FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[pegm]

Yes KP, I still have problems with runny poop, sometimes only one hen, sometimes more. Have had since I started ff. Fortunately we are not dealing with freezing temps now, altho when we were in the 20's I had to wait for the hose to thaw so I could wash the door. They do get some scraps and some kale, tho not daily, and let out in the yard occasionally. They have a good run, but they don't get out very often as we are in town and we have a small yard.

 

[Beekissed]

That's not typical with the FF, so I'm thinking there may be other factors?

 

[pegm]

I just don't know Bee. I took your advice and stopped giving them access to the crumbles. After they are done with the ff I feed any scraps that I might have and some kale for greens since my girls don't get to get out very often. Their ration of ff is just crumbles with a little scratch thrown in, barley and boss. Beats me...poop smell IS greatly reduced, but not gone entirely.

 

[Trefoil]

Pegm- what temperature are you fermenting at and for how long? If kept warm enough fermentation will start at a day if using the "old" liquid in the mix. Both temperature and altitude will affect the amount of time it takes to get optimum fermentation. You might want to try giving your mix an extra day fermenting and see if that has any effect. You should see it bubbling and it may have a grayish film on top. Whole grains take longer to ferment. It is recommended to gradually switch any time you change food, so what you planned is a good idea. I give my feed pretty wet, trying to increase their fluid intake in this cold (-14 last night), but that also results in it freezing rather quickly. Whoever suggested the heated dog bowl, that was a great idea. I already use them for their water, don't know why I didn't think of it for their food. I ferment whole grains and supplements and keep layer or grower dry available for them, I use small feeders (3lb feeders/10 birds) for it and have to fill them about every 5-6 days so they don't eat very much of it. I overfeed and re ferment what isn't eaten.

 

[RoseMarie1]

yeah mine don't have that either on the ff. Although I did notice one today with a really foul smelling poop that was diarrhea but I think that's due to this freezing weather than none of us down south is used to. PLUS hubby gave them some cooked canned string beans I had in the fridge and it was like 2 quarts of em. So I'm sure that also played a part in it. Their ff was frozen this morning but they seemed to eat it well enough. They didn't eat it last night I guess due to the colder temps.

I think it's suppose to start warming back up for us in the next couple days. Wish it was for you guys as well. I can't imagine having to break ice off water every day during the winter. You poor folks up north.

burrrrrrr

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Pegm- what temperature are you fermenting at and for how long?   If kept warm enough fermentation will start at a day if using the "old" liquid in the mix. Both temperature and altitude will affect the amount of time it takes to get optimum fermentation. You might want to try giving your mix an extra day fermenting and see if that has any effect.  You should see it bubbling and it may have a grayish film on top.  Whole grains take longer to ferment. It is recommended to gradually switch any time you change food, so what you planned is a good idea.  I give my feed pretty wet, trying to increase their fluid intake in this cold  (-14 last night), but that also results in it freezing rather quickly.  Whoever suggested the heated dog bowl, that was a great idea. I already use them for their water, don't know why I didn't think of it for their food. I ferment whole grains and supplements and keep layer or grower dry available for them, I use small feeders (3lb feeders/10 birds) for it and have to fill them about every 5-6 days so they don't eat very much of it. I overfeed and re ferment what isn't eaten.

How much fermentation is optimal fermentation? How can I tell if the batch has gotten there?

 

[Audio51]

I have been fermenting enough for 2 days at a time using the 2 bucket method. I am making it on the dryer side so I really don't see a lot of bubbling in mine. I add water to the bucket after feeding off Day 2's FF. I rinse the sides down while I'm adding the water and give it a good swish and swirl to blend the new water with the old ferment. Then I add about 7 cups of dry layer crumbles to the top bucket (including a bit of scratch grains...maybe 1 cup) and add additional water while stirring to bring the water level up about 1 inch above the crumbles. Then I loosely place the lid on the bucket and let it cook. It has a very pleasant "sweetly sour" smell to it the next morning. I measure out about 1/2 of the contents into a wire sieve and add any "scraps" I have to that and let it sit for about 30 minutes. I am not feeding nearly as much in the way of scraps as I was, but what I do gets a very short ferment. It's mostly greens and egg shells, some meat scraps, etc. There usually isn't much dripping going on because of the dryness of the mix so after it sits for ab it I just carry the scoop out to the pen and feed. We have had very warm weather out here (for winter) in the 60's so I am not having to deal with the freezing. Even the nights have been in the 40's here. Most of my girls have bigger, drier, more solid poops, but I do see the occasional dark liquidy one. The are allowed out the forage about 3-4 times a week, but won't be for the next week or so. I have several girls just starting to lay and want them to know where they are supposed put those eggs. I have only been getting 2 a day for the fall from my 2 mature girls, but was up to 5 the day before with some of the new layers. Yesterday I let them out and did not find a single egg in the nest boxes when I got home in the afternoon. I don't know if none were laid or they were laid outside the pen....

 

[pegm]

Trefoil, my ferment stays in the house which gets no lower than 57 at night, up to 74-76 during day depending on the sunshine. It always smells fermented, and after I add fresh feed, is nice and puffy by the next day. All I've read here indicated this is good. I do not keep it really wet, kinda like cement or a tad more wet. I sure don't know....

 

[lazy gardener]

Audio51: Those dark wet poops... look like very dark chocolate pudding... are cecal poops. You'll see them no matter what you feed, totally normal. I'll be glad to get back to FF. Just too much work in this nasty cold.

 

[Trefoil]

Trefoil, my ferment stays in the house which gets no lower than 57 at night, up to 74-76 during day depending on the sunshine. It always smells fermented, and after I add fresh feed, is nice and puffy by the next day. All I've read here indicated this is good. I do not keep it really wet, kinda like cement or a tad more wet. I sure don't know....

The easiest way to ferment is to start out by doing what is known to work, that is, making sure that after the grain (or layer, whatever) has had a chance to soak up all the liquid that its going to, that you have at least an inch of water over the top. Fermentation is anaerobic, that means you need to keep air away from what you are trying to ferment, that is why its important to have an inch of water over the top. Don't forget to stir. Most crumbles will absorb a lot of water. Your night time temperatures are really close to the temps at which fermentation stops, so it may take longer to ferment. You will know that your feed is fermenting when you see bubbles breaking on the water at the top, especially when you stir it. There is no "risk" of fermenting too long, and when fermenting not long enough you are basically feeding wet feed which isn't usually harmful, but may give them the runs. To find out if this is what is happening for you, I was suggesting that you allow your feed to ferment longer, ensuring that you were really feeding fermented food. Because its causing you problems you first need to make sure what you are feeding is fermented. Optimum for me means that it is bubbling on top and a few minutes after I stir it it starts bubbling again. How long it takes me in Michigan won't be helpful to you even if we were fermenting the same feed. Good luck. I hope this helps you.