FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[LeslieDJoyce]

It's so nice not to carry 6 different kinds of feed.
I'm now only keeping 3 things. Primarily organic 16% grower that most of the flock gets, layer feed for flocks with all actively laying and 60% fishmeal to up the protein for chicks.
You can mix in some grain to lower the protein for your adult birds.

Yes. Exactly. If we ever get poults again, we will mix in fish meal for the first few weeks. As we have ducks, we cut their ration with scratch. We can keep "mixing" more organized than we can keep different kinds of feed. That way I can order a ton of custom feed from the feed mill ... I can get bags of fish meal from them, too.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks everyone! If I throw some seeds and grains in the mix, can I add hulled sunflower seed or should I stick to the seeds in the shell?

 

[chickensfinally]

   No that is the good stuff.  Stir it in and feed.  You might want to go to a plastic bucket and make more of it.  It won't spoil and I make mine in a 5 gallon bucket and keep in the coop.  Good luck. 
[/quote]

Thanks LindaB!! I will stir and serve Do u all just add more new dry feed to the same jar or do u need to eventually start with a fresh clean jar and just add the liquid from the last jar to jump start the ferment?

 

[kpgoldstar]

I thought this was BeeKissed other thread on fermenting grains and not commercial feed.

LOL I should have read the beginning of this thread!! So sorry, my mistake. Typical of me. I will get it together eventually.

No worries that's what we're all here for. I started my chicks on FF as babies, starter feed and they got layer once they started laying, all fermented. Commercial feed, water, time - so simple and easy!

 

[evemfoster]

Hey All, I am just starting FF for my 4 & 5 week chicks ( been found it about a week). After the initial "OMG! What is THAT new thing!" They have taken to it like gangbusters. I was just doing it in a quart mason jar, I have 10 chicks, but since they seemed to like it so well I moved to an old gallon jar that held olives before. My question stems from the fact that now it is sitting longer than it did before before I will feed it all out. Yesterday it was very alcohol-y smelling. I was worried I would have drunk youngsters! And now today it seems to have bubbles on the top that look to have a dusty appearance. Has it molded?!? I don't want to throw it out til I know. Plus if it has molded I will not be able to use the liquid to start another batch right? I would want to start with just fresh acv feed and water. Thanks in advance for any help u can give. They need to eat and I do t have time to wade thru the posts. They do have dry in a free choice feeder however. --Carrie in Des Moines

There is nothing wrong with your feed the white topping is not mold its yeast. Fermented feed doesn't make alcohol though the yeast does smell a lot like brewing beer. Just stir the yeast into the feed and feed out the daily ration.

 

[kpgoldstar]

We do a lot of fermenting. I was fermenting some of our organic layer feed but it was too much with all my other ferments: sourdough, Sauerkraut, milk and water Kefer, Kombucha and wells as seasonal veggie ferments. It was just an over load.

Now I sprout grains for them instead. I set up three, three gallon buckets and put about a cup and a half of grains in each and cover with a cheese cloth lid. Watered daily the grains sprout in about 3 days. grass in 6. Soaked, sprouted, fermented grains are always better as it breaks down the acids and lectins making the vitamins more soluble. The girls also go nuts for it!

I am trying to sprout a small batch of BOSS without a sprouter jar. Do I keep water over it and strain and refill every day or just rinse each day and keep them moist?

 

[kpgoldstar]

No that is the good stuff. Stir it in and feed. You might want to go to a plastic bucket and make more of it. It won't spoil and I make mine in a 5 gallon bucket and keep in the coop. Good luck.

Thanks LindaB!! I will stir and serve Do u all just add more new dry feed to the same jar or do u need to eventually start with a fresh clean jar and just add the liquid from the last jar to jump start the ferment?[/QUOTE]
I have been using the same bucket for over 8 months. I make enough to last about 4 days and when I get down to about 1 cup or so, I add new dry feed and water. It ferments and is ready to feed by the next day.

Using a plastic bucket is easier than a glass jar. You can scrape down the sides every time you feed, ff doesn't get stuck under the lip and it is easier to scoop out.

 

[LindaB220]

We do a lot of fermenting. I was fermenting some of our organic layer feed but it was too much with all my other ferments: sourdough, Sauerkraut, milk and water Kefer, Kombucha and wells as seasonal veggie ferments. It was just an over load.

Now I sprout grains for them instead. I set up three, three gallon buckets and put about a cup and a half of grains in each and cover with a cheese cloth lid. Watered daily the grains sprout in about 3 days. grass in 6. Soaked, sprouted, fermented grains are always better as it breaks down the acids and lectins making the vitamins more soluble. The girls also go nuts for it!

Sounds good. I've not tried the bucket method. I'm different. I'm diligent about fermented the feed for the chicks, but I'm falling down bad on the milk kefir and kombucha. Stopped veggie ferments a while ago. I know, I know. I really need it for my body, but just kinda burned out on it for a while.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks everyone! If I throw some seeds and grains in the mix, can I add hulled sunflower seed or should I stick to the seeds in the shell?

Black oil sunflower seeds is less expensive at the feed store. I paid $12.50 for a 25# bag. I just throw in 2-3 cups of it when I make my 5 gallon bucket. You can add more to bump up the protein.

 

[LindaB220]

No that is the good stuff. Stir it in and feed. You might want to go to a plastic bucket and make more of it. It won't spoil and I make mine in a 5 gallon bucket and keep in the coop. Good luck.

Thanks LindaB!! I will stir and serve Do u all just add more new dry feed to the same jar or do u need to eventually start with a fresh clean jar and just add the liquid from the last jar to jump start the ferment?[/QUOTE]

When you have some in the bottom just add water and stir. Then add grains, feed, etc. and it's ready next morning.