Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I personally would not feed cob to my chickens (that is a cattle feed). I would buy individual bags and mix them.

I just used Purina start and grow and when that bag ran out switched to Purina Flock Raiser or really any feed you wish mixed with the grain. I use 50% Flock Raiser and 50% grain mix (oats, barley, wheat, corn) and I also add about 3 cups of a worm feed we had our mill make for us that our worms do not do well on, so the chickens get it.

 

[Wile E.]

I am trying to start. I put some ACV in with some chick starter. I don't know if my ACV will work as it is just generic stuff, but maybe I can get some yeast or some better ACV while I'm in town today. I put plenty of water in because I wanted to see if it bubbles, rather than make a paste like beekissed recommends. I'll reduce the water when I know its fermenting.

 

[shadowmane]

The drawback to putting too much water is that the feed will be too loose. I am currently using a slotted spoon, and if its too watery, it won't stay in the spoon. I imagine you would have the same problem with a scoop.

 

[Beekissed]

I had a small accident with my started FF as the dog crashed into it and sent it flying..small because I am only using a gallon container...but I have no more braggs. Maybe some coming later today, but I am wondering about using yogurt starter, which I do have...I am new to this and doing research, but only have bits and pieces of info.. now the freeze dried starter contains skim milk, sucrose, ascorbic acid, lactic bacteria (L bulgaricus, S thermophilus L acidophilus) any comments, suggestions, articles??? Are these the 'good' bacteria formed?

You can just add water to your grain/feed and leave it open to air, stir it now and again...eventually it will start to grow cultures from yeast spores in the air. For a sourdough starter it takes 2-3 days depending on the temps in the room. You really don't need a yeast or ACV jump start to get this going, it just makes it go faster and instills already started cultures in the mix that will readily feed on the sugar in the grain.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

You can just add water to your grain/feed and leave it open to air, stir it now and again...eventually it will start to grow cultures from yeast spores in the air.  For a sourdough starter it takes 2-3 days depending on the temps in the room.  You really don't need a yeast or ACV jump start to get this going, it just makes it go faster and instills already started cultures in the mix that will readily feed on the sugar in the grain. 

Yea!!! You're back! Was starting to get worried about you.

Did you butcher yet?

 

[griffinkid02]

You can just add water to your grain/feed and leave it open to air, stir it now and again...eventually it will start to grow cultures from yeast spores in the air.  For a sourdough starter it takes 2-3 days depending on the temps in the room.  You really don't need a yeast or ACV jump start to get this going, it just makes it go faster and instills already started cultures in the mix that will readily feed on the sugar in the grain. 

Yay! We've missed you! In what I think should be the last follow up report on my contaminated batch; I also think think that I let the ph get wrong, as I had been mistly addibg water insread of acv to the batch, for the free oxygen dissolved in the water. Was forgetting to put the acv in for ph control. New batch is going great, I'm much more heavy handed with the acv and lighter on the water. Every time I go out to stir it there is a nice solid coating of yeast culture on the surface, the fermenting smell is possibly even stronger and richer than the first attempt ever was. And absolutely no sign of any fuzzy mold, mildew, or fungal growths. Yay! Here's to hoping that I got it right this time.

 

[vfem]

You can just add water to your grain/feed and leave it open to air, stir it now and again...eventually it will start to grow cultures from yeast spores in the air. For a sourdough starter it takes 2-3 days depending on the temps in the room. You really don't need a yeast or ACV jump start to get this going, it just makes it go faster and instills already started cultures in the mix that will readily feed on the sugar in the grain.

That is exactly what we ended up doing, I didn't have the ACV mother to start with and from doing sourdough starters for years this worked out perfect for us. My birds are done amazingly and increased their average weight gain since we switched as well. I do go through more food since they are eating and digesting it faster from what I can tell. We're up to about 4 feedings a day at this point. Even if I got them bigger feed buckets, I'd still have to refill regularly.

HAPPY!

 

[kelpieschick]

I personally would not feed cob to my chickens (that is a cattle feed). I would buy individual bags and mix them.
I just used Purina start and grow and when that bag ran out switched to Purina Flock Raiser or really any feed you wish mixed with the grain. I use 50% Flock Raiser and 50% grain mix (oats, barley, wheat, corn) and I also add about 3 cups of a worm feed we had our mill make for us that our worms do not do well on, so the chickens get it.

The feed store where I work sells dry COB which is just a straight Corn, Oats, Barley mix without any added molasses, preservatives or vit/mineral pre-mix. Dairy ration is COB with molassess and vitamins and minerals added to suit the needs of cows. You should be okay to get straight COB. Or the even sell OB ha ha.

 

[Kassaundra]

The local feed store sells an oat, barley and cob mix. Would this work? I also buy a 5 grain scratch. I'm not sure what to use to start! Is it better to buy the oats, barley and corn individually and mix them? I have 12 Cornish X that are 2 weeks I would like to try FF. What is the best starter?

I would say the only difference in the mixed grains and buying the grain in seperate bags and mixing them is storage and amount you would end up w/. I don't have a lot of storage so I would buy the grains already mixed for variety of nutrients. jmho

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

So I started a new batch of FF but it has been cold here so it's having a slow start, I think I will have two small batches going at once, an open air and a Braggs, and see how they compare...I am saving my yogurt culture for raspberry yogert.. meanwhile my chickens are practically assaulting me when i go outside...where is the REAL food, they want to know....the old dry stuff is just not satisfying them.