FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[n3kms]

The one thing I know about the fermented feed is that the chickens I have ouside and the chicks I have inside don't have the stinky smelly poop and have been quite healthy. No one comes to see my chickens and comments that they smell. They also have been very productive with the eggs all winter.

 

[tjo804]

Agreed n3kms
It is the choice for my ladies! I don't need to know they science behind it I see the results.

 

[tuner06]

ok thanks for the info. but thought you were suppose to let it sit for 2 weeks before feeding I read that on hear some were.

 

[tjo804]

I never have.

 

[rebrascora]

I only leave mine 2 days. I would imagine after 2 weeks it would have run out of "fuel" and stopped working but I'm no expert.
For information I add a dash of the washings from my honey extraction (usually contains a bit of pollen and propolis as well as diluted honey) to the mix (I save the washings in a pop bottle) and that really gets the fermentation bubbling nicely... I guess half a teaspoon of normal honey would do the same. I just like to use things that I can't find any other use for and won't throw out.

 

[Beekissed]

Hello all
I started with ff about a month ago. I started a new Batch two weeks ago.
What dose it mean when it stops. For the past 2 weeks I stir it everyday and for
The last few days I never see any bubbles in it. Dose that mean anything.
Thanks for any info.

The bubbles occur less frequently as more and more of the grain in the bucket is fermented, the more you stir, etc. No worries...just feed it to the flock and add fresh feed and water to give it something more to "eat".

 

[Tikkijane]

ok thanks for the info. but thought you were suppose to let it sit for 2 weeks before feeding I read that on hear some were. 

Nope. Initial batch can ge ready to feed in 3-4 days at room temp. Backslopped and refreshed subsequent batches can be ready overnight. Absolutely no reason to wait to feed 2 weeks.

 

[LindsayAndBaby]

You mention the white, gray, or beige film on the top of the water... I've been seeing that recently after fermenting for around 6 months. Can you tell me what it is? Mine is specifically a thin white film that almost looks powdery... (matte finish not shiny or slick).

 

[kada6305]

I''ve just started up again with 2 5 gallon buckets...think I am actually doing it right this time because I can actually hear it fermenting when i was getting some to feed today i could hear it bubbling yay!

 

[Beekissed]

You mention the white, gray, or beige film on the top of the water... I've been seeing that recently after fermenting for around 6 months. Can you tell me what it is? Mine is specifically a thin white film that almost looks powdery... (matte finish not shiny or slick).

Sometimes that's just a layer of the finer particles from the feed that have floated to the top and settled there in a thin layer. The exposure of this to the air can start yeast growth if left undisturbed for several days, which is no big deal and is not harmful mold of any kind. Sometimes it's just the layer of finer particles and no yeast growth at all..just the floaties.