FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[flockanuts]

I just have to say that I want some of what y'all were drinking or smoking or whatever back when you started talking about marketing chicken poo!!! Like BK says "I almost cried down my leg!". That was some totally hysterical posting going on!

 

[kpgoldstar]

Hi I have a ? I made up my batch of ff Sunday. This morning is smelled good. Tonight it smells alcholish... It was seperated tonight so I stirred it back up.... Is that normal? I used a small pickle jar.. How much ACV should I add? Or should I throw it out and start over?

FF can do weird things. I think it is fine. It can separate, have strange colored growths top or bottom, smell differently. I wouldn't throw it out or add ACV. Just keep going. If it is really wet with water on top, you may want to add some more feed to dry it out some.

 

[Tikkijane]

No wonder my chickens wouldn't touch it, I didn't soak.

The organic grower I ferment and feed everyone has alfalfa meal as the 4th ingredient listed, ahead of oats.

I'd do 100% too if I had larger flocks but I mostly have disperse breeding pens with a maximum of 12 adults or 30 young birds each so instead of slopping one big group, I'm dragging it around to up to 10 pens. At least one flock is free ranging all the time.

A cooler with wheels and a handle drags around nicely..... {goes up and down stairs well, too}

 

[Tikkijane]

A cooler with wheels and a handle drags around nicely..... {goes up and down stairs well, too}

And once it gets warmer, you can leave a cooler in each location like Bee was doing with hers in the coop. I have 3 separate feeding stations, not counting the chicks. I use a bowl to transport it from the house, but I might end up putting the cooler bin the feed shed. Haven't decided yet.

 

[Tikkijane]

Awesome! It sounds like you're doing great.

I'm completely hooked and only a little crazy.....

 

[Ariel188]

I made a video of my second batch of FF. I bought a BPA FREE bucket online. I used Scratch and Peck organic no corn/soy feed, covered free with water and poured in some mothers organic raw apple cider vinegar. I had no lid on my bucket but it was inside my house. My dog wanted a taste and after a few days decided to sample the FF and it got her approval, lol. As of now I cover it with a wire mesh because I think completely covering it with a lid will make it rot. I think the FF In the video is about 2 days brewing. If you go to about 30 sec on the video you can see the consistency. I have since experimented with more water but I really like this oatmeal type consistency in the video. It seems to bubble more and you can even hear it. About 1/2 cup FF per LF laying hen seems to be working right now.

 

[Beekissed]

You can even go much, much more dry than that, if you would like, for ease of feeding. Looks like it's really percolating!

 

[Ariel188]

You can even go much, much more dry than that, if you would like, for ease of feeding. Looks like it's really percolating!

Yeah I am still new and experimenting. I am on my third time now. I do like it the consistency on the video because it also gives them extra water and I used filtered water to make the FF. It also takes longer to dry out if they don't eat it all. Thanks it is fun to make it and watch it bubble away!

 

[subhanalah]

Thank you for this video! It helps me know that my batch was good!

In only started it about 36 hours ago, son I think I'll stick to using the Primal Defense to start (just not as much next time!)

My week old chicks love it! Then older birds are much more weary, I had to bribe them with the sprouted wheat grass I put in it, lol.

Also, does anyone know how this affects the manure? Does it make it more/less "hot?"

 

[Ariel188]

Thank you for this video! It helps me know that my batch was good!

In only started it about 36 hours ago, son I think I'll stick to using the Primal Defense to start (just not as much next time!)

My week old chicks love it! Then older birds are much more weary, I had to bribe them with the sprouted wheat grass I put in it, lol.

Also, does anyone know how this affects the manure? Does it make it more/less "hot?"

You are welcome. I love posting photos/videos. SO many people have helped me learn by posting photos/videos of all things chicken related so I am glad I can help out in return! I do really recommend a BPA free bucket though because the ACV in normal plastic will leach harmful chemicals imo.