FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[enola]

Personally, I think your hens look absolutely great. I think you are worrying way too much.

 

[cutipatooti]

Hi! I'm new to fermenting feed and was wondering if you can use a 5 gallon bucket with an air tight seal. I wanted to get a gamma lid for ease of use. Also wondering if I should have more then one bucket. Right now I feed some in the morning then refil then feed more in the evening then refill. Does it get a chance to ferment in that amount of time or should I use from one bucket refill at night then use another bucket the next day giving the first bucket 24 hours to ferment.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Hi! I'm new to fermenting feed and was wondering if you can use a 5 gallon bucket with an air tight seal. I wanted to get a gamma lid for ease of use. Also wondering if I should have more then one bucket. Right now I feed some in the morning then refil then feed more in the evening then refill. Does it get a chance to ferment in that amount of time or should I use from one bucket refill at night then use another bucket the next day giving the first bucket 24 hours to ferment.

There are many methods of fermenting feed. Here are mine:http://backyardchickenlady.blogspot.com/2013/07/lacto-fermentation-making-my-own.html http://backyardchickenlady.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-mini-scale-version-of-fermenting.html

I have also used a two bucket system where the inner bucket has LOTS of small holes in the sides and bottom. It sits inside the other bucket. Then you just lift the inner bucket to allow the liquid to drain, scoop out what you want to feed your birds, then sit the inner bucket back down inside the outer bucket. This works well. You never throw out your liquid because that is what helps to ferment the new feed you add, each time you serve up some of the fermented feed.

If you are starting a new batch every 24 hours with fresh liquid and food then it is not enough time to actually ferment the food. It takes a few days to begin that process, which is why I reserve the liquid and some of the fermented feed, and add more feed and water to it each time I serve up some feed.

Keep searching around and you will find some great resources for fermenting feed. Do check out the posts I have in the link above to learn more about my method.

Good luck to you!

Anna

 

[Meeka3]

I have a few different varieties of chicken and I've found that the size depends on the variety. My 3 Lohman browns are very scrawny looking, the mixes are huge and fat, and the others are in between. They all eat the same and get the same exercise ( they free range over 8 acres all day ) just popping back every now and then to have some fermented feed. One of the lohmans is alpha chook so she's not missing out on food, it's just their breed. I think your chooks look ok, and if you know they're eating and don't have worms I wouldn't worry about their size. As a matter of fact, I had to take my big fat freckles, who only eats fermented food and some dry fine layer mash as a treat, and all the grubs she can forage, to the vet with bumblefoot, and the vet said she's overweight and I should put her on a diet. Well, I don't know how I could do that, and I certainly won't be changing their very healthy diet. They don't get any scraps, only some pecan nuts as a little treat when they run to greet me.

 

[LindaB220]

Hi! I'm new to fermenting feed and was wondering if you can use a 5 gallon bucket with an air tight seal. I wanted to get a gamma lid for ease of use. Also wondering if I should have more then one bucket. Right now I feed some in the morning then refil then feed more in the evening then refill. Does it get a chance to ferment in that amount of time or should I use from one bucket refill at night then use another bucket the next day giving the first bucket 24 hours to ferment.

Hey Cutipatooti, if you want feed in the morning and at night then having some left in the bottom (about 2 inches) add more water and stir then start adding feed. By stirring the bottom feed into the water first it jumpstarts the new batch. I do 5 gallon buckets. If I make it after the pm feeding it's ready the next morning. I make it about every 3 days. I make it like thick oatmeal because I don't like to have the added step of straining. Different folks like to do it their own way. This works for me best. If I get a white film on the top I just stir it in. Easy peasy

 

[Tikkijane]

From what I've learned through lots of research, the bacteria that causes the fermenting needs to be fed, so adding more water and feed to the batch as you remove some in feeding is important. Let too long without being fed can allow the bad bacteria to take over.

Also it needs to be wet. I keep at least an inch of water above the feed. I sift thru a strainer to separate the bulk of water from the wet feed as I serve it up each morning.

It can- eventually. Refreshing as you go IS NOT IDEAL. It will weaken the ferment, which increases the need for feeding which then means they NEED to eat more. Ferment levels continue ro increase daily, making it more and more nutritionally dense.

By far, the BEST course of action, imo, is to have a batch go *at least* three days before backslopping and refreshing. There are folks here {like Bee} that have batches going weeks at a time before refreshing without issue.

And keeping water over it s absolutely NOT necessary. There is info linked on that in the FAQ.

 

[Tikkijane]

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

It can- eventually. Refreshing as you go IS NOT IDEAL. It will weaken the ferment, which increases the need for feeding which then means they NEED to eat more. Ferment levels continue ro increase daily, making it more and more nutritionally dense.

By far, the BEST course of action, imo, is to have a batch go *at least* three days before backslopping and refreshing. There are folks here {like Bee} that have batches going weeks at a time before refreshing without issue.

And keeping water over it s absolutely NOT necessary. There is info linked on that in the FAQ.

 

[Tikkijane]

It's hard to gauge but i put enough out there so there's some left over. Then i let them free range for about 5-6 hours and offer them food again before they roost. They eat less before they roost but i always have some out.

I also think i'm going to offer pellets, i really wanted ORGANIC and soy free for them. 

There's Manna Pro organic pellets at my co op but honestly how are they different than any other commercial Layer feed other than so called organic? 

They ARE eating the FF, just idk if they're an ideal weight or ......

If they are eating it and you don't know what they weigh, why are worried?!

Weigh your birds. Get a scale and weigh them.

Adults need 1/2-1 cup of FF 1-2 times day. That's it. Measure the food out and start at the top of range.

I know it can be hard to feel like they are not starving when you compare intake of FF to dry. If you are fermenting complete chicken food {commercial, nutritionally balanced}, they WILL NOT STARVE unless you are feeding less than the 1/2-1 cup 1-2 times a day {which I have actually seen someone do}.

I feed about 1/2 cup a day for each {which will increase some as winter is coming} and they are hefty. Like *heavy* hefty. The only reason I haven't put them on a diet yet is because winter is coming....

 

[Tikkijane]

Yep that's what i do, when i get down to a couple servings left i add water and feed, i stir the batch well a couple times a day and i'm adding food/water every few days or so now that i went to a bigger bucket.

i ALSO LAST NIGHT added in some commercial pellet to the FF. IT isn't that they didn't like the organic Scratch n Peck because i used to just moisten it and feed it along with pellets, they stopped eating the pellets.... it's a food designed to be fed moistened and preferably FF as their website states but it does  have fines and grains, of course the grains stay intact but the hens seem to eat it, i am just such a newbie and want to know if i'm doing right by them. 

i REALLY think they went through a molt and are just finishing with it, they're stilling laying but less and also the days are certainly shorter.

Another thing i need help with is what to feed it in. Right now i have a very large saucer (the plastic kind that goes under large planters to catch water) and it works fine however they step in it and track it all over and i want to offer two in case the  hen in question wants to eat by herself. It needs to be easy and especially removable so i can clean it. I've heard of gutters, how do you stabilize it and it needs to be taken out to be hosed off, there's always some residue they leave.

If they have something left, they are clearly getting enough. Mine lick it clean. I put the gutter section on the ground. Hose it out if you feel the need. No biggy.

 

[Tikkijane]

A few thoughts...

-I don't over stir my FF, I give it a very brief, gentle stir, twice a day, I just want to blend things, not whip them up.

-If you visit my profile you will see a link to my FF process with pictures and instructions...I don't make more than I will use in a single day, I just reserve the fermented liquid and add to it each morning.

-I have fermented pelleted feed, crumbles, mash, and loose milled feed.  They all work well.  I only use organic feeds, and I add supplements as needed like wheat berries or split peas during molting times.  It doesn't matter what you feed them, just about everything can be fermented.

-As the days get shorter, and molting is in full swing, the girls will slow down on laying, but they still need a little extra protein to help with molting.

-I use a round stainless steel feeder pan to feed my FF in.  I think they were designed for pigs.  It is a nice wide base so it doesn't get tipped over, it has a 3"+ lip so they don't scoop out much food.  They do walk through it on occasion but that's not a big deal...chickens are 'pigs' but they are not neat-nicks either.  What ever pieces get out, will get eatin anyway.

-As a few of us have said, offer the FF first.  Scratch, mealworms, scraps, etc are all 'treats' and should be no more than about 10% of their daily food intake, and never offer treats before their main dish.

Hope some of this helps.  Just hang in their...you will eventually work out a system that works for you and your chickens.

FF cannot be overstirred. {there are folks using cement mixers without issue, and electric drills, much like one would use for big buckets of grout or thinset, for example. ...}

Water on top is NOT necessary.

It's better NOT to refresh as you go.

Certainly, everyone is welcome to feed however they desire. I like things easy and not sloppy.