. I started putting in the Scratch grains three days ago. My question is does the FF ever stop bubbling? My FF is no longer bubbling and I just want to make sure that it is still OK to feed to my girls. I only have 6 for the time being and do not want to do anything that will endanger them. Thank you for any help...

Yes, it stops bubbling so noticeably when it's got a good ferment and the addition of the grains creates spaces within the bulk of the feed and particularly on the surface that allows for gas release better than when the mix is just finely ground feed. I notice the bubbles more when my feed mix is smoothly textured as opposed to when it's interspersed with the larger grains, so I'm assuming it's because the grains create more opportunities for the mix to gas off then does the more dense milled feeds. Stirring it that often also allows for those gas pockets to release well without the formation of bubbles...you don't have to stir that often. Once a day before you feed some out is sufficient to keep the top moistened and to allow gassing off.

Sounds like you have a good mix going so no worries!

 

[SCHenny]

Thank you so much for the quick reply. I have been reading this thread and also the others on FF and have learned so much.

 

[theadvocate19]

Somehow I guess I forgot to stir one day, resulted in 1" of gray mold. I tossed it out, but was wondering IF it would've been edible?...if not no harm, no foul.

 

[tcmstalcup]

I am sooo immature. The term "gassing off" put me into giggles this morning. Probably related to my own ingestion of homemade sauerkraut last night.

 

[TeaChick]

Upon request I am starting a thread about using fermentation to improve feed nutritive value and health benefits.

1. Anyone doing it?
2. How long have you been doing it?
3. Your methods?
4. Grains/feeds used in this manner?
5. Your overall review of this method of feeding?

1. I do
2. About a month or so.
3. I ferment deer corn for 2 or 3 days in nut jars from Target; I put a PB jar of dry whole corn into the nut jar, add equal volume of water, and wait. When the water gets cloudy, I feed it. I keep two to three jars going at once and try to anticipate how much they'll be eating of that based on how much I anticipate free ranging them. I had one jar get moldy b/c I didn't put in enough water; I had one jar take 4 days to get cloudy b/c I hadn't added enough water and added some on day two; I had one jar get cottage cheese looking stuff on the top. I threw out the moldy and cottage cheese stuff where the chickens could get it if they wanted it, but not where I usually feed them so they didn't think I expected them to eat it.
4. Deer corn: dried, whole kernel corn. I haven't tried anything else b/c I just started doing this; in fact, I've only been raising chickens since this spring.
5. It increased their egg production (at least for a few days), so I assume that they're getting sufficient protein this way over feeding them dog food. Apparently, some kind(s) of protein in the dog food was less digestible for them. I like it; I plan to alternate between this method and layer pellets one bag at a time.

 

[TeaChick]

I am sooo immature. The term "gassing off" put me into giggles this morning. Probably related to my own ingestion of homemade sauerkraut last night.

I'm giggling too now, for whatever that's worth to you.

 

[kpgoldstar]

Somehow I guess I forgot to stir one day, resulted in 1" of gray mold. I tossed it out, but was wondering IF it would've been edible?...if not no harm, no foul.

Where was the gray mold? On top of the water? On top of the feed under the water? What made you certain it was mold? Do you stir every time you feed and if so, how did you miss a day of stirring, unless this is a brand new batch you are trying to ferment?

 

[kpgoldstar]

1. I do
2. About a month or so.
3. I ferment deer corn for 2 or 3 days in nut jars from Target; I put a PB jar of dry whole corn into the nut jar, add equal volume of water, and wait. When the water gets cloudy, I feed it. I keep two to three jars going at once and try to anticipate how much they'll be eating of that based on how much I anticipate free ranging them. I had one jar get moldy b/c I didn't put in enough water; I had one jar take 4 days to get cloudy b/c I hadn't added enough water and added some on day two; I had one jar get cottage cheese looking stuff on the top. I threw out the moldy and cottage cheese stuff where the chickens could get it if they wanted it, but not where I usually feed them so they didn't think I expected them to eat it.
4. Deer corn: dried, whole kernel corn. I haven't tried anything else b/c I just started doing this; in fact, I've only been raising chickens since this spring.
5. It increased their egg production (at least for a few days), so I assume that they're getting sufficient protein this way over feeding them dog food. Apparently, some kind(s) of protein in the dog food was less digestible for them. I like it; I plan to alternate between this method and layer pellets one bag at a time.

Are you planning to ferment your pellets once you have finished with the corn? There is far less waste and the feed increases greatly in volume.

 

[TeaChick]

Are you planning to ferment your pellets once you have finished with the corn? There is far less waste and the feed increases greatly in volume.

I didn't know I could (or should) ferment pellets.
How would I go about that?

 

[Beekissed]

Somehow I guess I forgot to stir one day, resulted in 1" of gray mold. I tossed it out, but was wondering IF it would've been edible?...if not no harm, no foul.

You don't have to stir every day and what you saw wasn't the bad kind of mold..that was your scoby. The good guys. Don't toss that out next time!

I've went several days without stirring mine while I was out of town...no worries. It does not require stirring to keep going, though it's a good idea anyway just to keep the top moistened.

1. I do
2. About a month or so.
3. I ferment deer corn for 2 or 3 days in nut jars from Target; I put a PB jar of dry whole corn into the nut jar, add equal volume of water, and wait. When the water gets cloudy, I feed it. I keep two to three jars going at once and try to anticipate how much they'll be eating of that based on how much I anticipate free ranging them. I had one jar get moldy b/c I didn't put in enough water; I had one jar take 4 days to get cloudy b/c I hadn't added enough water and added some on day two; I had one jar get cottage cheese looking stuff on the top. I threw out the moldy and cottage cheese stuff where the chickens could get it if they wanted it, but not where I usually feed them so they didn't think I expected them to eat it.
4. Deer corn: dried, whole kernel corn. I haven't tried anything else b/c I just started doing this; in fact, I've only been raising chickens since this spring.
5. It increased their egg production (at least for a few days), so I assume that they're getting sufficient protein this way over feeding them dog food. Apparently, some kind(s) of protein in the dog food was less digestible for them. I like it; I plan to alternate between this method and layer pellets one bag at a time.

Here's an easier way for you...dump all your feed, whole grains and the other, in a big bucket and add water, stir and wait. You don't have to keep it under water but it's a good idea to keep it all moistened, so if it's a tad too dry after it absorbed the first fluid, just add a little more and keep stirring until it is easy to stir or mix. It will continue to absorb fluid as time goes along but no worries...just keep it at the consistency you prefer, be it thicker or soupy...it doesn't matter to the fermentation. Soupy just requires more fussiness of trying to strain off the soup.

Here's a vid or two that shows what it will look like and what texture I feed mine at....

I didn't know I could (or should) ferment pellets.
How would I go about that?

It may help you to read from the beginning of the thread so that you won't have to guess at what is happening, what feeds you can ferment and how, etc. There is a wealth of info in these threads that can help you navigate this method.