FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[circlehouse]

Started our FF last night! I have some great helpers to stir it up.

Brought it inside, only 28 degrees right now. I'll have to find a home for it in our tiny house. ( where hubby won't find it.

)

 

[Bridebeliever]

I like a 1:1 ratio of food to water, which makes a nice, thicker consistency. There is no need to strain or keep it covered by inches of water. It’s also not as sloppy as much wetter feed. You are welcome to keep it soupy, but I go for easy and the least labor intensive as possible. But, I’m lazy like that.

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I guess I'm taking lazy to new levels!

I don't even measure! I just take it to the consistency I want. I made my batch yesterday and my daughter said "Um, Mom, I think you're going to have to add more feed to that!" She saw lots of water on top. "Oh no, I said, I'll have to add more water. Just wait and see!" 15 minutes later we came back and it was a solid mass of feed and hard to stir. I added a bunch more water to get the consistency I wanted! I haven't checked it yet today but I'm guessing I'll be adding a little more water. I make mine thick like oatmeal too. But yeah, no measuring here, just eyeballing, I love how easy it is! And the fermented smell is just lovely! By making it the very first time you will see how easy it is...I'm only on my third batch!

 

[Leigti]

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

I don't think you want to feed layer feed too baby chicks.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't think you want to feed layer feed too baby chicks.

I've been doing it for years with no ill effects. I never switch feeds except for sometimes I'll give them chick starter in the first week...if I feel like it or get around to it...and that still is mixed with layer mash. Years upon years, actually, and my flock never have illness, lay well into their older years and never miss a beat.

One thing to note...my birds also free range, get tons of exercise, only get fed once per day and do not depend entirely on commercial feeds for their main diet, so that will be a consideration.

 

[circlehouse]

Could stirring too often be an issue? It's in our house and it's so easy to just stir a little when I put wood on the fire.

 

[Beekissed]

Could stirring too often be an issue? It's in our house and it's so easy to just stir a little when I put wood on the fire.

I wouldn't think so, but it does break up strands of yeasts that are forming colonies, so I wouldn't get too carried away if you want a quick ferment. It's sort of like tilling the soil and breaking up the microbial life webs there. Once a day is enough and I generally do that right before I feed....sometimes I don't stir it beyond that stirring I do when I refresh the bucket. Mine is generally too thick and dry for stirring after that.

 

[circlehouse]

I wouldn't think so, but it does break up strands of yeasts that are forming colonies, so I wouldn't get too carried away if you want a quick ferment.  It's sort of like tilling the soil and breaking up the microbial life webs there.  Once a day is enough and I generally do that right before I feed....sometimes I don't stir it beyond that stirring I do when I refresh the bucket.  Mine is generally too thick and dry for stirring after that. 

That makes sense. I will stop touching it then.

 

[Molpet]

Has anyone used FF regular chick starter/grower on BBB turkeys? I am giving the poults some meal worms and grit also... They were there when I went to get 2 BR and some CX... and poultry math struck LOL.. First time with turkeys, so far so good.

I am also feeding it to 5 CX hoping it will slow their growth, but 2 are pigs with wings at less than 2.5 wks. They are all in the same brooder under a MHP for now.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

What is the best way to feed FF to chickens? I know your supposed to give them as much as they will eat in 30 minutes. But how many times a day? Can it be fed free choice like dry feed? Do chicks need to eat FF free choice? I don't understand if feeding free choice or restricting feed is better for chickens. I don't want then getting fatty liver syndrome but I still want them to be full. If crops are full in the morning and at night are they full? When I ferment should I figure 1/2 a cup of feed per large chicken and a 1/4 cup a bantam? Sorry for all the questions.

 

[slordaz]

We have been using 3*1 grains without molassas and adding in 1-2 garlic cloves sometimes a tsp of cayenne pepper on cold days .for our fermented feed spring through fall for our free ranged flocked for a year now. They do great on it along with the free ranging don't usually have to use other than this except for winter time. Though they do have layer feed available.

We do a 5 gallon bucket at a time filled half way with grains and half with water, stirring 2 times a day and back filling as we take out don't have to restart it except in the spring time due to being up north we do not feed it winter time

Well flock is doing great,produces well and everyone has really enjoyed the eggs. Flock produced eggs with no additional light and no heat 6 weeks longer than most in the area when we started winter