Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[HighStreetCoop]

When you weighed the feed how much were they getting?

My chicks don't seem to care for many of the treats I give them. They love watermelon and hamburger. Ignore cabbage and greens.

Didn't get to weigh it. Stupid kitchen scale's battery was dead.

Mine love nearly everything I've offered with the exception of really ripe banana (they liked it ripe, but not sugary brown ripe) and apple. Kale, cabbage, radish, tomatoes, cooked sweet potatoes, spouts, sprouted BOSS, blueberries, pears, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, rice, oatmeal.

 

[vpatt]

Didn't get to weigh it. Stupid kitchen scale's battery was dead.

Mine love nearly everything I've offered with the exception of really ripe banana (they liked it ripe, but not sugary brown ripe) and apple. Kale, cabbage, radish, tomatoes, cooked sweet potatoes, spouts, sprouted BOSS, blueberries, pears, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, rice, oatmeal.

All my chickens except the three 3 week olds I'm pretty sure probably didn't get scraps so I think that may be why they don't care for them. The three babies are already free ranging so I will see if they like scraps better. So cute....today I saw mama picking ff out of the feed dish and giving it to the babies.

 

[FarmLife01]

Did I do FF "wrong"?

My first attempt, with Apple Cider Vinegar starter and layer pellets, has "worked" for 3 days now. When it's in the bucket (BeeKissed method), it smells great - like ACV. When I lift it out and let it drain, it smells truly horrid - exactly like vomit, really. I had to beat the dog off with a stick

I have visited most of the referenced pages/sites on this, most recently http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/
All say it will be "fragrant" - I guess I would describe this more as putrid! Maybe it's an every nose is different kind of thing....

Also, this is way wetter than I had envisioned.

Watcha think, is it salvage-able? Just need a little longer? Need more layer pellets mixed in to dry it out? Move to a different container to "finish" and dry out a bit?

I love this idea, but so far - yucko man! All thoughts are welcome...

 

[maryhysong]

Did I do FF "wrong"?

My first attempt, with Apple Cider Vinegar starter and layer pellets, has "worked" for 3 days now. When it's in the bucket (BeeKissed method), it smells great - like ACV. When I lift it out and let it drain, it smells truly horrid - exactly like vomit, really. I had to beat the dog off with a stick

I have visited most of the referenced pages/sites on this, most recently http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/
All say it will be "fragrant" - I guess I would describe this more as putrid! Maybe it's an every nose is different kind of thing....

Also, this is way wetter than I had envisioned.

Watcha think, is it salvage-able? Just need a little longer? Need more layer pellets mixed in to dry it out? Move to a different container to "finish" and dry out a bit?

I love this idea, but so far - yucko man! All thoughts are welcome...

It may be fine and may just be you and your sense of smell. I don't do mine as wet as most because I feed mash, not whole grains. I mix mine the consistency of thick oatmeal. There will be a little free liquid in the bottom of the bucket when I feed out. Smell can range from yeasty bread smell to vinegar to a slightly fishy smell depending on the feed used and length of ferment. I kind of like the smell of mine while it makes my sister gag. My birds don't like it too sour so I feed out and remix in the same bucket every day. Also temperatures may affect ferment and odor. As long as it is not smelling musty or moldy it should be just fine.

 

[Kassaundra]

I think I'm bracing myself to start FF again. I don't know why it seems so daunting to me. I just have this feeling it's going to take too much time every day. I think I just need to plan out my process to keep it as simple as possible.


@Kassaundra For your 30-gallon FF bucket, what are you using to scoop out the feed? I have this mental image of you shoulders-deep in a trash can scraping out the bottom with a teaspooon, but something tells me that's not quire right. ;-)

A shovel, Gary also got a pot w/ a sturdy handle he drilled holes in he likes that a lot, but I prefer the shovel.

 

[Kassaundra]

Maybe you are over complicating it? It shouldn't take any extra time at all each day...mere seconds to dish out some feed in a trough. About every other week or so, you add more dry feed to the bucket and add more water and give it a stir. Even that just takes a few minutes. Then you go back to using seconds out of your day to dish up feed once per day. How much more simple can that be? I'm trying to picture anything more simple and I just can't bring anything to mind.... maybe licking an envelope? I dunno.....

Bee

I didn't know you were back!!!

 

[Kassaundra]

That is a really excellent point, thank you.

The more I think about it and talk to folks, the happier I'm getting about it. I just need to get a couple feeders together and I'll be ready to go!

I put cement blocks out, quick easy cheap, can put several stations so even the lowest pecking order bird gets to eat. Scoop some on each block and done

 

[Kassaundra]

@Beekissed I did get the meat rabbits, and through an accident discovered they love fermented grains too, so the fermented and sprouted grains make up the majority of their food now.

 

[Beekissed]

@Beekissed I did get the meat rabbits, and through an accident discovered they love fermented grains too, so the fermented and sprouted grains make up the majority of their food now.

That's excellent to know! Do you see any changes in their health or production due to this diet change or is it to early to tell?

 

[Kassaundra]

That's excellent to know! Do you see any changes in their health or production due to this diet change or is it to early to tell?

No changes at all, they are seeming to thrive. When I processed the last batch this past week I did 8 buns, all very healthy insides meaty, good coat. I wean at 3 weeks and the young ones have not had any digestive issues at all, haven't lost any to digestive issues.