FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[subhanalah]

So I have 80 chicks ranging from a week old to 6 weeks. I give unmedicated chick crumble. They waste a ton and it is driving me nuts. I don't know how much feed to put in and how much water??? I'm confused on how to make this? Also can I use a five gallon Home Depot bucket? Do I cover it? I keep reading that people cover it and leave it but then some people keep adding more feed... Why? Also is it only good for one day and you have to toss out what you don't use that day?

also, you don't throw it out after one day.
Once I scoop it out, it continues to ferment in the bowl. It will theoretically last forever by refreshing with new feed and water when you get low. Unless you mess it up somehow...like pouring half gallon of white vinegar in it instead of water. *facepalm*

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Don't worry about people getting upset. If they have a question and someone on here takes the time to answer it then that's great. If the individual asking the question needs to read back some pages to find the answer and gets upset about it, I say oh well. Too bad for them, they can either read or get over it.

Thanks. I could be a stinker and post a link to page 1 of the fermenting for meaties thread and say everyone has to read it all before coming here ... that thread is like twice as long as this one and even more overwhelming (I don't keep up with it! not enough coffee a available!). But as meaties only stay around for about 8 weeks, that thread probably has fewer variables to consider ... hmmm. Nope ... I'd still say reading this thread is the way to go. This and the great summery from tikktok.

 

[subhanalah]

Unless that poster comes back with some additional info to add to that statement, I'd consider that post to be a little on the alarmist side. I've been doing lots of research on the benefits of fermented grains ... traditional methods, etc. ... and that "problem" has not surfaced in my research. But I'll certainly do some digging into it myself.

what would we do without you. I'm very eager to learn more about this alleged penicillin relationship.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Oh man. I just spent some quality time with my lap top googling antibiotics in fermented grains only to have my Internet browser seize up JUST before I pushed send on the post I wrote about that adventure.

 

[subhanalah]

Sometimes you can go back on your browser and it will have saved what you typed in.

 

[Tikkijane]

I finally understand what "pasty" means when describing the texture of wet feed. This new feed (wheat-based, no corn -- it's a dense pellet) can become a super thick paste ... when it does, we have to break it up into crumbles, and even that is not easy ... as it dries a little, it sticks to everything and is very difficult to scrape the paste off. Once it's scraped off it can be described as "crumbly." But I'm hoping there is a way to mix it to the right texture from the start.

I'm going to mix smaller loads of it in each bucket so we can try using less water -- much less -- so it is just wet enough to crumble and I'm hoping somehow it isn't still too heavy to stir. I tried that before, but keep catching Dad adding more water, then more feed ... I will work on getting him to stop that so I can get the proper ratio of feed to water figured out. But, honestly, I'm not sure that's possible.

I'd hate to have to quit feeding FF while I figure this out ... but if we can't stir it, and it becomes too stiff for the birds to eat, and gums up the equipment, then fermenting this particular batch of feed isn't going to be feasible to manage. If it gums up a spoon, it will gum up the beaks, and that is bad for the birds.

I'm going to ask the mill for a coarser grind next time. Meanwhile, I'll tweak.

If its too thick to stir, how about adding enough water to get it started? Shouldn't it all break down the same? What are you using to stir? I got a large stainless steel paddle that does really well.

 

[Tikkijane]

Leslie I have been reading and I also have a family of five and a full farm. Most people aren't saying how much feed for the amount of chicks I have. I asked questions that i felt weren't answered completely.


Thanks to everyone else for clarifying.

Adults need 1/2-1 cup of FF 1-2 times a day. There are no hard and fast rules. Consumption goes up when it's cold; down when it's hot. Both varaible affect how much I mix at one time. When it's cold, my batches are close to 24 qts of both dry feed and water (1:1 ratio). Now that it's hot and theu are eating less, it's more like 16 qts of each. Keets get their own and that's not factored in.

It's more of an art than science. Feed what they can eat in 30 minutes to an hour and go from there.

 

[Tikkijane]

Leslie I have been reading and I also have a family of five and a full farm. Most people aren't saying how much feed for the amount of chicks I have. I asked questions that i felt weren't answered completely.


Thanks to everyone else for clarifying.

And fpr chicks, I give small amounts. When it's gone, I give them more.

 

[Tikkijane]

Unless that poster comes back with some additional info to add to that statement, I'd consider that post to be a little on the alarmist side. I've been doing lots of research on the benefits of fermented grains ... traditional methods, etc. ... and that "problem" has not surfaced in my research. But I'll certainly do some digging into it myself.

I'd like to see the data.....

 

[Tikkijane]

Oh man. I just spent some quality time with my lap top googling antibiotics in fermented grains only to have my Internet browser seize up JUST before I pushed send on the post I wrote about that adventure.

OHHHHH I HATE THAT!!! Usually that happens and I'm on my phone and tried to add a photo....