FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

You could use a scoop instead of tipping the bucket over. Or use a couple zip ties to sew the screen on through a couple holes in the bottom.


I'm going to move to this method! Next time I find a good deal on a cooler at at thrift store, this'll be it! Bee, how cold is it in your area? I mean, I'm thinking the cooler should keep the FF from freezing in a giant brick for at least a few days in our 15-20F temps here.

This cooler is doing very well! We've had temps in the teens here as well, with daytime temps in the 30s and I found one corner that had a little ice on the top after the days and nights we had in the teens. My cooler is one we bought at a flea market for $20, is large and square, with wheels and an extendable handle on it...not that I intend to move it but it will sure come in handy if I have to. My coop is open air, so the cooler sits along one wall that only has wire between it and the cold outdoors. I have a very strong ferment and I mix large batches so that it has time to work in all the grains along the way.

If that doesn't sound doable, you could always use a heated water bucket in the coop...if this cooler doesn't continue to keep the FF well, that's my next step. I can get a 5 gal. heated bucket for around $33 at one feed store I know. Those things pay for themselves year in and year out....I've had the same one for my dog now for 6-7 years and never have to worry about his winter water.

 

[pdirt]

This cooler is doing very well!  We've had temps in the teens here as well, with daytime temps in the 30s and I found one corner that had a little ice on the top after the days and nights we had in the teens.  My cooler is one we bought at a flea market for $20, is large and square, with wheels and an extendable handle on it...not that I intend to move it but it will sure come in handy if I have to.  My coop is open air, so the cooler sits along one wall that only has wire between it and the cold outdoors.  I have a very strong ferment and I mix large batches so that it has time to work in all the grains along the way. 

If that doesn't sound doable, you could always use a heated water bucket in the coop...if this cooler doesn't continue to keep the FF well, that's my next step.  I can get a 5 gal. heated bucket for around $33 at one feed store I know.  Those things pay for themselves year in and year out....I've had the same one for my dog now for 6-7 years and never have to worry about his winter water. 

Thanks, Bee, sounds like similar, a bit warmer in your neck of the woods. Of course, I forgot a very simple solution! Put a 40-60w lightbulb in the cooler with the FF. Hang from the lid so it moves out of the way when you lift the lid. Probably best to make permanent changes to the lid of the cooler to keep the bulb secure, just be sure to have it several inches from the plastic and line the lid with foil. You might want to also scoop from the bottom to keep the bottom feed from freezing. Haven't tried this myself, but it sounds like a good idea and cheaper than a heated bucket.

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks, Bee, sounds like similar, a bit warmer in your neck of the woods. Of course, I forgot a very simple solution! Put a 40-60w lightbulb in the cooler with the FF. Hang from the lid so it moves out of the way when you lift the lid. Probably best to make permanent changes to the lid of the cooler to keep the bulb secure, just be sure to have it several inches from the plastic and line the lid with foil. You might want to also scoop from the bottom to keep the bottom feed from freezing. Haven't tried this myself, but it sounds like a good idea and cheaper than a heated bucket.

The FF kind of generates its own kind of heat. There's a lady named Kassaundra that keeps hers outside all winter in a large trash can...it gets a little ice on it now and again but it never freezes up on her.

This cooler of mine has some heat coming from the feed because there's condensation on the underside of the lid. I don't want to modify the cooler as we use it come family reunion time, so if it doesn't stay thawed out I'll just switch over to the heated bucket.

 

[pdirt]

The FF kind of generates its own kind of heat. There's a lady named Kassaundra that keeps hers outside all winter in a large trash can...it gets a little ice on it now and again but it never freezes up on her.

This cooler of mine has some heat coming from the feed because there's condensation on the underside of the lid. I don't want to modify the cooler as we use it come family reunion time, so if it doesn't stay thawed out I'll just switch over to the heated bucket.

Ah, yes, of course it does, I forgot! I walked up to our worm bin the other day (we just moved into this colder part of the state), half dreading to see all our wormies dead and frozen. Before I even lifted the lid, I could feel the heat eminating from the bin. And when I did lift the lid, it was quite normal looking and not a hint of frost. I stuffed some dry leaves in there and I won't be surprised if the bin makes in through the winter, providing we keep feeding the veggies scraps that we don't give the chickens.

Makes sense on not modifying the cooler. My wife would kill me if I tried doing that to our cooler, because even in winter, we often use it on road trips!

Almost have convinced her we should go 100% FF with the birds...

 

[Beekissed]

Wait until she tastes the eggs from this FF...sweet and mild, no eggy or sulfur taste or smell. Pure golden goodness! And the meat! The same....sweet, mild and flavorful. Can't get over that part of it, how much it changed the flavor and smell of the meat!

 

[pdirt]

We haven't eaten one of our chickens yet. We're very new, just got them in the spring. One wasn't laying very good eggs for a while and we told her she needed to start paying the rent or we were going to eat her. And she started laying beautiful eggs with strong shells since then!

A few years ago, we started eating more fermented foods ourselves and notice the benefits, so it just makes so much sense to do the same for the birds. I'm looking forward to when we do eat one. We will probably get some meat birds in the spring, looking forward to tasting what you're talking about.

 

[Sparkway]

Hi new to chickens and just starting to ff I hear about the firm poo and less smell. Do most still feed scraps from kitchen and does that defeat the purpose as it relates to poo?

 

[Beekissed]

Most still feed scraps and it may or may not affect the smell of the poop, but that can't be avoided. Some place the veggie and fruit scraps in the FF bucket and ferment them along with the feed.

 

[Beekissed]

Pics of the cooler container for the FF....temps in the teens and twenties here pretty steady and no ice except one corner had a few ice crystals in it once but not anymore. Working well and just wanted others to know about this if they want to keep their FF in the coop during the winter months. Keep in mind, I have a very strong ferment and the cold will slow down metabolism there so I'm mixing large batches so that it gets to sit long enough for all grains to get good fermentation even in the colder temps.

Pardon the dusty appearance of the cooler...the birds have been kicking up quite a lot of bedding near the feed trough....I'm thinking the bugs and such really come to the surface of the soils there to consume the drippings from my feed trough, as that area is churned up pretty much right now and the girls are also dusting in it.



Just refreshed this feed and the excess liquid hasn't absorbed yet, so looks a little more soupy than it will be by tomorrow....

 

[pegm]

Bee that looks good and I am thinking about moving my ff into a cooler also. We don't have your extreme temps, but we do sometimes get into the 20's and rarely the teens. I am currently keeping mine in the house in a 5 gal bucket. I have a greenhouse right next to the coop I would put it in. Gonna have to hit the thrift stores. BTW, what is your mixture? I am currently using layer crumbles and maybe 20% scratch plus boss.