FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[jockeyeba]

Wishing everyone a blessed Thanksgiving

 

[beverly evans]

I don't get it! All this talk about the smell. I started 3 yrs. ago with a 5 gal. bucket in the kitchen with the lid just sitting on top to keep my humungous pit's nose out of it. (He loved it !) I never had (have) a problem with the smell, nor anyone who ever came over. And I've never smoked so my nose is as sensitive as the next person's. If I make a lot then by the time I get near the bottom the ferment is quite strong but
they always eat it. Some days it stays in there longer before they totally clean up the trough, perhaps because it is so strong and they are not as crazy about it, but I never throw any out. You can always thin the ferment by adding a little fresh if you think that is why they won't eat it. Mine is outside and I keep it pretty full because in the winter it takes longer to work up. Sometimes it won't do its thing overnite due to the cold so I keep the cooler fuller, allowing it more time. Tough love! Don't allow them to be picky. It is better for them. Mama knows best! They will eat it eventually. Maybe you could add something that will make it taste better to them. My ff is made up of basically half steamed or rolled oats and half Full O' Pep pellets in a 5-6 gal. cooler with a quart mixture of scratch and sweet meal, (something for horses that has molasses in it.) But then, if they can't taste for sh** who cares?? I foolishly thought they could taste because they much prefer spaghetti with sauce to spaghetti without it. It is due to the color! One big reason I will stick with ff? I have never been bothered by rats, while my poor friend who does not do ff, is plagued by them. They don't like ff. Isn't that nice?

 

[Aphrael]

I don't get it! All this talk about the smell. I started 3 yrs. ago with a 5 gal. bucket in the kitchen with the lid just sitting on top to keep my humungous pit's nose out of it. (He loved it !) I never had (have) a problem with the smell, nor anyone who ever came over. And I've never smoked so my nose is as sensitive as the next person's. If I make a lot then by the time I get near the bottom the ferment is quite strong but
they always eat it. Some days it stays in there longer before they totally clean up the trough, perhaps because it is so strong and they are not as crazy about it, but I never throw any out. You can always thin the ferment by adding a little fresh if you think that is why they won't eat it. Mine is outside and I keep it pretty full because in the winter it takes longer to work up. Sometimes it won't do its thing overnite due to the cold so I keep the cooler fuller, allowing it more time. Tough love! Don't allow them to be picky. It is better for them. Mama knows best! They will eat it eventually. Maybe you could add something that will make it taste better to them. My ff is made up of basically half steamed or rolled oats and half Full O' Pep pellets in a 5-6 gal. cooler with a quart mixture of scratch and sweet meal, (something for horses that has molasses in it.) But then, if they can't taste for sh** who cares?? I foolishly thought they could taste because they much prefer spaghetti with sauce to spaghetti without it. It is due to the color! One big reason I will stick with ff? I have never been bothered by rats, while my poor friend who does not do ff, is plagued by them. They don't like ff. Isn't that nice?

Oh nice! I didn't know they don't like the FF. That's a bonus.

The smell doesn't spread out from the bucket enough to bother me either, and I am a notoriously picky smeller. If it has gone a little long it does smell pretty strong when I stir it up. But the smell doesn't emanate out when it is just sitting there. I prefer to do it outside in the shed, just because it is closer to where I feed it out. But I have to do it inside in the winter.

 

[lazy gardener]

Last year, I had my FF on the kitchen on the counter. My grandson is super sensitive to smells, and he'd gag when ever he walked into the kitchen. I did not mind the smell at all, if any thing, find it somewhat pleasant. I've recently moved it up from my cold laundry room, and it now sits on the floor beside the wood stove. Nice and toasty there, and a quick fermentation rate! I think, because it is sitting at floor level, he has not even noticed it.

I don't know about rats and FF, but I'm thinking that rodents aren't a problem b/c the FF does not sit out in the coop overnight.

 

[Amina]

What kind of feeding schedule needs to be used with fermented feeds? These days I am leaving for work before dawn and getting home after dark... so I'd only be able to put the FF out in the morning before I leave for work. Is this something feasible? Or does it need to be put out fresh for them every few hours?

My flock (mixed age, DP breeds that are more for egg-laying) is going through so much feed right now, and it seems like half or more is on the coop floor. Argh! I'm trying to figure out what my options are for reducing this waste.

 

[ak rain]

What kind of feeding schedule needs to be used with fermented feeds? These days I am leaving for work before dawn and getting home after dark... so I'd only be able to put the FF out in the morning before I leave for work. Is this something feasible? Or does it need to be put out fresh for them every few hours?

My flock (mixed age, DP breeds that are more for egg-laying) is going through so much feed right now, and it seems like half or more is on the coop floor. Argh! I'm trying to figure out what my options are for reducing this waste.

Would moist feed of FF be frozen when birds came out at sunup? What temp is it?
Ak rain

 

[Amina]

Typically day time temps here are above freezing in winter, so even if the temp at sunrise is a little below freezing, it would take a while for food to freeze. I actually leave the house barely before dawn, so it would not be sitting there long before the birds ate some.

There are cold snaps here sometimes though, so I guess it wouldn't work too well during those times. I could probably get them a non frozen morning feeding but after that it would be challenging. So I'd have to supplement with dry feed then.

 

[vpatt]

I don't notice much smell except for the first time I tried it and forgot about the bucket of feed.....that got kind of stinky. That is why I need to keep the ferment near my feeding area. So I don't forget it again, lol.

My chickens seem to be eating the ff better now and I usually give it to them at breakfas tand lunch. Then I give them a bit of scratch before bedtime. Scraps as available. Does this sound ok to you all who are more experienced? They are cleaning up what I give them.....ive been watching them eat and those that get chased away from the food do get to eat when the "bosses" are finished.

I am fermenting the Countryside feed and giving BlueSeal scratch. I did buy some gamebird feed for extra protein......but it is pricey. Any better options?
The layer feed is 16% and scratch 9%. I was adding protein for moulting, laying and cold weather. Some scraps are meat but not every day. Also, wont the scratch help with warming them in cold weather? Cracked corn, whole oats and whole wheat. Doesn't the corn help with energy for warmth?

I bought a bag ot Fertrell nutrition balance...I think it is powdered vitamins. Can I mix a bit in the ferment until I use it up....should I put it in at the beginning or just before feeding? Don't ask me why I bought it. But I would like to use it up. I have three chicks not yet a week old ..could I mix a wee bit in the chick starter?

Thnx for any advice.

 

[ak rain]

Typically day time temps here are above freezing in winter, so even if the temp at sunrise is a little below freezing, it would take a while for food to freeze. I actually leave the house barely before dawn, so it would not be sitting there long before the birds ate some.

There are cold snaps here sometimes though, so I guess it wouldn't work too well during those times. I could probably get them a non frozen morning feeding but after that it would be challenging. So I'd have to supplement with dry feed then.

Your good then to feed before you go.
Some feed once a day I feed twice
See this link
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/
Ak rain

 

[jennianne]

Your good then to feed before you go.
Some feed once a day I feed twice
See this link
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/
Ak rain

Aha! Finally feel like 'I get it' when it comes to this fermented feed business. I was putting it off because I thought it was going to be so complex. To me, the concept is really a lot like sourdough starter or yogurt making, am I right? Anyways I have been working on fodder for a while and I thought, might as well see what this ferment thing entails. Got my first batch going in a flash after reading your link up there. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Jenn