Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[OffGridMAMA]

X2 Lacy thanks

I just bought two lg quart size bags of oregano at the dollar store, score! So excited when I saw it. My ff smells fabulous. Like sourdough dipped in herb infused oil... yup. Or maybe I was just hungry? LOL

 

[Leahs Mom]

Add some pepperoni and tomatoes and - Pizza Flavored Feed! A NEW FAD!!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Question My FF still has light fluff on top but isnt bubbling... so my question is, will it ALWAYS show bubbling as it sits undisturbed? and does it always smell like a beer? mine doesnt????

Thank you!!

 

[maryhysong]

Question My FF still has light fluff on top but isnt bubbling... so my question is, will it ALWAYS show bubbling as it sits undisturbed? and does it always smell like a beer? mine doesnt????

Thank you!!

Sally mine poufs up too, kind of like a dough rising. Mine smells more like vinegar than beer, but I"ve had the same ferment going on for awhile. When I started it was a lot warmer and in the beginning mine smelled more like bread or yeast but now more like vinegar. I think it's all good tho. As long as it doesn't smell like rotting/moldy/nasty you should be fine

Also I dont' do mine real liquid; more like peanut butter cookie dough consistancy

 

[Leahs Mom]

Question My FF still has light fluff on top but isnt bubbling... so my question is, will it ALWAYS show bubbling as it sits undisturbed? and does it always smell like a beer? mine doesnt????

Thank you!!

On the smell...it depends on the kind of fermentation you're using. If you ferment toward Lactic Acid Bacteria, it should NOT smell like beer. It should smell slightly "tanyg" or "sour" like pickles or sauerkraut. With that kind of fermentation you should keep about an inch of the liquid above the feed.

You many times won't see the bubbling while it just sitting there. Give it a stir and you will usually begin to see the bubbles rising.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: OK thanks!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: yes when stiring the bubbles come up..... shwew ! thank you.... after 1.5 weeks all my birds are eating half, chicks maybe a tad more THANK YOU EVERYONE!! WHOLE GRAINS come this week so I can add to mash!! yay

 

[3 NH reds]

MY fermented feed has the smell of sour dough/ vinegar. It was out in the open all summer so it got all kinds of wild yeast but it works great. 3 weeks of the eglgayers back on it and I am pulling eggs again, they stopped for their molt..

 

[Sally Sunshine]

MY fermented feed has the smell of sour dough/ vinegar. It was out in the open all summer so it got all kinds of wild yeast but it works great. 3 weeks of the eglgayers back on it and I am pulling eggs again, they stopped for their molt..

I am wondering if I should add acv and let it sit longer... I only waited 2 days????

 

[15littlem]

If I got CX's, without fermented feed, and only supplemented with limited regular feed, could they free range? Or should I get some black broilers, red broilers, or Cornish(standard) bantams?