FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Bridebeliever]

My chickens just nearly finished their first bucket of ff. I left about 2 cups in the bottom of the bucket and added more feed and water to continue it. Is this the correct process? Can I just feed it to them tomorrow? Does it jump start the ff when you add to an already started bucket?

 

[chickluvinfreak]

How much ACV is usually used per cup of feed? Most posts say they mix in a tablespoon but not how much feed they are using.

 

[Bridebeliever]

How much ACV is usually used per cup of feed? Most posts say they mix in a tablespoon but not how much feed they are using.

Although a lot of fermented feed writings suggest adding ACV, it's completely unnecessary. I just achieved a perfect ferment with only feed and water. Super easy!

 

[Beekissed]

My chickens just nearly finished their first bucket of ff. I left about 2 cups in the bottom of the bucket and added more feed and water to continue it. Is this the correct process? Can I just feed it to them tomorrow? Does it jump start the ff when you add to an already started bucket?

That is the correct method and you should be able to feed in the morning using this method...it will only be lightly fermented, but fermentation will have started all the same. It does jump start the mix to back slop in this manner and is well advised.

How much ACV is usually used per cup of feed? Most posts say they mix in a tablespoon but not how much feed they are using.

None. No ACV is required at all in FF or to make FF. In fact, if you are currently adding ACV to their water, you no longer need to do that once you start feeding FF....acetic acid is a byproduct of the fermentation process, so they will be getting that same acid in the feed.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

I read the ACV kills E coli in the feed and keeps it from fermenting in to alcohol. And doesn't it act as a culture starter? Is their something I should put in it besides feed and water? And I don't put ACV in my chickens water. Thanks

 

[Beekissed]

I read the ACV kills E coli in the feed and keeps it from fermenting in to alcohol. And doesn't it act as a culture starter? Is their something I should put in it besides feed and water? And I don't put ACV in my chickens water. Thanks

Don't know where you got that information, but if you have e.coli in your feed, no amount of fermentation of it will likely help you make it better. It won't ferment into alcohol unless you are trying to ferment for alcohol and have a certain system in which to do so~one way air vents, etc. I can almost bet where you've been reading these things and it's the same place that has mislead many a new person to FF. I'd leave that place alone.

ACV can keep the mix a little acid but it's not really needed as the minute the grain starts to ferment, the byproduct of that digestion is acetic acid...which also makes the mix acidic.

Where ACV comes into the picture was when I was first wanting to experiment with fermenting feed and it was 30 degrees outside when I was doing it, so I gave the mix a dash of ACV to see if I could jumpstart the mix. It does indeed provide some culture in that water, but that is soon taken over by more dominant and prevalent organisms in the fermentation and I found it was not needed after all.

Here's a good place to source when asking about making FF....most of the info is spot on and it can answer the questions much more accurately than can most other sites. https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Thanks that's a great article! Most that information I read was on this thread actually. Maybe I misunderstood? So water+feed+3 days=fermented feed, right? Sounds simple.

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks that's a great article! Most that information I read was on this thread actually. Maybe I misunderstood? So water+feed+3 days=fermented feed, right? Sounds simple.

It is! No worries....you've got this! I'd say maybe misunderstanding was likely the culprit....this is my thread, so I know I've never told anyone that ACV will kill e.coli nor did I ever tell anyone that FF will turn to alcohol if you don't use ACV.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

This seems like a stupid question but I mix DE and probiotics in my layers feed, is it OK to ferment? I just mixed my first batch for some chicks that are coming in a couple days and am excited. But not sure if I should use the layers feed I have now or wait until I get a new bag?

 

[Jensownzoo]

This seems like a stupid question but I mix DE and probiotics in my layers feed, is it OK to ferment? I just mixed my first batch for some chicks that are coming in a couple days and am excited. But not sure if I should use the layers feed I have now or wait until I get a new bag?

Yep it's fine. It might actually get a little jumpstart from the probiotics.