FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[redsix]

For those interested, I was going to be conducting an experiment using a seedling heat mat and thermal cube for keeping my ferment buckets from freezing in the cold Colorado winters. Well I didn't get very far into my plan before deciding to change the set up. I decided that the seedling mat and thermal cube would not keep things warm enough for fermentation to take place.

Here is what I am planning on trying now.....we don't have space to ferment inside the house, so this will be set up in the unheated garage.

I have an extra one of these laying around, this is programmable and I am hoping it will keep the temperature optimal for fermenting....


I was thinking about tossing it into my ferment bucket and seeing how that goes...I am hoping to get this set up this week and will post pictures and results from said experiment.

Seems like it might work. I start mine out with hot tap water. I've been keeping mine in the attached garage. The temperature here in the East has been above normal and the feed is still fermenting.

 

[Leigti]

Titanium is still metal. I wouldn't use it. Buttermilk is supposed to help get the fermentation started. And my chickens absolutely love buttermilk. If you have heat in your chicken coop then put it in there. You could put a heat lamp above it. Or set it up in the garage with a heat lamp over it. One bucket won't take up too much space. Just drill some holes in the lid.

 

[tjo804]

Titanium is still metal. I wouldn't use it. Buttermilk is supposed to help get the fermentation started. And my chickens absolutely love buttermilk. If you have heat in your chicken coop then put it in there. You could put a heat lamp above it. Or set it up in the garage with a heat lamp over it. One bucket won't take up too much space. Just drill some holes in the lid.

Very good idea!

 

[Poop Cleaner]

There are glass covered aquarium heaters as well. I have one made by Eheim. It is excellent.

 

[shodack]

Particularly now that it's winter I have been seeing tons of of feather picking/egg eating threads. Likely due to lower protein availability because there aren't bugs about, etc... It got me thinking, I haven't seen the slightest interest in these naughty behaviors, and I wonder how much using FF has to do with it? Has anyone here using FF ever had a problem with feather picking or egg eating?

 

[lazy gardener]

I had to cull a feather picker from my flock several years ago. As far as egg eating, IMO, it's most likely a seasonal issue related to thin shelled eggs. When the shell quality picks up, which coincides with improved diet, the eggs will no longer be fragile, and the egg eating issue clears up.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Here's an interesting thing. My only layer (9 month old Chocolate Orpington) stopped laying her egg a day two weeks ago. I haven't been faithful about giving them ff, so I started again 4 days ago. Yesterday, the shortest day of the year for light she layed an egg! I just wonder if it's the ff?!

 

[Poop Cleaner]

That Is my cue to Try This! Btw, using this forum on iphone is a pain. The keyboard doesnt stay up and keeps resetting.

 

[Leigti]

Dictate, it's easier.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Dictate, it's easier.

Too cool! I never thought of doing that!! Of course, I'm sitting in the doctors office right now so it would be a little weird...but I will do it!