Fermented Feeds

[Joanmcm]

For the warm weather I will put it outside. For the winter, I may try refrigerating some.

 

[Rhinoman]

Maybe, just maybe, I have a bit of OCD; anyway here's how I made the lids for my fermenting buckets:

I cut a 4' hole in the center of the lids of my buckets with a hole saw. I layered no see-um netting between 1/2" hardware cloth and regular metal screen.



The metal screen and hardware cloth provide strength and the no see-um should keep out ALL insects!



I used good old duct tape to secure the barrier. I was going to use an adhesive but do to the thickness of the screen barrier I think the duct tape will hold better.



I built wooden dollies for my buckets, this way they can be rolled out of the closet. There will be three active buckets. I'll fill bucket four with my feed mix than pour the liquid from the first bucket through the strainer into bucket four. The buckets will be in constant rotation always giving me feed that has fermented for three days. The stick across the top is the mixing stick. The strainer (upper left of picture) was purchased from a local restaurant supply company.





Still have to build the trough feeders, and grit and calcium hoppers, I'll post them when I do.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Maybe, just maybe, I have a bit of OCD; anyway here's how I made the lids for my fermenting buckets:

I cut a 4' hole in the center of the lids of my buckets with a hole saw. I layered no see-um netting between 1/2" hardware cloth and regular metal screen.



The metal screen and hardware cloth provide strength and the no see-um should keep out ALL insects!



I used good old duct tape to secure the barrier. I was going to use an adhesive but do to the thickness of the screen barrier I think the duct tape will hold better.



I built wooden dollies for my buckets, this way they can be rolled out of the closet. There will be three active buckets. I'll fill bucket four with my feed mix than pour the liquid from the first bucket through the strainer into bucket four. The buckets will be in constant rotation always giving me feed that has fermented for three days. The stick across the top is the mixing stick. The strainer (upper left of picture) was purchased from a local restaurant supply company.





Still have to build the trough feeders, and grit and calcium hoppers, I'll post them when I do.

OH WOW what a nice set up! I sure WISH I had an area in my pen I could do something like this. I LOVE your idea on the lid of the bucket to. Mine is really smelling strong right now with this heat we are having and I have it in our utility room inside the house. LOVE your idea! GOOD JOB!

 

[peterjarmo]

Starting another batch of FF today with some scratch grains and bubbies sauerkraut. I read above from moomoodiddy not to use a metal spoon to stir the FF. anybody else ever heard of that? Doesn't seem to me like that would matter....

 

[RoseMarie1]

Starting another batch of FF today with some scratch grains and bubbies sauerkraut. I read above from moomoodiddy not to use a metal spoon to stir the FF. anybody else ever heard of that? Doesn't seem to me like that would matter....

yeah you don't stir it with metal unless a good stainless steel and you don't put it in metal to serve it either. I have a stainless spatula that I use to stir mine but it is stainless. it will make the metal corode sp? and then that will get into their feed which wont be a good thing.

 

[peterjarmo]

Ok that makes sense, just like you don't want to put ACV in a galvanized waterer, cause the zinc will leach out... Thanks Rosemarie.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Ok that makes sense, just like you don't want to put ACV in a galvanized waterer, cause the zinc will leach out... Thanks Rosemarie.

You're very welcome.

 

[RoosterLew]

You could use metal to stir or strain, as long as you rinse them clean after use and do not leave them in the bucket.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Last fall I fermented a lot of food for us in our home and everything I read there ALSO said NO METAL touching the stuff period.

It puts off something in the ferment so I wouldn't use it for anything. Over time it could be putting bad stuff into your food. I also do milk kefir for us and no metal there either. I use a wooden spoon with my kefir and keep it washed after each use. Although I'm not doing kefir right now. Took a break from it for a little while.

 

[moomoodiddy]

dont even stir with metal!!!!! it makes an imbalance just like when cooking if u r making bread or even fudge using metal is disasterous! it will not turn out