Thank you BYC friends for this wonderful thread. I truly enjoyed reading each post, but I would like to ask a few questions. I apologize before hand for any redundant questions that might have been posted and answered earlier, but I am just a little thick headed sometimes. I started about three weeks ago trying to begin a FF program. My first batch was made of laying crumbies, chopped corn, and red cayenne pepper. I threw in a little grits for good measure and then added ACV with "mother". It worked pretty good but was REALLY slimy and hard to drain the liquids off so I have now started over. I now am fermenting chopped corn, rolled oats, BOSS, and Calf Manna. Then each evening after work (wish I could be home with the chickens all day but the money for all these feeds has to come from somewhere) add the laying crumbies, grits, and red cayenne pepper to it after draining off the liquid and serve it to my little ladies. They really love it and I am now their new best friend. Now for my questions: #1 am I defeating the purpose of the fermentation by adding the laying crumbies after the fermenting process? I have found that it is harder to ferment the grains alone without the crumbies but much easier to drain and handle. #2 The new batch now has a film on it each evening is this normal? #3 Can this be fed to day old chicks with all these grains in it or should their FF only be made with chick starter? Don't think this matters but I'm feeding this to Wyandottes and Mille Fluer Cochin Banties. Again I would like to thank you all for sharing your "chicken wisdom".
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