FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[blackdog043]

I took my bag of feed, back to TSC today and got a replacement. There is a big difference in the color of the FF.
The dark color is what it should be. I use Dumor Starter/Grower, either the wrong bags were used or they forgot an ingredient, on this batch. I should get 5-7 eggs again, instead of 1-3. The egg count changed, when I started feeding the light colored feed.

 

[FlyWheel]

OK, now that looks like my feed (the bottom batch) I think a trip back to TSC is in order...

 

[blackdog043]

OK, now that looks like my feed (the bottom batch) I think a trip back to TSC is in order...

Yes definitely!
When i bought a new bag on Saturday, I said something to them about the bag I had, with the feed color not being the same and my chickens weren't eating it like usual. They said bring it back and we'll make it right.(I had about a half bag left) I did take a sample of the new bag I bought, to show them the difference. They gave me another bag with out a problem. The new bag date code is 7SEP21STA2

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm providing the following links and excerpts from them for the folks who are interested in the science of nutritional benefit of fermenting (and sprouting) to improve flock (or personal) diet.

The following paragraphs are not pulled from my limited knowledge base, but are quoted from scientific study that supports the value of fermentation (and I might add, sprouting) in reducing the anti-nutrients (phytate), as well as improving the protein and vitamin content of the grains being analyzed.
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This exerpt from Tikki Jane's article:

Another benefit of fermentation is that frequently the product does not require cooking or the heating time required for preparation is greatly reduced (Steinkraus 1994).

Figure 4 – Influence of natural fermentation of cereals on available lysine.
Data from Hamad and Fields (1979)

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Here's an other article that might be enjoyed by the reader who wants to expand their knowledge: http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/7/1/390/htm

This article references the dietary benefit as well as short comings of wheat. Of particular note is the copied paragraph below:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/wheat#section9

Antinutrients
Whole-grain wheat contains phytic acid (phytate), a nutrient that impairs the absorption of minerals, such as iron and zinc, from the same meal ( 21).

For this reason, it has been referred to as an antinutrient.

This is usually not a problem in well-balanced diets, but may be a concern in diets that are largely based on cereal grains and legumes.

The phytic acid content of wheat can be reduced considerably by soaking and fermenting the grains (21).

For example, the phytate content of fermented sourdough bread may be reduced by 90% (58).

BOTTOM LINE:Whole wheat contains phytic acid, an antinutrient that may impair the absorption of iron and zinc from the gut.
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Millet, b/c it is drought tolerant and has a short growing season is becoming a much more popular part of the human (and animal) diet. I quote the following article:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1541-4337.12012/full

Millet grains, before consumption and for preparing of food, are usually processed by commonly used traditional processing techniques include decorticating, malting, fermentation, roasting, flaking, and grinding to improve their edible, nutritional, and sensory properties.
It has also been reported that millet proteins are good sources of essential amino acids except lysine and threonine but are relatively high in methionine. Millets are also rich sources of phytochemicals and micronutrients (Mal and others 2010; Singh and others 2012).
It contains about 92.5% dry matter, 2.1% ash, 2.8% crude fiber, 7.8% crude fat, 13.6% crude protein, and 63.2% starch (Ali and others 2003). Also, foxtail millet protein characterization showed that its protein concentrate is a potential functional food ingredient and the essential amino acid pattern suggests possible use as a supplementary protein source to most cereals because it is rich in lysine
Effect of germination and fermentation of pearl millet on proximate, chemical, and sensory properties of instant fura (a Nigerian cereal food) was examined. It was found that germination appeared to be a promising food processing method for improving the nutrient and energy densities of fura and, when combined with fermentation, reduced phytic acid significantly (P < 0.05) (Inyang and Zakari 2008).
Germination and probiotic fermentation caused significant improvement in the contents of thiamine, niacin, total lysine, protein fractions, sugars, soluble dietary fiber, and in vitro availability of Ca, Fe, and Zn of food blends

Fermented foods are also produced and consumed worldwide in terms of their importance for human food (Mugocha and others 2000; Gotcheva and others 2001). The chemical compositions of millet grains and their food products were found to be modified by fermentation. Therefore, millet grains are used to produce different kinds of traditional fermented foods in developing countries in Africa and Asia. Fermentation is one of the processes that decrease the levels of antinutrients in food grains and increase the protein availability, in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD), and nutritive value. It has been indicated that fermentation of processed pearl millet.......

This article goes on to cover the value of fermentation and it's use as a valuable food preparation and preservation method in many, many countries. Nutritional analysis noted improved vitamin and protein content. I got tired of cutting and pasting. So, if interested, I suggest that you pull up the article and read the whole thing.


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[sonshine15]

Hi,
Has anyone ever tried using an aquarium heater in the FF bucket? It's a good ways to carry a 5 gallon bucket to the shop and it stays cool/cold in there.......I feel an experiment coming up.......

 

[Molpet]

i keep the ff buckets in the basement.. takes a day or two longer when it's cold
some people use a heated feed bowl in the winter.

 

[blackdog043]

I think the aquarium heater would turn off, before it would heat the whole bucket up. Are you trying to ferment in your shop?

 

[lazy gardener]

I absolutely, strongly suggest that you do not do this! An aquarium heater is designed to dissipate heat through water. if you put that heater in a bucket of FF which is more dense, you are likely to have the heat build up around the heater, possibly cooking the FF, and destroying the heater. You might consider hanging a light bulb above your buckets, perhaps in a bit of an enclosed space. Of course you will have to use common sense to be sure that what ever you do is a safe set up.

I ferment in my garage all summer. As the weather gets colder, it moves into my laundry room. When real cold weather moves in, I move it into my living space, often setting my buckets beside my wood stove. That's a nuisance b/c I'm in a raised ranch, so those buckets have to get carried down a full set of stairs, through the snow and ice. I use a kid's snow sled to drag the FF to the coop.

 

[Kusanar]

Hi,
Has anyone ever tried using an aquarium heater in the FF bucket? It's a good ways to carry a 5 gallon bucket to the shop and it stays cool/cold in there.......I feel an experiment coming up.......

Others have already stated why this wouldn't work, however, what WOULD work is to set your 5 gallon bucket of FF down into a larger bucket, fill the gap with water, and heat the water around the bucket, this would evenly heat the water and send the warmth gently through all sides of your FF without burning it. Even better if you have a small pump to circulate the water around the FF bucket. Then, simply set a piece of ply wood over the top to keep out critters and help retain some of the heat

 

[sonshine15]

@lazygardener I wondered about the density. With so many on here who have done this for years, you answered my question
( I have 4, 5 gallon buckets of potatoes I brought in and 2, 5 gallon FF in my laundry room. I can't move them back out till DH is off work...back issues lately.....I put them all in there a week ago, there they sit.............)

@Kusanar That sounds like a great idea! It may take it a couple more days but would be handy!