Fermented Feeds

[Rhinoman]

No need to. In fact It's better if the grains are whole. They are so soft after fermentation that grinding them would create a soupy mush. Think dry like wet cement. Unless you just want to buy a grinder, don't do it.
Google/books has a lot of old poultry and raising chickens books available FREE. Check them out. So much info by the true experts 100 yrs ago or more. I have found a goldmine.

I have been reading the old books:
1st lessons in poultry keeping first year course
1st Lessons in Poultry keeping second year course
Principles of poultry keeping
History Of Anconas
A little journey among Anconas
And I'm currently reading; High egg Production in individual Hens, Pens and flocks
All free!

I haven't found anything on fermenting. Most of them COOKED the morning mash! I can't imagine.

I was going to grind BEFORE fermenting. MY ferment isn't all that soft. It ferments under water for three days stays than we drain and serve it.

Hell no, I don't WANT to buy a grinder we have six children, I can use the money elsewhere.

You mention in an earlier post you have chicks coming Dec 16 have you been feeding them fermented whole grains?

 

[LindaB220]

I have been reading the old books:
1st lessons in poultry keeping first year course
1st Lessons in Poultry keeping second year course
Principles of poultry keeping
History Of Anconas
A little journey among Anconas
And I'm currently reading; High egg Production in individual Hens, Pens and flocks
All free!

I haven't found anything on fermenting. Most of them COOKED the morning mash! I can't imagine.

I was going to grind BEFORE fermenting. MY ferment isn't all that soft. It ferments under water for three days stays than we drain and serve it.

Hell no, I don't WANT to buy a grinder we have six children, I can use the money elsewhere.

You mention in an earlier post you have chicks coming Dec 16 have you been feeding them fermented whole grains?

No life got in the way.

I have to get my hoop coop built and I spent all my money on Christmas, so I delayed ordering until the latter part of Jan. Yes I plan to begin FF from day one. I read the million page thread on Fermented Feeds for Meatbirds, and let me tell you my eyes were boiling.

Seriously, I have a really good feeling about FF. One point that I found out about it amongst all the pages is the male/female ratio is different. Considerable increase in females. And I like that. I remember back in the 70's (see that dates me) a lot of girls were trying to assure girls by drinking Apple cider vinegar. I tried it a few times but found I was already pregnant. (with a girl)

Life is funny!!
One thing I do plan on doing is when I get about ready to process, I'm gonna put them up for 2 weeks in small area and just feed corn or cornmeal and skim milk. (mixed w/ water). This will get extra weight on them and re-distribute the fatty areas (think rib-eye and sirloin) Thats how all the old books say to do the finishing. Also if there is a faint smell or taste of ACV it will get rid of it.
Like I said in my first post, this is all theoretical because I am a newbie also.

 

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha Linda,

Iʻm 99.99% sure that FF has nothing to do with sex. But FF rocks!

Aloha, Puhi

 

[LindaB220]

Aloha Linda,

Iʻm 99.99% sure that FF has nothing to do with sex. But FF rocks!

Aloha, Puhi

Mhahahahaha

 

[LindaB220]

Seriously I did google Apple Cidar Vinegar and fertility. And it is positive for girls. Funny huh?

 

[rottnwarrior]

Glad I read this. I started to ferment some feed today after hearing about it over time and thought I'd see what other people thought about it. I'm not going crazy with it, just gamebird feed and cracked corn with water and I poured some juice from sauerkraut that I've had fermenting for a couple months now. Shook it all up and walked away. It just seems too good to be true that it that it will cut my feed bill in half. So I have to try it for myself. From what I'm reading, metal is bad for it, does that mean puting it in an old metal baking dish to feed is bad? Should I find something else? Anyone have experience with that?

 

[pdirt]

Glad I read this. I started to ferment some feed today after hearing about it over time and thought I'd see what other people thought about it. I'm not going crazy with it, just gamebird feed and cracked corn with water and I poured some juice from sauerkraut that I've had fermenting for a couple months now. Shook it all up and walked away. It just seems too good to be true that it that it will cut my feed bill in half. So I have to try it for myself. From what I'm reading, metal is bad for it, does that mean puting it in an old metal baking dish to feed is bad? Should I find something else? Anyone have experience with that?

Kraut juice is a great starter, better than ACV because the juice has lactobacillus bacteria and ACV doesn't. Depending on how long you ferment your feed will determine how acidic it gets. You don't want acid touching aluminum or iron. It will rust and/or leach metals into the feed. Stainless steel would be okay, or glass, ceramic or plastic.

 

[rottnwarrior]

Ok well the pan I was going to use already has a little rust so I'll just grab an old plastic dish to use. It seems to have some bubbles on it already so maybe it'll be ready in a couple of days?

 

[pdirt]

Ok well the pan I was going to use already has a little rust so I'll just grab an old plastic dish to use. It seems to have some bubbles on it already so maybe it'll be ready in a couple of days?

Yes, in a couple days it should have a slightly sour pickled smell. If instead it smells like alcohol, your fermentation went the wrong direction and you should toss it. Some folks who ferment feed that has fish meal in it have said their fermented feed produces a foul odor. Our feed does have fish meal in it and I haven't noticed this result. You might smell some odd odors, but as long you can smell a mildly pickled smell and don't smell alcohol, you should be good to go.

 

[rottnwarrior]

Great thanks for the help. It smelled like sourdough real early this morning and now it's ripe like its pickled. I fed some and they went nuts so I guess it's a hit.