FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

That's what I was thinking, if there is enough room the lower ranking hens could always find a spot where they could eat in relative peace. Hmm, sudden left field idea, could the boards be bonded together using Epoxy?

And what about the surface of the wood? Should I paint/cover it with something to prevent mold or rot?

I wouldn't...the FF will likely strip any paint or adhesive right off with time, so just making sure it drains well and isn't wet all the time seems to be enough.

 

[Beekissed]

Here's a pic of my current one when I built it.... the bar on the top is to prevent birds standing in the trough, dominating the food, and to help me when I move it...it's the largest trough I've made, so it's a little bulky and heavy for me to move around if needed...the handle on it really helps with this. I'll never make another trough without one of these...and, no, it doesn't cause my birds to roost on it and poop in the trough as all my birds are too busy outdoors doing other things. Now, if such a trough were in a coop and run situation, then birds may roost on that as a place to be. This one is 5 or so ft. long...can't remember now but it looks in that area of length.

 

[aart]

Here's a pic of my current one when I built it.... the bar on the top is to prevent birds standing in the trough, dominating the food, and to help me when I move it...it's the largest trough I've made, so it's a little bulky and heavy for me to move around if needed...the handle on it really helps with this. I'll never make another trough without one of these...and, no, it doesn't cause my birds to roost on it and poop in the trough as all my birds are too busy outdoors doing other things. Now, if such a trough were in a coop and run situation, then birds may roost on that as a place to be. This one is 5 or so ft. long...can't remember now but it looks in that area of length.

How about a current pic of this after ~18 months of use?
To show that no 'finish' is need and that the screws din't rot out and fall apart.

 

[lazy gardener]

aart, if you notice, the pic was taken of that in May 2015. It's had hard use since then, and it's still doing the job for her. (I think)

 

[aart]

aart, if you notice, the pic was taken of that in May 2015. It's had hard use since then, and it's still doing the job for her. (I think)

I did see the date...why I asked to see a current pic "after ~18 months of use".
I'll bet it has a beautiful patina and is still in great shape and perfectly functional.

 

[lazy gardener]

Oh. Sorry. My bad!

 

[Noreaster Egger]

Does anyone know which beneficial bacterial strains are most prevalent when just fermenting with feed and water? Bactillus subtilis fermented soy beans yield the Asian food natto that is extremely high in vitamin K2. I'm curious if adding a probiotic, with bacillus subtilis in it (I know sav-a-chick is one), would raise the K2 content of my fermented feed.

 

[Beekissed]

I did see the date...why I asked to see a current pic "after ~18 months of use".
I'll bet it has a beautiful patina and is still in great shape and perfectly functional.

It's in great shape and perfectly functional....but that beautiful patina is somehow missing, maybe that would happen in a dry feed trough? It's messy looking, much like all my FF feed troughs! The chickens don't seem to care, though, so neither do I. Don't know if you can see it in this pic very well but I don't have a close up shot handy. If you click on the pic it gets much bigger and you can see it better.

 

[Beekissed]

Does anyone know which beneficial bacterial strains are most prevalent when just fermenting with feed and water? Bactillus subtilis fermented soy beans yield the Asian food natto that is extremely high in vitamin K2. I'm curious if adding a probiotic, with bacillus subtilis in it (I know sav-a-chick is one), would raise the K2 content of my fermented feed.

I'd say in order to get a specific bacillus growing and thriving in the mix, you may have to have one of those airlock lids to your bucket to keep out any wild yeasts. Whatever is the strongest bacillus in the mix will likely be the most prevalent and in order to raise the content of K2 I'm guessing it would have to be pretty prevalent in the mix.

 

[aart]

Quote: Thanks Bee....can see it fine....patina as in 'weathered' wood, which shows...aged, but no rotting/damage.
Did you use any special screws/nails?
This should convince @FlyWheel to keep it simple and not to worry, just screw some wood together.