FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Tikkijane]

​And don't you find it ferments much quicker if you don't even rinse the bucket?

Not just not washing, but leave a portion in there to jumpstart the next batch {think Friendship Bread}. We have a highly technical term for this- we call it backslopping.

 

[Tikkijane]

I remember seeing videos that gave all kinds of interesting information. But when I finally found The "TickTock" site then I knew I had found the easy and best way to do fermented feed.

That FAQ came right from all the info from Bee and the discussion on this thread. Hard to believe it's like 3 years old already.

 

[Molpet]

That FAQ came right from all the info from Bee and the discussion on this thread. Hard to believe it's like 3 years old already.

yeah I had seen the sloppy had to drain method, and thought "well that is never going to happen, too much work and mess" Then I seen this thread , the evolution to a one bucket and the FAQ and said "I can do that" .. Best thing ever!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Was looking through old vids of mine and found this one on some meat chicks I had....thought I'd post it so folks could see how I keep chicks out of the FF. This is a little wooden trough I built for chicks and the wire on top is just 1x1 zip tied to the top of the feeder and the wire to create a hinge. Easy to load with feed and keeps the chicks reasonably clean while they eat their FF.

That's nice.

I actually use the plastic chick feeders since I had them already. They work well enough. The little round one for smaller broods and the trough style one for larger broods.

I don't actually have a handle or anything across the top of my regular trough like yours does. But I am surprised the older chickens don't seem to want to stand in the middle of it like I would think they would.... that's a good thing.

It's nice that you are handy and able to put things together!

 

[redsix]

Was looking through old vids of mine and found this one on some meat chicks I had....thought I'd post it so folks could see how I keep chicks out of the FF. This is a little wooden trough I built for chicks and the wire on top is just 1x1 zip tied to the top of the feeder and the wire to create a hinge. Easy to load with feed and keeps the chicks reasonably clean while they eat their FF.

My adult chicken feeders look just like yours, minus the wire.

 

[Tikkijane]

yeah I had seen the sloppy had to drain method, and thought "well that is never going to happen, too much work and mess" Then I seen this thread , the evolution to a one bucket and the FAQ and said "I can do that" .. Best thing ever!

 

[rf12345]

Ok I love essential oils but have not used with chickens. Rosemary seems like it would be a good addition, just thinking, but i have a rosemary plant so I may just use that at the moment.

Let me ask for clarification here: How much oil of oregano? Just confused by post. Do you add it to acv ? and then acv added to water? A tablespoon of EO? Seems like a LOT, have to say...just checking...

Also re: algae (haven't tried this but I may) you can put 1/4 to 1 cup of cornmeal in a piece of nylon hose, tie it up and float it in the waterer. I did this in my parents ponds last year, seemed to help. Copper pennies are another trick.

tablespoon of acv, one drop of eo per gallon is plenty.

 

[mobius]

@rf12345 , thanks so much!

Another question I had posted earlier I think but may have gotten lost: I am warming up the FF briefly (like one minute) in the microwave...kind of like folks feeding warm oatmeal. Is this a good idea (I mean to say, it is at house room temp ordinarily). It is bitter cold outside (minus zero F temps) and I warm it up just before I give it to the girls. It "poofs up" a bit after being warmed...would warming hurt the ferment? What do you all think?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

@rf12345 , thanks so much!

Another question I had posted earlier I think but may have gotten lost: I am warming up the FF briefly (like one minute) in the microwave...kind of like folks feeding warm oatmeal. Is this a good idea (I mean to say, it is at house room temp ordinarily). It is bitter cold outside (minus zero F temps) and I warm it up just before I give it to the girls. It "poofs up" a bit after being warmed...would warming hurt the ferment? What do you all think?

So just reasoning out the warming question...

Some things microwaves kill and others they don't...

I would think it would still be viable if it isn't heated past the point where the stuff dies. Simple celled things survive easier, why a roach can survive nuclear warfare while we die.

Also, I would think short bursts with stirring would help to avoid over heating the center. And the ferment still takes place and even faster at higher temps. So I would think if you keep it around say 100-110 would still be good while not being to hot for consumption. That would be about body temp. SO much warmer than the chilly air. My room temp is only around 57, so that is still kind of cool. But right I ferment outside now and temps have been cold lately. Actually had frost several mornings and hail all day once. So I do think about feeding them something warm. My water was even frozen under the covered area of the run... usually doesn't happen under cover.

Also, we MUST warm our water to 110 for yeast to become active while we are baking. So again... I think it **should** be OK.

I still think doing FF, ACV, and EO might be overkill.... but I know we all have our own thought processes.

 

[mobius]

@EggSighted4Life , all good points and thank you. I am thinking about this pretty hard...I mean, people heat up sauerkraut, right?

But then I did a little more research on the net and folks are saying it may harm the enzymes and good bacteria..and a microwave isn't the best anyway.

I am thinking the jury is out at the moment, so I will stop heating it and serve at house room temp, which might be the better part of valor in this case..and still warmer than outside...I am warming their water slightly too so it is not ice cold when they get it...

Just my thinking at the moment...