FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[EggSighted4Life]

Very true

I've never inquired about our water additives here, I probably should, but I kinda don't want to know. Our water here smells terrible and doesn't taste that great so we get bottled. I just use that because I never remember to let any sit out.

Most send out a water quality report every year. I specifically did inquire once because I used to keep fish... and no point in paying for a chemical (don't know what it is) to remove another (chlorine) if I didn't need to.

I enjoy our well water so much, it's almost appalling to even take a shower in city water! Even if it's safe to drink (allegedly), doesn't make it yummy. But then again, I don't have any control over what my neighbors put in the ground. And I found oil dump locations on my property after purchasing as a foreclosure.

 

[orchardflock]

What IM said. While you can add a bit of ACV, or some whey from your yogurt, or even some SCOBY from your kombucha, it's totally un-necessary. The mix of feed and water will be inoculated perfectly well with the natural organisms in your air. It really doesn't get any simpler than this!

As I was pouring feed into the bucket, I read the ingredients list (it's Natural Farm Feed Chick Starter) and discovered it already contains dehydrated cultures of multiple types so I'm pretty confident it is just fine with nothing added. I underestimated how much it would swell though! I had to remove some of the feed this morning in order to keep it with a layer of water on top. There are now big chunks of peas visible in it, and it actually smells good. Not fermented, but almost edible. Almost. Trust me, I'm not about to try it. I'm feeling optimistic now that this might actually save us money on feed.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

As I was pouring feed into the bucket, I read the ingredients list (it's Natural Farm Feed Chick Starter) and discovered it already contains dehydrated cultures of multiple types so I'm pretty confident it is just fine with nothing added. I underestimated how much it would swell though! I had to remove some of the feed this morning in order to keep it with a layer of water on top. There are now big chunks of peas visible in it, and it actually smells good. Not fermented, but almost edible. Almost. Trust me, I'm not about to try it. I'm feeling optimistic now that this might actually save us money on feed.

Yes, MANY feeds actually already have probiotics in them. Fermenting isn't just about the probiotics, though that is a great part of it. It's also about breaking down anti nutrients and making what's in there more readily available for digestion. Wasting less. And the slight increase in gut PH does... em something?!

DITCH the extra layer of work.. er um, water! Nobody needs it and it makes for a sloppy mess the birds don't like to eat. Mix it as thick as you like. As long as you stir once a day and renew with fresh feed to "feed" the ferment (as needed), you will NOT get mold! And if you get a little white stuff growing on the top, that is the SCOBY. Symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria. The good stuff! just stir it in and continue. With different thickness you will find differing aspects. Some mix so thick they never notice the thinner layer close to the bottom. Different feeds may expand more or less. Just keep messing with it. Trial and error seems to be the best method.

IMHO, if it doesn't smell at least somewhat fermented.. it probably isn't ready yet. Bubbles are JUST the FIRST sign that you have the bacteria that make the ferment putting off some gasses as a natural byproduct. If just starting the birds on it though.. I would probably go ahead and feed out a little as an introduction since many don't take to it on their first feeding. Kinda like a time of adjustment. Maybe even a slight milder taste for the first timers.

Go ahead, have a taste! You won't be the first. Though I haven't tried it, would be fun to hear your experience!!

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, please try it and report back, how bad can it really be. Others have tried it and lived to tell about it.

 

[FlyWheel]

I mean really? Two circles. bawk bawk. Smart and uber silly.

Cool, you got your chickens do run laps! That should keep their blood pressure down. Healthy chickens lay healthy eggs.....

<Snip!>Go ahead, have a taste! You won't be the first. Though I haven't tried it, would be fun to hear your experience!!

That's the only way I have to test it, I broke my nose decades ago and ever since have been unable to smell anything but the strongest smells (acetone, menthol, camphor and so on). So a vinegary taste is my only indication that fermentation is proceeding well.

P.S. @EggSighted4Life: I ferment Purina Flock Raiser, and the best I can describe the taste is a cross between raw spinach and pickled sauerkraut.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've tried the backslop thing recently based on what I've read on this thread. I must say it's helped the fermentation process for me in a big way. It's only taking about 12 hours for the gas bubbles to permeate the feed instead of 24. The chickens LOVE it.

I am feeding about 2 lbs ff each morning, which is 11 oz of dry feed per day for 6 chickens. 40 lbs of feed @ $25 is 58 days per bag, $0.43 per day.
If I get 2 dozen eggs a week between the five girls, I pay $1.50 per dozen for organic, free range eggs.

Edit: I do give treats a few days a week and a homemade scratch or some pigeon feed to hunt for in the yard each day. These costs aren't included here. I switch ingredients and buy in bulk so cost per day is minimal. It might increase my cost per dozen to $2.50. Still far better than the grocery store.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Cool, you got your chickens do run laps! That should keep their blood pressure down. Healthy chickens lay healthy eggs.....
That's the only way I have to test it, I broke my nose decades ago and ever since have been unable to smell anything but the strongest smells (acetone, menthol, camphor and so on). So a vinegary taste is my only indication that fermentation is proceeding well.

P.S. @EggSighted4Life: I ferment Purina Flock Raiser, and the best I can describe the taste is a cross between raw spinach and pickled sauerkraut.

I wonder.. seems like lack of smell would diminish taste as well. Do you still enjoy food?

I would be going with visual q's before tasting my FF!

My actual favorite visual Q that makes me think I'm there and not just got a good start is that beautiful liquid layer just before the bottom.

But the fluffiness is just so much fun to stir!

 

[FlyWheel]

Hasn't seemed to affect my taste any, things still tasted the same as before. But then that may just be because my brain has learned the taste and has compensated. Now whether things I had never tasted before the accident have the same flavor they would have had I have no idea.

 

[AquaDuck]

Hi! I'm new to fermenting.
So far I've done a few batches of crumbled chicken feed, cracked corn and cracked oats. The chicken feed has been a great starter in it self, it started bubbling after just one night! I have two buckets with enough feed for two days. I feed from one bucket in two days, refill that one, feed from the other next two days, refill, etc.

I'm trying whole barley now (complete, un-cracked grains). How long do they have to ferment in terms of nutritional value? Will two-four days be enough?

And what sort of nutritional value do they have, compared to cracked grains?

 

[Dayrel]

Surface area makes a huge difference in how much the fermentation process alters the chemical composition of the food. Ground meal makes a much better fermentation target than whole grains as the bacteria has a lot more surface area to eat into. Same reasoning as pulping grapes for wine rather the simply using whole/half grapes.

If you are fermenting, then chicken feed is by far the better target. You can add scratch grains, but don't count on a high percentage of it to be consumed during the fermentation process.