Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[groverlvchx]

I got it from the feed store - Livengood Feeds in Tomball, Tx. It hasn't changed the smell of my FF at all. It's in a pelleted form, so it breaks up as well as the pelleted layer feed.

Thank you, NickyPick! I will check it out. They don't have bugs right now so I'd like to increase their protein and see what that does for production. I have about 10 other pullets getting ready to lay also--it can only help!

 

[groverlvchx]

Ha ha ha I'm off searching for answers andhere you are talking about the problem !! I only heat the house with a wood stove and the house temps run cool, 55-65. Near the wood stove can run higher, of course.

I think I can start a small amount of FF if I can keep it near the wood stove. ANyone have thoughts on that?

THe second concern was then does the glass container for making vinegar really have to be in the dark? Can I cover the container perhaps to block the light if I place it near the wood stove? Or if I put it in a dark area, but much cooler 55 and far below ideal, I can't see the organisms growing well or at all, as micro organisms have specific ideal temps.

Makes me have a greater respect for our forebearers and their struggle to survive and the foods they preserved . . . .

Our furnace is in the laundry room. I keep my bucket of FF next to it, as it's the warmest place in the house. When I feed it out in the morning, it's like feeding them warm oatmeal. They gulp it down. Literally, I can hear them gulping. I did not use a glass container for my ACV. I removed a cup from a new gallon jug (plastic), then put in a cup of ACV with mother. I rubber-banded a coffee filter to the top to keep out impurities but let it breathe. And I set it behind the furnace. I don't see why you couldn't find a place that's warm and then drape a towel over the jug if it needs to be darker.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Do you mind if I ask how much feed you use each day?

 

[Arielle]

This is totally off the subject but I just wanted to share.

My 1.5yr old Silky hen is broody. She also has 2- 9mnth old chicks & 1- 5mnth old chick. Her 5mnth old chick spends most of her day sitting w/Momma keeping her company! I just thought she is being too cute!

Picture required!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Sounds like my wood stove might work then.

Do you add any sugar to the new gallon in addition to the 1 cup of mother source?

 

[3 NH reds]

Ha ha ha I'm off searching for answers andhere you are talking about the problem !! I only heat the house with a wood stove and the house temps run cool, 55-65. Near the wood stove can run higher, of course.

I think I can start a small amount of FF if I can keep it near the wood stove. ANyone have thoughts on that?

THe second concern was then does the glass container for making vinegar really have to be in the dark? Can I cover the container perhaps to block the light if I place it near the wood stove? Or if I put it in a dark area, but much cooler 55 and far below ideal, I can't see the organisms growing well or at all, as micro organisms have specific ideal temps.

Makes me have a greater respect for our forebearers and their struggle to survive and the foods they preserved . . . .

You might try a fish tank heater to ramp it up if its too slow. I back slop my fermented grains in the double bucket system so things get going sooner. I got juice from last May and reuse this all the time.
I make vinegar in a clear apple juice container near my wood stove. The container is clear plastic and I just remove enough apple juice to add acv. one month later and I got vinegar with the grey mother on top.

 

[rambunctious]

I've been sitting my single bucket of FF by the fireplace...I still don't think it's fermenting. Just smells like wet food. Is the double bucket system going to get me better response? I have (2) of the exact same 3 gal buckets. Should I drill one and start it up? How do I know if I'm adding enough UnACV? I almost need a recipe...I've got 15 chicks. Will 2C of Crumbles, 4C water and 1/2C UnACV work? Should I mix all together or do double bucket? I REALLY want this to work!!

 

[rambunctious]

I've posted pictures of my FF dishes before. They are plastic mud pans from the hardware store. I drill drainage holes in the bottom.
Asked my husband to build me a holder for them to get them above my deep litter and he built this out of a scrap of board.





The dishes pop out easily for cleaning. Easy peasy. I dump the FF in and don't worry about straining or draining.

I like this idea..but doesn't the 'drainage' make a mess in the coop? I dig the set up!

 

[Lacy Blues]

I've been sitting my single bucket of FF by the fireplace...I still don't think it's fermenting. Just smells like wet food. Is the double bucket system going to get me better response? I have (2) of the exact same 3 gal buckets. Should I drill one and start it up? How do I know if I'm adding enough UnACV? I almost need a recipe...I've got 15 chicks. Will 2C of Crumbles, 4C water and 1/2C UnACV work? Should I mix all together or do double bucket? I REALLY want this to work!!

How long has your ff been sitting, waiting to ferment?

2 cups of feed with however much water they will absorb (don't know if it will be 4 cups) and just a splash of ACV. 1/2 cup would be WAY too much. In fact, for 15 chicks, I think I would use a bit more feed if you want their quantity to last all day (depending, of course, on how old they are).

 

[Eggcessive]

I've been sitting my single bucket of FF by the fireplace...I still don't think it's fermenting. Just smells like wet food. Is the double bucket system going to get me better response? I have (2) of the exact same 3 gal buckets. Should I drill one and start it up? How do I know if I'm adding enough UnACV? I almost need a recipe...I've got 15 chicks. Will 2C of Crumbles, 4C water and 1/2C UnACV work? Should I mix all together or do double bucket? I REALLY want this to work!!

First I would drill the holes in the top bucket all over the bottom and about 4-5 inches up the sides (3/32" drill bit I think.) Make your feed in an undrilled bucket the first time because your ferment liquid will drain off. When the first batch is done (about 3 days at 68-70 degrees) pour it into your drilled bucket that is set inside another bucket (you can use your odd bucket to mix the 1st batch.) I use a mix of half scratch 8% protein and half 24% protein game bird chick starter (TSC brand.) I use 2 coffee cans of each(total-4 cans), mix it well, then add 1ounce of ACV, and 4-5 cans of warm water. Mix well and check in 2-3 hours (and again the next morning) and add more water after stirring from bottom so that there is always a little liquid on top. Overnight it will look like a cake rising, so you need to keep stirring it often every few hours. This amount will come up pretty far in a 5 gallon bucket, and I feed 62 birds for 2 days out of this. After 3 days transfer this into your 2-can setup. From then on, I use this and mix up new in my 3rd bucket, but many just add food and water to their 2 bucket system. I steel ferment liquid out of my bottom bucket to add to my new food in my 3rd bucket. Just remember, everyone tweaks their recipe to how it works for them.