FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[subhanalah]

Thanks... should I dump this?

On Tuesday I added room temp  water in a quart mason jar, water covered grain completely.  Lightly covered (ring lid not tight) couple days ago it smelled sweet, opened today and sulphur.  Seemed to dissipate after mixing it with a spoon.  I could dump but wanted to know for future.

did you stir it initially or just dump the food and water and let it sit for three days?

If you left it stagnant, that's where the problem is and you should start over, in my opinion.

 

[knjinnm]

this is why I don't like this thread.

It starts off with bad information and people see its the most active one and thing the good information is at the beginning.

You actually have to read VERY far into it in order to see that the best ferment uses food + water + time.
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

Where did you find bad information?

 

[subhanalah]

Where did you find bad information?

At the beginning of this thread.

Is there a way I could have been more clear that was what I was referring to?

 

[DoubleMM]

did you stir it initially or just dump the food and water and let it sit for three days?

If you left it stagnant, that's where the problem is and you should start over, in my opinion.

I stirred.. may have missed a day. Someone thought it was off gassing and when I stirred I release it.

The smell is gone but it is less than a quart so I'll try again

 

[knjinnm]

At the beginning of this thread.

Is there a way I could have been more clear that was what I was referring to?

Yes, you could have said "I read post #2 posted 3/30/12 at 7:40pm and did not understand it."

 

[kpgoldstar]

Bingo!

Go back to the beginning of this thread, apple cider vinegar "with mother" is the key to fermented feed. Do not cover so tightly the mixture cannot breathe.
Jac

ACV with mother is absolutely not necessary. I have been fermenting my chickens' feed for nearly a year and have never added ACV. My initial ferment was just layer crumbles + water + time. I am still feeding out of the original bucket.

 

[LindaB220]

ACV with mother is absolutely not necessary. I have been fermenting my chickens' feed for nearly a year and have never added ACV. My initial ferment was just layer crumbles + water + time. I am still feeding out of the original bucket.

Different strokes...... You don't have to have it. Some people insist that it's needed. It's not. That being said, I use another starter EM-1. It must be covered with water or a plastic bag sitting on the grain itself or it will get the white stuff on the top. It doesn't matter, just stir it down. Originally I started using it because I had it on hand for my soil amendment for the garden. It's more work and the chickens will eat it however. I think after it's gone I will just use water and grain.

 

[knjinnm]

ACV with mother is absolutely not necessary. I have been fermenting my chickens' feed for nearly a year and have never added ACV. My initial ferment was just layer crumbles + water + time. I am still feeding out of the original bucket.

So now you have a culture going from your first batch. The advantage of vinegar is a quick jump start, how long did your original batch take to really get going?
Anyone here make Sauerkraut without vinegar?
jac

 

[subhanalah]

Yes, you could have said "I read post #2 posted 3/30/12 at 7:40pm and did not understand it."

No, it's a matter of you didn't read the thread and stopped after post #2

ACV with mother is absolutely not necessary. I have been fermenting my chickens' feed for nearly a year and have never added ACV. My initial ferment was just layer crumbles + water + time. I am still feeding out of the original bucket.

Different strokes...... You don't have to have it.  Some people insist that it's needed.  It's not.  That being said, I use another starter EM-1.   It must be covered with water or a plastic bag sitting on the grain itself or it will  get the white stuff on the top.  It doesn't matter, just stir it down.    Originally I started using it because I had it on hand for my soil amendment for the garden.  It's more work and the chickens will eat it however.    I think after it's gone I will just use water and grain.   

 

[onmelissa]

I'm new to fermenting feed, but I had good results from just adding water to the feed, then stirring it every day for four days. I covered it with a towel to keep the flies out.
I didn't use any starter culture at all.