Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Gryphon]

For those having trouble stirring, why not use a mixer attachment on a drill, or use an electric beater?

 

[jeapa]

I finally got a bottle of Braggs ACV. I am thinking of adding a tablespoon to my fermenting bucket. Will this be fine to mix with the current brew or should I start with fresh water and no yeast? Are the fermenting bacteria the same or different depending on what you used to start your ferment?

So far I am noticing less dry feed being eaten and the poops are definitely firm.

 

[jeapa]

Lacyblues,

I am just using a fine strainer to drain the liguid off before feeding. I will try and post a photo tonight. I am thinking about going to the two bucket method though and I think Beekissed posted photos of hers back at the beginning of this thread.
I am using a homemade PVC feeder.

 

[MonsterClucker]

Can I use the Heinz apple cider vinegar? I couldn't find any other at walmart.

 

[thunderbolt&marjorie]

You will need to track down some Braggs. Try a health food store. You need some that has the 'mother' in it as it will start the fermentation process.

This much I know!

 

[MonsterClucker]

Ok thanks for the quick response. I have to track some down while I'm in town ll

 

[thunderbolt&marjorie]

Check out my thread, I have detailed daily ff feed amounts for 18 CX chicks from day 1 to 4 weeks (so far), I know its a different breed and number of chicks, but it'll give you an idea of where to start. I fermented 4C of crumbles in an ice cream tub to start.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/672135/meatie-experiment-ff-vs-crumbles

Thank you so much for the link to your thread, and all the work you are putting into your experiment!

A few questions, for you, Beekissed or anyone else:

Are you feeding once a day? (sorry if I missed that somewhere) I know your FF's started out slow; were they offered free choice at first and then move them to 12 on/12 off?

If you ferment more than they can eat in 12 hours, the leftover FF won't really 'go bad' will it? You just top off with more for the next feeding??

My plan is to start them on fermented organic crumbles, then transition them to flockraiser/scratch grains mix or flockraiser/cracked corn/oats/wheat mix (whichever is easier to acquire, I will be looking into this soon) Does this sound good? I figure having the flockraiser in the mix will help keep protein levels where they need to be.
Thanks so much, really looking forward to starting this. Chicks arrive the end of July!

 

[thunderbolt&marjorie]

No problem Monster..just happened to log in and see your question.
I think some folks have used yeast and yogurt to 'prime' their FF as well.
There are also instructions on how to make your own ACV (using the Heinz) but you need to innoculate it with some of the mother from the Braggs to 'get it going'

 

[Kassaundra]

It will actually ferment w/ just the grain and water, that is how I started mine. It has been going for over a year.

 

[Costa Rica Art]

I took some photos of my small FF operation. I believe it will handle the 10 hens and one rooster that I will end up with. I have 6 hens and a roo plus 4 silkies and 3 guineas. Oops, a silkie and bantam hen are sitting but they get mostly dry regular feed.

This is my container which is actually a plastic trash can that just happens to be the right size for me, it is 10" tall. There is a nice foamy mother on top with lots of bubbles.

Here you can see the condensed alcohol on the bottom side of the lid of my fermenter. Yes, I tasted it and it is alcohol.

My strainer fits my containers just right, makes it easy to pour the FF from one container to be allowed to drain off the excess liquid.

Just the components for my FF. I have 5 of these containers to make sure I have enough for when I raise some meat chickens as well. Three are in process to give the FF 36 hours of fermentation which seems to be just right at this time for the flock. When I pour off some FF into the strainer from the first container there is more than enough left for a starter for the next batch. When I have dumped the contents of the first FF container into the liquid that passed thru the strainer I rinse that first container and pour that into the new batch eliminating the need for me to have stir any of the containers of FF.

This is the lid on the container which actually a plastic dinner plate that just happens to fit exactly the way it needs too. When I rise in the morning I set an empty container on the counter, place the strainer in the container and pour it full of FF and allow that to drain while I make my coffee and do some of my other morning chores. It is usually from 45 minutes to an hour before I put the drained FF into a large stainless dogie bowl which works great for me at this time, they can't turn it over. I put the dogie bowl in the yard and leave it all day, the chickens can feed hard first thing then snack when ever they care. If they don't eat all that is in the bowl I just dump it on the ground and they clean it up and I clean up the bowl for the next mornings batch of FF. Right now the FF is mostly cracked corn with some of the regular ground feed added. I also have some regular feed in the feeder inside of the hen house for the sitting chickens and guineas. It is funny, the two guinea hens are sitting on the same batch of eggs all in the deep litter as they don't use the nest boxes. I'm wondering if their eggs will hatch as they don't seem to sit all the time. When we had guineas in California one hen ended up trying to sit on 37 eggs, she had other hens laying eggs in her nest.
Well that should give folks some idea of what they can use for an FF system.