FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Mosey2003]

Today when I got home my house smelled like I was baking with my sourdough. Oh was I hungry while caring for my chickens and goats.

It will be interesting to see what options there are for feeds without animal or fish protein in them. It will also be interesting to see if I can find any unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. I will check Wal-mart but if they do have it I will be surprised. I'm sure the local health food store carries it....

Wal-Mart has it now, Heinz or one of the other major brands came out with an unpasteurized vinegar.

 

[Beekissed]

We've found, since the beginning of the thread, that the ACV is just not necessary towards the fermentation process. And, after you start feeding FF, it's not even necessary to place in the water....a byproduct of the fermentation process is acetic acid, which is why you will smell a sour smell from the feed when it's fermented.

I'd skip the ACV altogether.

 

[mypolitedog]

I make my own water kefir and am wondering if anyone has given the water kefir grain to their chicken? I feed them to my dogs for added gut support.

 

[Molpet]

I make my own water kefir and am wondering if anyone has given the water kefir grain to their chicken? I feed them to my dogs for added gut support.

Some people have posted that they feed spent grains as a treat or a small part of the diet..other wise the birds may not get all the nutrients they need

 

[Neezers Farm]

I have been giving my flock fermented grains since they were 8 weeks old, over a year now. I started it with 5 whole grain scratch covered with rain water and inoculated with kefir whey, the first time only. I leave it covered with a towel for a day, and it is nice and bubbly. The chickens love it, and have never had diarrhea. When chickens are recuperating from injury, I give them kefir, along with a high protein healthy diet.I give chick starter and layer feed that are antibiotic free and have probiotics added.

 

[ldawntaylor]

We've found, since the beginning of the thread, that the ACV is just not necessary towards the fermentation process. And, after you start feeding FF, it's not even necessary to place in the water....a byproduct of the fermentation process is acetic acid, which is why you will smell a sour smell from the feed when it's fermented.

I'd skip the ACV altogether.

I do a good bit of baking at home and I know the yeast stays in the air for a long time. So, I really didn't expect to need the ACV. The scratch feed I'm working with is fermenting just fine with just that and water....

Wal-Mart has it now, Heinz or one of the other major brands came out with an unpasteurized vinegar.

At present I am just curious if unpasteurized vinegar is even available. I live in a rather rural area and so far I've found several things that Wal-mart in a more populated area carries that the local Wal-mart does not. I'm just wondering if enough people have asked about this particular type of vinegar or not.

Supply and demand does have an impact on what can be purchased in any given area after all. And the local Wal-mart is unlikely to have something available they cannot sell easily.

I'll let you know if I find any or not. I certainly do appreciate the input though.

 

[Tikkijane]

Now THAT's a true friend!!!!    He processes it for you??????   What a dream!!!!  Very blessed in that friendship. 

You don't need any skill to can, just an old Ball Blue Canning booklet you can order off Amazon for a few bucks, a nifty pressure canner....I got mine off Amazon for $38 and free s/h, and jars, of course.  After that you just follow directions.  Easy peasy!   Tender, flavorful, juicy and already cooked so you can eat it straight from the jar if you want. 

In these parts we can't freeze meat, as the electric goes off around here if someone sneezes in the next county.   Can be a clear, sunny day and the electric will go down and during big storms it can be off for over 2 wks. 

There is nothing worse than seeing a bloody puddle under your freezer.... the only thing I don't can is pumpkin, because nooooo way am I cubing all of that!

 

[aart]

You don't need any skill to can, just an old Ball Blue Canning booklet you can order off Amazon for a few bucks, a nifty pressure canner....I got mine off Amazon for $38 and free s/h, and jars, of course. After that you just follow directions. Easy peasy! Tender, flavorful, juicy and already cooked so you can eat it straight from the jar if you want.

Just experience.....like keeping chickens, it's easy peasy once you know all the do's and don't's. ;-)

 

[Molpet]

I do a good bit of baking at home and I know the yeast stays in the air for a long time. So, I really didn't expect to need the ACV. The scratch feed I'm working with is fermenting just fine with just that and water....



At present I am just curious if unpasteurized vinegar is even available. I live in a rather rural area and so far I've found several things that Wal-mart in a more populated area carries that the local Wal-mart does not. I'm just wondering if enough people have asked about this particular type of vinegar or not.

Supply and demand does have an impact on what can be purchased in any given area after all. And the local Wal-mart is unlikely to have something available they cannot sell easily.

I'll let you know if I find any or not. I certainly do appreciate the input though.

I have been getting ACV ( 32oz for $4.94) through http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-organic-apple-cider-vinegar-with-mother-32-fl-oz-8 save 10% today with code PROMO10 ...they sometimes have BOGO 1/2 price
if you order $25 of their brand shipping is free

Your Order Today! Use Code: PROMO10​

 

[Jensownzoo]

There is nothing worse than seeing a bloody puddle under your freezer.... the only thing I don't can is pumpkin, because nooooo way am I cubing all of that!

If you roast the halves, the pulp will just spoon out of the rind. Or you can steam it over a water bath if you don't want the smoky flavor. Just an option if you're feeling the lack...