Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[KatieBugg]

What are the temps you guys are fermenting in? I got my buckets today and will drill them tomorrow but trying to decide where to locate them as we are still pretty darn cold here and I do not heat coops. I have a smaller batch started in the kitchen for when I pick up chicks Thursday.

 

[Bleenie]

I keep mine in an out-of-way spot in the living room since that's where it's warmest in the house.


So I was wrong about the feed amount. It was actually Really close to a gallon i fed this morning. I added another gallon after 5pm but they only ate about half. So they're right about at what they were eating dry. I left it so they could finish it in the morning.

Found a place not too far away where i can buy Wheat & Barley, 50lbs for $20 so I may change over to that, i am guessing it will be less 'soupy' with the whole grains.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Lucky for me I haven't added any water yet I will remove half of it. How much ACV do I need to add?
a glug's worth......I dont measure it just pour for a glug or 2.......or count 1 one thousand 2 one thousand....

 

[mstricer]

So if I were going to use grains, You use wheat, barley, corn (which is probably expensive right now) and what else?

 

[colburg]

Is 12 hours enough to ferment, for the first day

Probably not. Most people on here have said it takes 3-5 days to get things going pretty good for their first batch. That's at warmer temps. The lower the temp, the longer it'll take.

I have a 5 gallon bucket and put 10 lbs of feed in it, is that too much?

I'd say start with filling the bucket about half full. Depending on your mix of feed, it's going to swell. My half bucket of solid feed will swell to 3/4 to 7/8 full once wet for a while.

Thanks for responding. Maybe it's just the vinegar & yeast smells together that threw me.

I filled the feed pan at about noon today, I think it was close to 2 gallons but not 100% sure. It's now freshly empty at almost 5pm. Does that seem like a lot of feed being eaten? I have about 15 adult/juvenile birds eating from it. I did read what was written about adjusting the amounts over time, but just wanted to ask here. They were eating 2 feed scoops of dry crumble a day... the scoop i use is one of the square-ish blue ones from the feed store.

Everyone's results have been all over the map when starting. Some start off eating a ton, then back off after a few days or a week. Others start out eating only a little, then pick up the pace.

You'll just have to pay a little attention to what's left in the feeder and adjust.

I keep mine in an out-of-way spot in the living room since that's where it's warmest in the house.


So I was wrong about the feed amount. It was actually Really close to a gallon i fed this morning. I added another gallon after 5pm but they only ate about half. So they're right about at what they were eating dry. I left it so they could finish it in the morning.

Found a place not too far away where i can buy Wheat & Barley, 50lbs for $20 so I may change over to that, i am guessing it will be less 'soupy' with the whole grains.

You can also make it less soupy by adding a handful of pellets or crumbles without adding any water.

 

[colburg]

So if I were going to use grains, You use wheat, barley, corn (which is probably expensive right now) and what else?

Use whatever you can find at the feed store. Don't forget to walk through the cattle and horse feeds too. The layer pellets I buy are $15/bag. The store also carries whole corn at $10/bag, 20% alfalfa pellets for $11, 12% sweet feed for $11, and scratch for $13. Also has oats and barley at $17/bag and some others that are more expensive. I use the layer pellets and a combo of the cheaper items to get my average cost to probably $12/bag.

 

[tjbeckman]

Ok, so I was talking with a friend who has raised chickens his whole life. He is concerned about the added acid in the diet of the birds... My thought would be that it isn't adding much acid at all because I am only putting the ACV in the starter, not adding it on a daily basis... Thoughts?

 

[countrygirl74]

Ok, I've heard enough that I need to ask now. Several people have said they make their own yogurt and it saves them a bunch of money.

Would you guys share your recipes please? Do I have to have raw milk? I'm surrounded by dairy farms but I think raw milk is illegal in my state and I don't have my own milk goats (much to my daughter's chagrin). When I've tried to make it before, using powdered milk, it didn't save me any money at all, in fact, I think it cost more that way. I would like to make it somewhat thick as that makes it easier to serve. I understand pectin is used to this so if anyone knows how much, how long, etc.... I'm all ears!

I "cheat" by using a Yogourmet yogurt maker. LOVE it!! I have a son with Crohn's disease so his yogurt has to be completely lactose free and this yogurt maker will ferment the yogurt for 24 hours, thus removing all lactose. This is how I do it...
I put 7 cups organic, pasteurized (not ultra-pasteurized) WHOLE milk into a small pot along with 1 cup organic half & half. Heat it on the stove to a temp of 180 degrees. My yogurt maker came with a handy thermometer... You do have to keep an eye on it and stir it occasionally a bit while it's heating so that you don't start boiling it so that it doesn't overflow all over the stove! Been there, done that.

Once it reaches 180, remove from heat and let cool to about 110. As it cools, a thin layer will develop on top. I just skim that off and throw it out or give it to the animals. I then add my starter (I usually use the yogourmet freeze-dried starter, but you can also use a plain yogurt from the store as your starter - my son can't have pectin which is why I don't use store-bought yogurt as it's very rare to find one without pectin). Once the starter is gently stirred in and dissolved, I pour it into my yogurt maker, plug it in and it's done 24 hours later (sooner if you don't need to remove all the lactose). I put it in the fridge to chill and done! It is the most delicious yogurt ever!!! I also make cream cheese, whipped cream and homemade ice cream all from that yogurt for my son! I just have to change the ratio of half & half or use heavy whipping cream to make some of the other things besides yogurt. As long as you make the yogurt using whole milk and some half & half, it will make a nice thick yogurt.

 

[countrygirl74]

Ok, so I was talking with a friend who has raised chickens his whole life. He is concerned about the added acid in the diet of the birds... My thought would be that it isn't adding much acid at all because I am only putting the ACV in the starter, not adding it on a daily basis... Thoughts?

From what I understand, the ACV helps balance acid and is a more alkaline food. That's why it's recommended for us humans to take it on a daily basis - exceptionally good for balancing out the digestive system. However, if you want to balance it for the birds, simply add the ACV to the starter AND add some plain yogurt or plain kefir - it will keep it at a nice balance and probiotics. That's what I do... just so the fermenting isn't quite the same process. From what I learned from someone else on here - can't remember who right now... the kefir or yogurt will ferment at a more anaerobic process which is good. I do both because I see benefits of both. Or you can ferment your feed with the yogurt/kefir and then just add the ACV to their water...

 

[countrygirl74]

They will eat a LOT less. I would try filling what you normally feed them in about half full. Watch how much they eat. If they clean it out quickly then add some more.

I like mine fed so that they have some in the bottom of the bowl when they go into roost at night. That way if I am not up early then they have something to tide them over till I get out to feed them. Others only give them enough so that the bowl is clean yet they are full.

I do find that the change in temps changes the amount the eat this winter. Several times I have had to refill the bowl midday because it was already empty. I assume its from the temps in the single digits. On warm sunny days they rather be out in the yard.

x2 - however, I noticed the first couple days, they ate quite a bit because they really liked it, but then it tapered off to where I'm not using near as much food. I also leave enough so that if it's not frozen the next morning, they can get the leftovers from the night before.
I had to go off FF for about a week and boy did I hate that! Now that they are back on, coop is not smelling, they are eating less, and have solid poos.