Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[aoxa]

Okay, so someone told me last night to just make bigger holes for my starter crumble. Still not draining properly... Can someone explain what they do that works quickly, other than straining manually?

 

[Beekissed]

Could you post a pic of your holes and with something beside them for a reference and scale? I drilled one size of hole and haven't had to change that, so I'm a little confused as to why this always seems to be an issue on this thread. Either someone has too small and some have too big or some had too small, redrilled and got too big, etc.

I've never had mine get clogged and I have used starter by itself, starter and whole grains, then layer(very fine ground mash) and whole grains and even a little pelleted calf manna in there that instantly dissolves into powder in the mix as well. The holes are not so big that any of the whole grains end up in the bottom bucket.

I'm trying to do some brainstorming here...my buckets are the same size, so when they are nested, there is pressure against the holes from the bottom bucket wall. As I stir the mix, I am constantly scraping the walls of the bucket, thus scraping past and possibly dislodging any debris in the holes in the upper part of the mix. When I fill from the top the water is first in the top bucket and stirred into the mix, but slowly drains into and mixes with the level of water in the bottom bucket..this causes some flushing of those holes~both outward and inward, almost like a washing effect on the holes.

I know that some of the fine powder gets into the bottom reservoir but apparently the position of walls of the bottom bucket may keep much of the larger particles from going there due to it's blocking off the holes. With my scraping and mixing, it may further discourage any lodging of particles in these holes. Add to that the constant influx and outflow of water through these holes as the mix is stirred is also a flush for the holes.

In my system there doesn't seem to be any difficulty with using any size of feed particle. Any fine particles that go into the bottom bucket make for about 2 in. of very silty, fine sludge in the bottom bucket that remains pretty constant and does not get any deeper. This is topped by around 4-6 in of fermented fluid.

Do you see anything going on in this system that isn't going on in yours that maybe could cause a different outcome to the drainage of your drilled holes?

 

[chickachee]

Hi Chickachee from Longville.

My litter is super dry with a poop board in place and airflow through the coop. I think my Boy got frostbit here a couple Sundays ago. It was super wet Saturday then the weather switched in the night to real cold that Sunday. I agree humidity is a problem, but I'm skeptical that it happened in the coop. I think it can happen during the day while they free range, drink and eat moist food too. He's a young cockerel this year and I've read that there can be an initial issue with frostbite on tips --but then with care the next year they do well without problems. IDK. I learn something new about these birds almost every week.


His Wattles and Combs have good reach and gravity going for them.

hard to keep everything warm and cozy sometimes.

We're practically neighbors! I've got the same set up as you - poop board and (I think) fairly good ventilation. Yup, I remember the weather a few weeks ago that you're talking about. I was out trying to get plastic on my chicken run and was SO glad that I got it done in record time so I could get back in the house. It could very well have happened outside with the freaky weather. Your boy sure is pretty!

 

[Beekissed]

He is very regal and beautiful!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

We're practically neighbors! I've got the same set up as you - poop board and (I think) fairly good ventilation. Yup, I remember the weather a few weeks ago that you're talking about. I was out trying to get plastic on my chicken run and was SO glad that I got it done in record time so I could get back in the house. It could very well have happened outside with the freaky weather. Your boy sure is pretty!

Yah, Sheila, we are! I feel like I'm crazy raising birds up here in the Northwoods with all the predators. But it's been so rewarding to my family...Nothing but good has come from it. Fingers crossed for a good winter with the chooks and love spoiling them with all these great ideas like FF.

He is very regal and beautiful!

Thanks Beekissed. He is fun and very integral to the success of my flock free ranging living where I do. Being eye candy is just a side job for this Big Boy. He's good to my kids and me. A complete package. Supposed to have been an a pullet this spring, but God always knows best.

Love your Toby too.

 

[pigeonguy]

I didn't do it in the FF, but I did soak it in water and serve last year. It smelled God awful

It didn't smell like pickles.. It's hard to explain.
They would not touch it last year. This year my birds are eating rabbit pellets, so maybe they would like it a bit more...?
Maybe a bit of rabbit pellets in the food would give it a nice added green colour.

I sometimes put rabbit pellets in my FF

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Hi Chickachee from Longville.

My litter is super dry with a poop board in place and airflow through the coop. I think my Boy got frostbit here a couple Sundays ago. It was super wet Saturday then the weather switched in the night to real cold that Sunday. I agree humidity is a problem, but I'm skeptical that it happened in the coop. I think it can happen during the day while they free range, drink and eat moist food too. He's a young cockerel this year and I've read that there can be an initial issue with frostbite on tips --but then with care the next year they do well without problems. IDK. I learn something new about these birds almost every week.


His Wattles and Combs have good reach and gravity going for them.

hard to keep everything warm and cozy sometimes.

Oh my, what a handsome rooster! We get "freezing fog" a lot here. Humidity can get pretty high even in the winter months, what a pain! I am very nervous but i use DL also. So far is all good. Ventilation and keeping dry seem to be key things to watch for.

 

[aoxa]

Could you post a pic of your holes and with something beside them for a reference and scale?  I drilled one size of hole and haven't had to change that, so I'm a little confused as to why this always seems to be an issue on this thread.  Either someone has too small and some have too big or some had too small, redrilled and got too big, etc. 

I've never had mine get clogged and I have used starter by itself, starter and whole grains, then layer(very fine ground mash) and whole grains and even a little pelleted calf manna in there that instantly dissolves into powder in the mix as well.  The holes are not so big that any of the whole grains end up in the bottom bucket.

I'm trying to do some brainstorming here...my buckets are the same size, so when they are nested, there is pressure against the holes from the bottom bucket wall.  As I stir the mix, I am constantly scraping the walls of the bucket, thus scraping past and possibly dislodging any debris in the holes in the upper part of the mix.  When I fill from the top the water is first in the top bucket and stirred into the mix, but slowly drains into and mixes with the level of water in the bottom bucket..this causes some flushing of those holes~both outward and inward, almost like a washing effect on the holes.

I know that some of the fine powder gets into the bottom reservoir but apparently the position of walls of the bottom bucket may keep much of the larger particles from going there due to it's blocking off the holes.  With my scraping and mixing, it may further discourage any lodging of particles in these holes.  Add to that the constant influx and outflow of water through these holes as the mix is stirred is also a flush for the holes. 

In my system there doesn't seem to be any difficulty with using any size of feed particle.  Any fine particles that go into the bottom bucket make for about 2 in. of very silty, fine sludge in the bottom bucket that remains pretty constant and does not get any deeper.  This is topped by around 4-6 in of fermented fluid. 

Do you see anything going on in this system that isn't going on in yours that maybe could cause a different outcome to the drainage of your drilled holes? 

Well I'm not using a bucket - I'm using two yoghurt containers. One inside the other. I will post a picture when I get home. Right now they don't eat much at all, so this system is definitely the right size.

It does seem to be draining a little better now. Food is perfect consistency.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Finally after all this time my ff is at the right consistency just like motar or peanut butter [crunchy] and my whole flock is now eating it, very exciting to say the least.
Hoping Everyone has a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Happy Thanksgiving!