Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[DaveMorey]

My hope is to finish around 5-6 lbs I guess. More importantly though I don't want to flip any. That really is my biggest concern. I don't want to spend a ton of time and energy raising them to lose some right near the end. So my real overall goal is just healthy birds. But I do have to fit processing in somewhere between hunting seasons too.

 

[dizzychicken]

I meant this thread is so huge. Sorry, got feed on my mind.

 

[DaveMorey]

Okay, I am new to FF, so I have a few questions if yall don't mind. This feed is so huge, I could never read through the entire thing. 

1. I am using gallon jars to ferment, but I have about 50 chickens, so it seems I stand at the sink and strain the FF forever. There has got to be an easier way to strain. I know there is a two bucket system, but my feed just dissolves into mush, so how do you poke holes in the inserted bucket, and not have all your feed drain out the holes?

2. I read something about chickens on FF having rough feathers, anyone having that problem? 

3. How sour, is too sour of a smell? 

4. I have seen where some don't keep water over the top of the feed, they just keep it super moist. Does this work for anyone else. I don't want to get my chickens sick. I just hate all that straining. (I keep my fermenting feed in my closet under the stairs and the temp is always perfect in there).

5. Any tips you could share that you wish you knew when you first started out fermenting. I have a whole chicken group that I am trying to get on board with FF, and any info to pass on is great appreciated.

God bless, and thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

I am still learning the FF tricks, but I have discovered that if you are using crumble it doesn't drain well. I gave up on the two bucket system for this and keep mine in a 5 gallon pail (for 25 CX chicks). I found an 8" bait net from walmart worked a lot better for scooping and straining the crumble I use. I did use the 2 bucket system for fermenting scratch grains and it works great for this. The net allows you to scoop 4-5lbs of feed at once. I then rest the hoop of the net on the rim of the bucket and do something else for a couple minutes while it drains. It also works great for scooping the scratch feed too.

 

[Kassaundra]

Or it could mean you have nerve and cardio encroachment in your cervical spine....like me. Turn my head to the left or upwards for very long~dizziness, nausea and an instant and lasting migraine.

Which might feel a little rough but nowhere as bad as hell.

I have a friend that had c-spine issues, mis-allignment or something similar that would actually make her go into a type of seizure when she bent her neck forward. She had lots of spinal trauma from breaking horses and being ejected off horses for many years. Anyway the regular Dr's couldn't identify her problem, but a chiropractor was able to identify and fix the issue, she is fine now. The Doctors were convinced she was faking b/c they weren't real, typical seizures, and there wasn't a pill to fix it. lol Anyway it was a physioloc problem w/ a real answer.

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay, I am new to FF, so I have a few questions if yall don't mind. This feed is so huge, I could never read through the entire thing.

1. I am using gallon jars to ferment, but I have about 50 chickens, so it seems I stand at the sink and strain the FF forever. There has got to be an easier way to strain. I know there is a two bucket system, but my feed just dissolves into mush, so how do you poke holes in the inserted bucket, and not have all your feed drain out the holes?

2. I read something about chickens on FF having rough feathers, anyone having that problem?

3. How sour, is too sour of a smell?

4. I have seen where some don't keep water over the top of the feed, they just keep it super moist. Does this work for anyone else. I don't want to get my chickens sick. I just hate all that straining. (I keep my fermenting feed in my closet under the stairs and the temp is always perfect in there).

5. Any tips you could share that you wish you knew when you first started out fermenting. I have a whole chicken group that I am trying to get on board with FF, and any info to pass on is great appreciated.

God bless, and thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

I ferment grains only so am not totally up on the draining thing, but I tend to take the easy way, I'd just slop out what comes feed and liquid and add more water to the ferment to make up for what I took out, your already adding feed and water back right? So why drain? How much of the gallon are you feeding out per feeding? How many jars are you rotating through?

Yes my birds have poorer feather quality, they lay like champs, eggs are fertile and grow into healthy chicks, processed chickens from the group are fat and healthy, but not to fat, they get animal protein from feeder insects I raise, catfish food, and game bird food w/ animal protein, so I know the feather quality is not a nutrition issue, can only assume it is the fermented grains.

Deep sour is indication of deep ferment no problems, except your girls may not like the taste. I ferment long time batches (each batch lasting 3ish weeks) so mine deep ferments.

I do grains so I keep water over the grains, I keep mine outside year round so I prefer the water covering the grains.

Don't over think or over complicate it. Grains and chicken food ferment on their own w/o putzing. There is a ton of info on this thread, but grain + water + time = ferment, it really is just that easy.

 

[Beekissed]

Okay, I am new to FF, so I have a few questions if yall don't mind. This feed is so huge, I could never read through the entire thing.

1. I am using gallon jars to ferment, but I have about 50 chickens, so it seems I stand at the sink and strain the FF forever. There has got to be an easier way to strain. I know there is a two bucket system, but my feed just dissolves into mush, so how do you poke holes in the inserted bucket, and not have all your feed drain out the holes?

You have 50 chickens...why are you fermenting feed in gallon jars?

You don't have to strain it at all, nor do you have to keep the feed under water....just mix it into a big ol' 5 gal. bucket, keep your mix thicker (less water) and feed it out of there at a peanut butter consistency. It's easy if you just use the right tools...gallon jars, strainers and fussy little bits of FF aren't what I consider optimal, so you might want to rethink that routine. I'm thinking you learned about FF at another place and they were doing it in that manner?

2. I read something about chickens on FF having rough feathers, anyone having that problem?

Just the opposite, actually. The feathers get more smooth and lush, with the markings showing up more distinctly. No one has reported that problem here that I know of. Most report feather quality increasing and chickens who normally stay bald are regrowing their feathers and keeping them intact. If you can, take some pics of before and then show us the after...we LOVE those!

3. How sour, is too sour of a smell?

No such thing. Next question!

4. I have seen where some don't keep water over the top of the feed, they just keep it super moist. Does this work for anyone else. I don't want to get my chickens sick. I just hate all that straining. (I keep my fermenting feed in my closet under the stairs and the temp is always perfect in there).

Nope...doesn't make them sick and many are doing it this way. I've been doing it this way for my second year now and no ill results. My water is mostly about 4 in. or more down from the top once it has had the initial absorption.

5. Any tips you could share that you wish you knew when you first started out fermenting. I have a whole chicken group that I am trying to get on board with FF, and any info to pass on is great appreciated.

The part about not straining. When I first started I was trying to strain my feeds but I soon learned it was silly and not needed. Haven't done it since. Yay!

I also learned to really value that second bucket on the bottom as a reservoir for all that is good in my FF, so I never have to start fresh or try to jump start my FF. My SCOBY lives down there quietly, adding to each newly freshened bucket of feed and never getting used up. I wouldn't go to a single bucket system at all as this works so beautifully and I can feed all the feed clear down to the bottom of my bucket if I want without hitting too soupy of feed.

I found out when it's really hot you are going to get a much deeper ferment on your bucket, so adjust accordingly if you don't want that deeply fermented feed sitting around for a couple of weeks...so I mix smaller batches in the hot parts of the year so it will feed out quicker and can be replenished sooner. Not that there is any harm in more fermentation but you'll tend to see more white/grey mold formation on the sides of the bucket and on the scoop also in these hot temps. That too isn't a problem but I'd rather not let it get too out of hand all the same. No need for it.

Drill holes in the bottom of your feed trough...lets any extra soup out if the feed has to sit awhile. This comes in handy in the winter time.

I hope you report back here with your progress! Bless you as well, new FF buddy!

God bless, and thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Triple Willow]

Nice looking birds Dave.

 

[Beekissed]

I have a friend that had c-spine issues, mis-allignment or something similar that would actually make her go into a type of seizure when she bent her neck forward. She had lots of spinal trauma from breaking horses and being ejected off horses for many years. Anyway the regular Dr's couldn't identify her problem, but a chiropractor was able to identify and fix the issue, she is fine now. The Doctors were convinced she was faking b/c they weren't real, typical seizures, and there wasn't a pill to fix it. lol Anyway it was a physioloc problem w/ a real answer.

It usually is! Doctors....phhft!

I ferment grains only so am not totally up on the draining thing, but I tend to take the easy way, I'd just slop out what comes feed and liquid and add more water to the ferment to make up for what I took out, your already adding feed and water back right? So why drain? How much of the gallon are you feeding out per feeding? How many jars are you rotating through?

Yes my birds have poorer feather quality, they lay like champs, eggs are fertile and grow into healthy chicks, processed chickens from the group are fat and healthy, but not to fat, they get animal protein from feeder insects I raise, catfish food, and game bird food w/ animal protein, so I know the feather quality is not a nutrition issue, can only assume it is the fermented grains.

Deep sour is indication of deep ferment no problems, except your girls may not like the taste. I ferment long time batches (each batch lasting 3ish weeks) so mine deep ferments.

I do grains so I keep water over the grains, I keep mine outside year round so I prefer the water covering the grains.

Don't over think or over complicate it. Grains and chicken food ferment on their own w/o putzing. There is a ton of info on this thread, but grain + water + time = ferment, it really is just that easy.

Hey! I didn't know you were having poor feather quality...wonder why that is? Lower fats in the whole grains, maybe? I hadn't heard anyone else report rough feathering and that didn't happen with my flock by any means. They have the most lush feathering they had ever had in their lives and for the first time I had trouble finding vents in all that fluff! I still do and I notice it causes them to have more mess back there than they used to because of sheer feather volume!

 

[Triple Willow]

I tried putting some unpasteurized vinegar (Bragg's brand) in a gallon jug of regular vinegar to grow the mother in the cheap stuff. It really does work! I poured about 1 cup of good vinegar into the gallon of cheap vinegar and that mother is growing like crazy. I wouldn't doubt if the new jug doesn't have more good stuff in it that the expensive stuff did. Going to start a couple more gallons today.

Thanks for that B~IP Bee! LOL

 

[Triple Willow]

I have a friend that had c-spine issues, mis-allignment or something similar that would actually make her go into a type of seizure when she bent her neck forward.  She had lots of spinal trauma from breaking horses and being ejected off horses for many years.  Anyway the regular Dr's couldn't identify her problem, but a chiropractor was able to identify and fix the issue, she is fine now.  The Doctors were convinced she was faking b/c they weren't real, typical seizures, and there wasn't a pill to fix it. lol  Anyway it was a physioloc problem w/ a real answer.

That's interesting. I have had my share of falls and crashes (motorcyles & horses). That is why I don't go to the doctor much, how some of them treat you. If it's not a splinter or a snotty nose they think you are faking. I had a bad (BAD!) hip problem a couple months ago-bursitis in my hip joint. Some days I was in tears and some days it was so-so. Most days for 3 months was bad! Neeeever had pain like that!!! This was the third visit to the doctor about it and the first time I had see this orthopedic doctor. Just so happened that the day I saw him it wasn't so bad - I could walk without wanting to cry! Well that ...donkey treated me like I was nothing but a liar! It was like going to the principal's office! Thank God it got better and I didn't have to see anybody about it anymore! I said if my leg had fell off I wouldn't have went back to that sorry excuse for a doctor!