FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

Is the deep litter in your coop producing heat? Or is the litter in your coop frozen solid?

I think you're right that probably drier or crumblier texture to the FF when it is put out is probably another factor. Even if the FF freezes, the "crumbles" are still crumbly and not stuck together/to the the feeder.

Probably a wooden trough helps ... stuff doesn't freeze to it so solidly because the texture isn't so smooth? Then a bird can peck it out.

When we were at 10 and 20 below zero those temps followed a couple of days of heavy rain and I did see some freezing of the litter in my coop but only in some clumps. Right now the litter is moist underneath but kind of drier and fluffier on top, even with the recent rains and snows we've had in the last couple of days. I do think the deep litter laying thick under the feeder helps keep things warmer and also the wooden trough...though it didn't freeze last winter either when I used the metal trough. I have holes drilled in the bottom of my troughs to let out excess fluid, so that helps as well.

Right now it's in the teens and it was all night but the litter is very fluffy and light to toss. The chickens have been in there plowing it away on the edges where the worms come into the moist bedding at the edges after a rain. Then I have to toss the dryer bedding out of the middle or the front of the coop and replace it towards the edges if I want to be able to get the door open without losing my bedding. Usually I just let them move it all back but every once in awhile I have to correct their excavating efforts.

Using the mash instead of finer ground feeds is also another factor, as the particles are all different sizes and not easy to clump up, making it more crumbly in texture, like you've mentioned.

 

[Faerie]

Couple of questions from the newbie. I am fermenting my chick feed in a single container, it was pretty thick the first couple days, now is bubbly (which I know is good), but also more watery. Should I move it to a 2 container system with holes for drainage?

Second question, one of my chicks seems to be bathing in the ff.....lol. The front of her gets all wet, and her feathers are matted looking. Should I try and clean her off with a warm washcloth, or just leave it? I don't want her getting chilled.

And just to add, their little poops are more solid, and so far no pasty butt!!

Michelle

 

[Beekissed]

Couple of questions from the newbie. I am fermenting my chick feed in a single container, it was pretty thick the first couple days, now is bubbly (which I know is good), but also more watery. Should I move it to a 2 container system with holes for drainage?

Second question, one of my chicks seems to be bathing in the ff.....lol. The front of her gets all wet, and her feathers are matted looking. Should I try and clean her off with a warm washcloth, or just leave it? I don't want her getting chilled.

And just to add, their little poops are more solid, and so far no pasty butt!!

Michelle

Good!! The thing with the FF is that it must be stirred really, really good after that first night of adding feed and water. I'll tell you why: The feed swells from absorbing the fluid and sort of separates...there will be a layer of thicker feed on top, a layer of water in the middle and a layer of more dense, finer particles at the bottom. In order to get the true consistency of your mix, you'll need to combine those three layers together so that the fluid is evenly distributed throughout the mix and can absorb evenly.

Then you will know just how much feed or water to add to get it to the desired consistency, but usually you don't have to add anything because the longer it sits the more the feed absorbs the water and pretty soon you have a good, steady thickness you can count on.

Just remember to stir that good each time you open that bucket and before you feed. Thicken it up if you need to do so.

I'd leave that feed on the chick because it will just happen again. Some have more of a tendency to get in the feed. It may lose that fluff on that part of the chest and it may take a bit to grow it back but it will resolve itself soon enough. You could try soaking it off but if he gets into it again I wouldn't keep washing him.

 

[Faerie]

Thanks Bee!! I am loving my little chicks!!

 

[Tikkijane]

When we were at 10 and 20 below zero those temps followed a couple of days of heavy rain and I did see some freezing of the litter in my coop but only in some clumps.  Right now the litter is moist underneath but kind of drier and fluffier on top, even with the recent rains and snows we've had in the last couple of days.  I do think the deep litter laying thick under the feeder helps keep things warmer and also the wooden trough...though it didn't freeze last winter either when I used the metal trough.  I have holes drilled in the bottom of my troughs to let out excess fluid, so that helps as well.

Right now it's in the teens and it was all night but the litter is very fluffy and light to toss.  The chickens have been in there plowing it away on the edges where the worms come into the moist bedding at the edges after a rain.  Then I have to toss the dryer bedding out of the middle or the front of the coop and replace it towards the edges if I want to be able to get the door open without losing my bedding.  Usually I just let them move it all back but every once in awhile I have to correct their excavating efforts. 

Using the mash instead of finer ground feeds is also another factor, as the particles are all different sizes and not easy to clump up, making it more crumbly in texture, like you've mentioned. 

On this same note- I'm keeping track, it will be a while before I've observed enough to make conclusions:

At this point it seems they eat less when the mix has higher protein. Next time, I'm going to use crumbles for everything because that's the primary difference bewteen feeds besides protein/calcium content.

This batch, while it goes by weight, there is more volume to the bags of crumble. Since I'm fermenting, it doesn't matter (dry, I prefer pellet) unless there is something to the thinking with regard to the binding agent in the pellets.

Anyhow. I'm a nerd.

 

[roostereggs]

More questions...should I just keep one bucket going, or should I have two per flock? I keep a 5 gallon 90% full right now. I will be pouring some of it into another bucket to get some going with the grower feed for the chicks and would prefer just to have one bucket for each flock.

How often do you pour contents into bucket #2 to clean bucket #1...?

And how will our summer temps affect the FF (100-120*)? (Other than boiling it, LOL!) Will it go bad fast? I currently keep it outdoors in the coop. I guess I could keep it in the workshop which will be warm but not Hades hot!

 

[Beekissed]

More questions...should I just keep one bucket going, or should I have two per flock? I keep a 5 gallon 90% full right now. I will be pouring some of it into another bucket to get some going with the grower feed for the chicks and would prefer just to have one bucket for each flock.

How often do you pour contents into bucket #2 to clean bucket #1...?

And how will our summer temps affect the FF (100-120*)? (Other than boiling it, LOL!) Will it go bad fast? I currently keep it outdoors in the coop. I guess I could keep it in the workshop which will be warm but not Hades hot!

Depends on how many birds you are feeding and if you are constantly having to rebatch because you are running out quickly. When I keep a 2 bucket system, I'll clean out that bottom bucket whenever the fine, silty flour from the feed starts to fill up the bottom compartment...about twice or three times a year, depending on the feed I'm using. For you folks who feed the finer ground grains found in pelleted or crumbled feeds or have bigger holes in your top bucket, you might need to do that more often.

It won't go bad in hot temps but it will speed up the metabolism and you'll smell a stronger smell..this is not bad, merely more acetic acid production is present. You'll see more secondary mold growth in the hot temps but just keep your bucket sides scraped down and stir it every day and it won't be too bad. That mold will not cause problems if just mixed into the feed, as it is not strong enough or in large enough numbers to colonize your feed..the lactobacillus are always stronger as long as they are fed fresh feed as you rebatch your mix.

What you can do to circumvent that fast metabolism is to mix up smaller batches that will be fed and refreshed more often. That's how I do mine....bigger batches in the cooler temps because it takes longer for the scoby to convert the sugars and smaller batches in the hot temps because they go into hyperspeed and can be fed out more quickly.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I started my new chick ff starter--I made it myself. I crushed up larger kernels. I have 2 questions as to ingredients I added:

1. Finely diced Kale
2. Sprouted wheat with their tails--chopped up

Are these ok to add?
Can I add chopped carrots, cooked fresh peas etc to the mix?
Can you add say, organic chopped chicken or beef liver? Any meats?

Your input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

We're having a cold snap with snow here in Oregon so the coop has been closed up for a few days. Everyone is surprised that it doesn't stink except me ... a benefit of the fermented feed.

 

[kpgoldstar]

More questions...should I just keep one bucket going, or should I have two per flock? I keep a 5 gallon 90% full right now. I will be pouring some of it into another bucket to get some going with the grower feed for the chicks and would prefer just to have one bucket for each flock.

How often do you pour contents into bucket #2 to clean bucket #1...?

And how will our summer temps affect the FF (100-120*)? (Other than boiling it, LOL!) Will it go bad fast? I currently keep it outdoors in the coop. I guess I could keep it in the workshop which will be warm but not Hades hot!

I only use one bucket and I never have to clean it. I've had the same bucket for 5 months. Since you are in AZ with me, I just scrape down the dry particles that cling to the side of the bucket every time I feed. Mine doesn't grow any mold, pretty sure because it is so dry here. I keep it in the house which ranges anywhere from 55 to 80 in the winter and will be 75 to 90 in the summer. I think you have significantly more birds than I do, so like Bee said maybe make smaller batches to last a day or two for each flock then refresh more often as in the warmer temps the ferment will be ready by next feeding. Even the way I feed now I make enough for about 4-5 days, then when I am down to not enough for the following days meal, I refresh either in AM or Eve and it is fully fermented again in 12 hours for the next feeding.