FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[subhanalah]

Thanks, although the content isn't quite entirely "oringinal." I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something..... I spent nearly all day on this, and then the crazy people's horses went on a rampage through my yard and I called the sheriff's office, who sent 2 deputies who got there in time to stop the 3rd crazy hostile man from flattening me; while also explaining again that their darn bull has been out for 4 freaking weeks now, only to come back up and try to finish it and heard the dogs in a frenzy because, you guessed it, the BULL was crashing through the trees in the middle section of my driveway between the house and the well house, just steps from my porch; which meant I had to go up and find my revolver and send off a warning shot.       I don't think I can fly any time soon unless I want to spend extra time with the TSA. It's been a bit crazy. I may have missed something. Let me know, please, if you find it........

 

[kpgoldstar]

I appreciate that, because it was actually difficult for me to post anything. Plus I have enjoyed reading a lot of stuff you have written in the past and felt somehow betrayed that one of the few times I asked a question I get called lazy. It may seem silly to you, but I was literally in tears. I have come to depend on this site that much because I wanted to do a good job with my chicks.

Keep posting n3kms. You were very appreciative of the answers many of us gave to your questions and that is always a nice gesture.

Beverly you may want to retract your statement after reading the previous posts regarding this lady's questions.

 

[kpgoldstar]

I found this site through a local FB site I am with. Maybe this will help a bit.

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

The only problem with this site is they insist that you need to keep water over the top (not true). Also, that your container must be covered. That is the way I read it and I am the one who had my glass jar explode because I left the top screwed down tight. Other than that it is a good site for initially learning about ff, and once you get going you usually figure your own best way for your individual situation.

 

[beverly evans]

Finally got it done. Did I miss anything?

http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

Kudos for you! A job well done! Now if we can direct every "newbie" to that site so Bee can take a rest! (And all the other resident "experts" that answer the same questions over and over and........) : )

 

[beverly evans]

Quote: Man, you must live in a really wild area! I think I would get a 22 filled with "scatter shot" and shoot me some horses and a bull! It won't hurt them unless you are practically sitting on them, but it will sting so bad they will remember where it came from and hopefully stay away from your yard. Certainly after the 2nd or 3rd time!! Just thinking.... Maybe a bull dog like mine would scare the bull or horses away? He'd surely try. That fool is lucky you don't eat that bull of his. What are the laws on things like that? You should be able to sue him for damage to fences, gardens, etc. : )

 

[n3kms]

The only problem with this site is they insist that you need to keep water over the top (not true). Also, that your container must be covered. That is the way I read it and I am the one who had my glass jar explode because I left the top screwed down tight. Other than that it is a good site for initially learning about ff, and once you get going you usually figure your own best way for your individual situation.

I'm almost scared to say anything but..I know when you ferment sauerkraut that you have to keep it covered with liquid but when you make kefir, fermented milk you just cover with cheese cloth to keep bugs out but allow air in. So, it is confusing. But if you have been doing this awhile and it sounds like you have then it must be okay. I started mine this morning and it does have a little water covering since I didn't know how much would absorb and it is in a glass jar because that is what I had. I did just lay the lid on it because I can't find my cheese cloth. I'm glad I read that I read not to screw it on because the glass would break. I did add about a teaspoon of raw ACV because I had it and since some recommended it I figured it wouldn't hurt.

 

[beverly evans]

Because I have been reading off and on for 4 years, including books that I have bought or check out at the library, I have designed a coop that my husband and I have nearly finished. It has a dirt floor. We have buried one row of concrete block and put another on top of that, in hopes of keeping out unwanted guest. We are going to use the deep litter method because it seemed so natural and logical. It is a 10x10 coop for 10 chickens so they have plenty of room. It will have 4 nest boxes. There will be a 300 square foot run with buried fencing to keep out diggers. I am using nipple waterers from Britetap because I liked the idea that the coolers you can attach them to would keep water cool longer during our Tennessee summers. Now I have learned about fermented foods and that also seems natural and logical so I plan to do that. I learned all that from reading on Backyardchickens.com where I thought people liked to share. When I started all I knew how to do was read because I had to figure out how to ask and how to search. Sometimes threads are dead ends and no one answers or it goes off on a tangent or five. Sometimes everthing is discussed but the one question you have. If it seems like I got my feelings hurt by the last couple of post, it is because I did. Just "being honest".

Well get over it. There is no one on here who is the least bit mean spirited and definitely meant you no offense. These people are laid back, overly generous with their knowledge and always willing to share it. You and your questions will always be welcome here and no one ever makes fun of stupid questions (I've asked a few). That said, just know that you are totally accepted and welcome!! : )

 

[LindaB220]

For an anti-dog lid ... and maybe to deter fruit flies if they become an issue ... I was thinking of getting some EZ-Strainers ...

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=24071

This is a product designed to fit into the top of a 5 gallon bucket so you can screen debris out of "liquids" like paint.

I don't think it would work to "strain" FF because in my experience the extra liquid in FF wants to be on the top of the feed, so gravity straining FF doesn't actually work in any case, but certainly not with screens this fine.

BUT ... it would make a great "lid" for a 5 gallon bucket of FF because it would let the bucket breathe. No explosions! Always a bonus.
............

Just to recap and give an example of a slightly different system for managing FF that works for my situation:

I have a 5 bucket system ... 5 gallon buckets. I feed a complete 5 gallon bucket of feed each day (feeding over 100 birds, and they also have access to dry food, and YES I do wish things could be arranged so I could reliably provide them with exactly the right amount of FF each and every day so I can take away the dry feed, but I'm not "there" yet and don't know that I ever will be).

IF I'm adding supplements to the basic feed, I stir them into the bucket right before serving the FF.

When the bucket comes back to the kitchen it is empty. I take a couple scoops of feed from the "oldest" bucket and add it to the newly-empty bucket. Then I add in the 2.25 gallons of fresh well water and give it a good stir. Then I add in the the two gallons of feed and stir until it starts to break down and absorb the water. When it starts getting thick enough that it's tough to stir, I let it sit and ferment and "only" stir it twice per day ... morning and night.

To stir I use three different things depending ...

I have a big industrial spoon I use to stir the water into the scoops of feed to "backslop." I also use this spoon to shift the feed from the bucket into the feeder. I love this spoon.

I have a HUGE industrial whisk I use to stir buckets that are up on my counter ... more of a poke, poke, poke than an actual stir cuz the FF is super thick.

I have a manual cement mixing tool I use to stir a bucket if it's on the floor. If I brace the bucket, I can "twirl" the cement mixer, and poke, poke, poke with it and it really does a great job of stirring clear to the bottom and edges of the bucket. Because I can't use my arms much, I often have Dad help with the stirring.

I asked Dad if he would prefer to have a big cooler with a big batch of FF in that, so there is just one thing to stir, and he says he prefers the individual buckets.

We reserve the right to change our minds about any/all of this, though.

AND ... for what it is worth

... I've been working with a animal nutritionist (she is super passionate about this! she is so informed! so plugged into the local sources! and a bit of a marketing wiz on top of all of that) at a local feed company to come up with a flexible custom feed that will meet all our needs here, and to which we can add "supplements" when we have temporary/unique needs. We discussed fermenting, and she says she is a big fan of it! So ...

(She told me she has some customers who call her every time they have a question, and often it is the same question they called about last time. She says she sometimes has to tell them, "You're going to have to write some of this down because I can't keep answering these same basic questions." And she says people do get their feelings hurt by that, but ... ).

I looked at that site. 5 gallon for $4 something and for $12 you can get a 55 gallon drum. That's fantastic. Keeping things out of a rain barrel, for instance. Thanks. This will truly come in handy.

 

[LindaB220]

"A good set of tools"? What kind of tools do you need? I just processed my first rooster. I got three back from someone I sold 5 chicks to. They were mostly grown. He processed out at 5 pds. with neck, gizzard and all. I didn't know him so it was possible. "My" roos are driving me nuts, they are over using my girls and chasing and abusing the little ones that aren't laying yet. At what age do you have to neuter them? Can I do it now and will they leave the girls alone after? Will they still provide protection and vigilance? Thx Linda : )

No think couch potato.

Not that bad. No interest in gals. Just likes to hang out with them or chicks. No fighting or crowing. They are caponized at about 1.5 lbs. Maybe 6-8 weeks old. Not CX. They are 3 wks. It gets more dangerous the bigger you get them. Poco Pollo can do adults but she's very experienced. The joy about having capons about the place besides bigger, tenderer meat is the fact that they will brood new chicks. Sometimes 2 or 3 bunches before being processed themselves. Makes them very happy. A good set of capon tools came be bought for under $50. The thread Graphic Pics of my day learning to caponize. Poco is on there and orderes them from China. They capon millions over there. That could be an exaggeration

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Quote: Thank you so much for this wonderful information!