Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[WRVgirl]

Is this better? Ugh. You know, it looked perfect last night but I added more water because I thought that water needed to cover the feed (like cooking rice)

I should have known to leave well enough alone! Lol

 

[colburg]

There are holes all throughout the bucket. I went kind of crazy with the drill

The height and number holes doesn't matter. Though, with that many holes that large, you're going to end up with quite a bit of feed in your bottom bucket. Looks similar to my hole drilling, but mine are smaller diameter.

I have a 3rd bucket to set the top bucket into, then pour the juice from the bottom bucket over your feed, squirt the set-up sedidment in the bottom of it till it's loose, pour that over you feed. Continue on. This method is called backslopping. It really kicks your fermenting pace into high gear.

You may want to do something about the little "dingleberrys" that are clinging to each hole. As you stir, you're going to knock them off and they'll be chicken food. Any knife with a curved non-serrated blade will take them off pretty easy.

 

[aoxa]

I probably would have too if my drill wasn't so darn heavy.
I'll wait for Bee to answer this one. I think it's too many holes that is causing all the soupy feed.

If its a problem, I can grab another bucket...thankfully they're only $2 at Walmart.

If I redrill, how many holes and what should their placement look like? Should I drill holes on the bottom too?

Is this better? Ugh. You know, it looked perfect last night but I added more water because I thought that water needed to cover the feed (like cooking rice)

I should have known to leave well enough alone! Lol

Bee had said that water doesn't need to cover the top, though that is what I thought too at first.

Consistency is still a bit runny, but give it a bit. It should soak up some water over time. If it's soupy tonight, let us know.

 

[WRVgirl]

So, I added a couple more scoops of feed [hopefully the hens can eat it all!] and it's now got the consistency of peanut butter...It looks much more like everyone else's pictures now, Phhheww!

How long does the FF store? Can I feed out of the same bucket for a few days? Or do I have to use it the same day?

Thanks so much everyone.

Sorry for all the questions!

 

[colburg]

So, I added a couple more scoops of feed [hopefully the hens can eat it all!] and it's now got the consistency of peanut butter...It looks much more like everyone else's pictures now, Phhheww!

How long does the FF store? Can I feed out of the same bucket for a few days? Or do I have to use it the same day?

Thanks so much everyone.

Sorry for all the questions!

I've let my FF buckets sit for up to 5 days without stirring(vacation). It gets a white layer of Mother on top that just gets stirred into the mix. Some people have reported over-fermenting to the point where their birds didn't seem to care for it but I've never had a problem with it.

You can feed out of it indefinitely if you're adding feed as you take it out. You just have to figure out how much feed and water to put back in after you take so much out. Stir it up. Backslop every once in a while. No problems.

 

[WRVgirl]

Thanks so much! I'm learning so much. I can't wait to let my hens try this stuff out. I started it last night, so I guess tomorrow morning they'll get their first crack at it

Hopefully they like it!

I can't believe how big the feed got as it absorbed the water and ACV. It swelled to nearly 3x it's normal size...

 

[aoxa]

Thanks so much! I'm learning so much. I can't wait to let my hens try this stuff out. I started it last night, so I guess tomorrow morning they'll get their first crack at it  Hopefully they like it!

I can't believe how big the feed got as it absorbed the water and ACV. It swelled to nearly 3x it's normal size...

Just as the user above me mentioned, it can be used continuously.

I have only chicks eating my mix, so it doesn't seem to move much in volume, and I don't add much feed to it.

What I do if they haven't consumed what I have given them by the time I get home from work, is I take what is left, and stir it back into the bucket. It seems to really dry out and pack down because they tend to step in it. I don't have any silkies eating it any more (at least the chicks - I sold both of them), so I have been using two cream cheese containers to feed 17 chicks who are in two separate brooders. They don't consume all of what I give them.

 

[mickey328]

Until I can get some tight fitting lids with fine screens, I'm suspending fermentation. We're absolutely infested with fruit flies! If they're covered, they get scummy mold, and if not, the flies feast as much as the chickens do and we have them all over the dang house

 

[Ullie]

Until I can get some tight fitting lids with fine screens, I'm suspending fermentation. We're absolutely infested with fruit flies! If they're covered, they get scummy mold, and if not, the flies feast as much as the chickens do and we have them all over the dang house

Wow, I would of thought this time of year it is too cold for them to be hanging around.

 

[aoxa]

Until I can get some tight fitting lids with fine screens, I'm suspending fermentation.  We're absolutely infested with fruit flies!  If they're covered, they get scummy mold, and if not, the flies feast as much as the chickens do and we have them all over the dang house

Wow, I would of thought this time of year it is too cold for them to be hanging around.

Not fruit flies. We had an infestation 6 years ago and it was February.