Fermented Feeds

[Brada Puhi]

Aloha,

My new batch is more like what I am accustomed to, but I made three changes so Iʻm not sure which one is the reason. Before I used Nutrena egg layer with rolled barley, and I added EM and a probiotic pill as described before.

This time I just put Triple Duty(16% protein) and plenty of water. No added bacteria. After two days it was boiling up and more soupy than water floating on top. After 3 days, I added some more grain to make it thicker and I got a bucket full of good stuff.

So far, my evidence says to keep it simple. Water plus grains.

Aloha, Puhi

 

[Brada Puhi]

The triple duty is made by a different company.

Anyone else get weird batches with Nutrena?

 

[kpgoldstar]

Aloha,

My new batch is more like what I am accustomed to, but I made three changes so Iʻm not sure which one is the reason. Before I used Nutrena egg layer with rolled barley, and I added EM and a probiotic pill as described before.

This time I just put Triple Duty(16% protein) and plenty of water. No added bacteria. After two days it was boiling up and more soupy than water floating on top. After 3 days, I added some more grain to make it thicker and I got a bucket full of good stuff.

So far, my evidence says to keep it simple. Water plus grains.

Aloha, Puhi

That's all I've ever done, water plus feed. I am using the same bucket for nearly a year now. Never tossed, never started over. I have a teeny, tiny feed store that only sells one brand of layer feed, something from Star Milling. I refresh my bucket about every 5 days. I have 4 RIR's who started laying in February. They are very healthy and happy!

 

[Lilyput]

Aloha,

My new batch is more like what I am accustomed to, but I made three changes so Iʻm not sure which one is the reason. Before I used Nutrena egg layer with rolled barley, and I added EM and a probiotic pill as described before.

This time I just put Triple Duty(16% protein) and plenty of water. No added bacteria. After two days it was boiling up and more soupy than water floating on top. After 3 days, I added some more grain to make it thicker and I got a bucket full of good stuff.

So far, my evidence says to keep it simple. Water plus grains.

Aloha, Puhi

I agree wholeheartedly; keep it simple. If you want to fancy it up with extra additives, place it into the ff you are feeding that day. My hens don't like the ff; I always add some scratch on top of the feed for the day to get them to eat it.

 

[jsdeslidingh]

Okay, with the wealth of knowledge here, I may have over looked this answer, but, when initially starting to ferment, do you HAVE to use ACV or a mother culture? I just started with half gallon jars nearly half full of laying feed and the filled it up with water and gave it a good stir a few times...2 days later it was all bubbly on top....didn't really have a sour smell..maybe more like pumpkin innards lol

 

[jsdeslidingh]

This is the layer I currently use, but I'm thinking I may switch to this one since it has higher protein...

 

[mamahenAtlanta]

No need for a starter. I've just begun using fermented feed -- you can feed after 1 day, after 2-3 it begins to get bubbly/frothy which is good. Just replace the amount of feed that you remove each time and keep the same liquid, adding more water to cover well. Stir once or twice a day. I always check before feeding--it should smell a bit sour but not gross. One batch I tried in a plastic bucket with a lid and not sure what happened but I could tell after 2 days that it definitely went BAD. You will definitely tell if it smells BAD or if it's just a sour odor--not offensive at all. I use a large mason jar now (for feeding just as a supplement to a small flock). I will move to a large pickle jar for big batches when my girls are a little older.

 

[Lilyput]

Okay, with the wealth of knowledge here, I may have over looked this answer, but, when initially starting to ferment, do you HAVE to use ACV or a mother culture? I just started with half gallon jars nearly half full of laying feed and the filled it up with water and gave it a good stir a few times...2 days later it was all bubbly on top....didn't really have a sour smell..maybe more like pumpkin innards lol

It sounds like your ff would be awfully thin. Thoroughly wet the feed, slightly cover it. When first starting a brand new batch, let it go for three days, stirring daily and cracked top for air. Once it's started, just keep adding feed and water and it will only take overnight to ferment. I only use feed and water to my ff container. Any other additive goes to chickens at time of feeding. I never contaminate my feed. You will never get mold using just feed and water. I'll look up the site again and post it for you.

 

[Lilyput]

It sounds like your ff would be awfully thin. Thoroughly wet the feed, slightly cover it. When first starting a brand new batch, let it go for three days, stirring daily and cracked top for air. Once it's started, just keep adding feed and water and it will only take overnight to ferment. I only use feed and water to my ff container. Any other additive goes to chickens at time of feeding. I never contaminate my feed. You will never get mold using just feed and water. I'll look up the site again and post it for you.

Here's the best site for fermented feed, it's long, but worth it. It will answer all your questions. http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[Lilyput]

Okay, with the wealth of knowledge here, I may have over looked this answer, but, when initially starting to ferment, do you HAVE to use ACV or a mother culture? I just started with half gallon jars nearly half full of laying feed and the filled it up with water and gave it a good stir a few times...2 days later it was all bubbly on top....didn't really have a sour smell..maybe more like pumpkin innards lol

best site, will answer all your questions http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/