FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[TwoCrows]

I took about 2 days worth of starter feed and put it in a tupperware tub and got the stuff really wet to the consistancy of thick cement. I stirred it up well to get every crumb wet. I lightly covered it with the plastic lid as our humidity around here is 6% so I want to keep the moisture up. I plan on stirring it several times a day.

Does this sound about right??

What if it dries out...do I add more water??

 

[chickensfinally]

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.

Thank u for the suggestion, I think I even have an old food grade plastic bucket somewhere that I can cover with cheesecloth to keep air flowing and stuff out.

Thank you to all who answered me. I do so love this forum, so many knowledgeable people

 

[Tikkijane]

I recommend the 90% shade cloth. It's dark green and you can't see anything through it. It just lets rain through. I only have one run that's in the sun midday. That one is covered the length with 90% shade cloth. The rest don't get much sun and at least one flock free ranges. The only problem with the shade cloth is the snow. It will take an 8' wide hoop pen and make two 4' wide tunnels. One of the free range flocks. raised bed with chicken pasture almost ready for the hoop pen. This guy and his brothers are sometimes a problem when they break their chain and come bounding across the field. They're getting shot next time. Only the birds that tend to jump fences (non penedesencas) have to be in the hoop pen to keep them out of the garden and berry patches in season. They get the run of the berry patches before growth and after harvest. The persimmons are there too and late fall/early winter the chickens hunt for them first thing each morning. The jugs are only hanging in the coop at night when nighttime temps haven't dropped out of the 90s, Then they're at chicken roosting height. X2 I try not to serve it till I get a whiff of that sweet sour smell when I stir it.

Oh heck- *nighttime* temps in the 90s?! That's awful. I'm so sorry. I'd prolly have some kind of box to fasten it in over top (completely secure) so they'd get the cool air over them as it sinks. But 90s at nigjt?! And I thought my desert was hot!

 

[Beekissed]

The question of What To Feed Mixed Flocks is very interesting to me. Different people solve it differently.

What we have chosen to do is use All-Purpose rations and offer the "extra minerals" the layers need on this side. This means we get to buy just one kind of feed ... the rations have all of the protein & supplements for growth that chicks need, and I have a container of oyster shell for the laying aged females to self-serve. At 19% t's a little higher protein level than some people like, lower protein than others like, but it seems to suit our flock well.

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.

That's why I feed everyone out of the same bucket...chicks, ducklings, meat birds, layer flock, roosters and all.....they all get layer mixed with whole grains and when I have chicks I'll even mix in some of the chick starter if I'm feeling like the layer mash isn't fine enough for the little chicks to get a good meal on.

Makes it so very simple to feed all birds the same ration and I've been doing it like that for some years now with good success. I think all the different kinds of feed are just a money racket and none of my family have ever subscribed to the different feeds for different needs kind of gimmick.....feed is feed is feed and if it's good enough for one bird it's good enough for another, especially if one is free ranging for most of the nutrition anyway.

I took about 2 days worth of starter feed and put it in a tupperware tub and got the stuff really wet to the consistancy of thick cement. I stirred it up well to get every crumb wet. I lightly covered it with the plastic lid as our humidity around here is 6% so I want to keep the moisture up. I plan on stirring it several times a day.

Does this sound about right??

What if it dries out...do I add more water??

You'll want to keep it a little more moist and soupy for your first fermentation effort, but once you have your starter fermented you can start mixing it thicker and dryer if you like. For the first one keep it pretty wet.

You don't have to stir it several times a day...that's just not needed. Stirring it once a day is enough and you'll be fine...I usually stir mine right before I dish it out.

 

[KittieChick]

I have to say, I did the tiktok fermenting method. I've been feeding my 6 little (huge) CX birds the FF since Sunday. I let it ferment an extra day because we had some chilly weather move through. It's like nice and bubbling, smells really good, and the birdies love it. My doggies love it, too! I've noticed that these birds are more active than earlier, and they just seem brighter. I'm happy. I may have to start fermenting stuff for myself... This is one of the best sources of info I've found. Y'all rock!

Cannot wait for my laying chickies!!!!

 

[TwoCrows]

I took about 2 days worth of starter feed and put it in a tupperware tub and got the stuff really wet to the consistancy of thick cement. I stirred it up well to get every crumb wet. I lightly covered it with the plastic lid as our humidity around here is 6% so I want to keep the moisture up. I plan on stirring it several times a day.

Does this sound about right??

What if it dries out...do I add more water??

You'll want to keep it a little more moist and soupy for your first fermentation effort, but once you have your starter fermented you can start mixing it thicker and dryer if you like. For the first one keep it pretty wet.

You don't have to stir it several times a day...that's just not needed. Stirring it once a day is enough and you'll be fine...I usually stir mine right before I dish it out.
Thanks Bee! This is what I figured. So a couple of hours ago, I added more water. It is pretty soupy now. I will stick to stirring it once a day. Can't wait to try it out on them!

 

[subhanalah]

I have to say, I did the tiktok fermenting method.  I've been feeding my 6 little (huge) CX birds the FF since Sunday.  I let it ferment an extra day because we had some chilly weather move through.  It's like nice and bubbling, smells really good, and the birdies love it.  My doggies love it, too!   I've noticed that these birds are more active than earlier, and they just seem brighter.  I'm happy.  I may have to start fermenting stuff for myself...  This is one of the best sources of info I've found.  Y'all rock!

Cannot wait for my laying chickies!!!!  

you have laying hens? I thought you have Cornish crosses?

 

[Tikkijane]

Yes, I meant when it smells bad.  It smell really good right now, but I love sauerkraut and such things.   I did read the whole 400+ post 2 nights ago.  It would be lovely if I could bookmark the pertinent information.  

But I did find my answer on the tiktok blog post, which while long isn't 400+ long!    

Hooray!

 

[Ms-T]

HI Bee
have read the whole lot ,it was time to try it.
MON got my three POL hens gave them pellets...all gone
TUE gave them half ff and half pellets...all gone ..tea time just gave them ff...all gone
WED gave them 3/4 ff and 1/4 pellets...ff all gone...pellets still there..saids it all really.

thank you .xx

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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?

I soak it for about 4 hours and then rinse it well 2 or 3 more times that day and a good rinse once or twice a day is all that's needed. I just use small buckets and a colander.
I'll put a paper towel on top of the seed or lightly set another bucket in it to help keep it moist. It's a really easy seed to sprout. 2 or 3 days and the tails start coming out.

Oh heck- *nighttime* temps in the 90s?! That's awful. I'm so sorry. I'd prolly have some kind of box to fasten it in over top (completely secure) so they'd get the cool air over them as it sinks. But 90s at nigjt?! And I thought my desert was hot!

Yeah, the desert cools down quite nicely at night. This is a heat island in summer, not to mention the high humidity.
I worked a lot of years in factories in St. Louis and Kansas City programming robots. It would actually be hotter in there at midnight than it would be at noon. Sometimes up to 120 or more depending on where you were. Between the machinery, ovens and the sun baking all day the heat just builds.