Fermented Feeds

[RoosterLew]

Rofl.

I am storing my fermenting feed in my sunroom and it is real hot here. Will it hurt it to be in 80's? I don't really want the 5 gal bucket in the house.

Where are you at that 80's is "really hot"? Lol
We are touching 100 here!
Your FF will be fine in the 80's.

 

[peckygirl]

So I've been making mine for 4 days now and they LOVE it!!!! I've been keeping the lid on it too and stirring it 3x a day. Should I drill a hole on top to let some air in?

 

[sarahsunshine]

If you are stirring your feed 3x a day, then I wouldn't worry about it. The feed does not need air to ferment, it just needs to let carbon dioxide regularly.

So I've been making mine for 4 days now and they LOVE it!!!! I've been keeping the lid on it too and stirring it 3x a day. Should I drill a hole on top to let some air in?

 

[moomoodiddy]

i cant keep my ff inside and kts getting hot outside so i have been saving the juice to add to the feed daily

 

[Joanmcm]

Let me say....thanks for this thread from my chickens. They love the fermented feed!

 

[peterjarmo]

Hi all,
I tried my first batch of FF last week with layers crumbles and some bubbles sauer kraut juice as a starter. It was all completely submerged under a few inches of water and I stirred it a couple times a day. Then on the 4th day all the crumbles were floating on the top, lots of bubbles, and a putrid smell. I sterilized the bucket prior so I'm not sure what happened. Any Ideas?
Is layers crumbles appropriate or should I be using more of a whole grain base?
Was the bubbles starter a bad idea?
Thanks

 

[aggiemae]

Sauerkraut juice? I use yogurt or buttermilk as a starter and then leave the lid off the bucket for a few hours (to catch natural ferments from the air) then cover it. I start feeding it after 3 days. I usually use whole grains, currently oats but have used organic feeds in the past though the preservative in commercial feed might slow down or even prevent fermenting.

 

[sarahsunshine]

You don't really need any starter because there's enough in the air. What you do need is a reasonable temperature location (+/- 20C), non-chlorinated water, and whatever fod you are using that has sufficient carbohydrates in it (corn, wheat, barley, etc...). Then cover your feed and stir every 3 hrs or so (or as often as you can).

Personally I would not use any starter, maybe a little raw apple cider vinegar if you have it on hand, but it is not necessary.

 

[peterjarmo]

Ok, I'll try again with some whole grains and no sauer kraut... I got that idea from a website about fermented feed... I wanted to use butter milk for a starter but here in NM nobody can sell non pasteurized dairy... I will do the cider vinegar though, I think using a starter helps to get things going more quickly lessening time for other microbes to get a foothold, at least that's what I've read.
Thanks for the tips

 

[Joanmcm]

Homemade sauerkraut would work or pickle juice but it would need to be Bubbies etc...not the regular stuff out of the supermarket.