Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[mstricer]

So i started mine this week and how important is it to keep water. I keep adding too mich feed and when i wake up its to the top of the bucket with no water on the top.

 

[bbsnooks]

I started a single bucket of FF Monday AM. Fed it to my chicks Tuesday AM. (yea I know it was still a lil early) I have yet to see any 'bubbling' to it. Nor a 'layer of white milky film'. I just scooched it back closer to the back of my fridge (where heat usually comes out). We keep the house about 65..could it be that it's too chilly? I can post a photo if you think it'll help.

Hello .. and sorry for jumping in.. on history.. I found this thread by searching for "film" and fermented feed.

I would like confirmation that .. the film is ok.. ( i don't seem to be able to find the answer to this post.. to know for sure)
I do have this film.. and bubbles .. and have taken a cell phone photo.. it appears to be yeast to me. but since I'm new at this just checking..

I'm about to make another batch.. and i would like confirmation that its ok to use the water.. for starter.. on the next batch.

I'm looking for directions on how to post a photo.. if any one has directions..< I haven't found any yet.. > ahh think i may have found the icon..
ok . . . photo upload success

Thanks for input.. I'll wait to hear what you say before using water to inoculate the next batch.
Debra

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Hello .. and sorry for jumping in.. on history.. I found this thread by searching for "film" and fermented feed.

I would like confirmation that .. the film is ok.. ( i don't seem to be able to find the answer to this post.. to know for sure)
I do have this film.. and bubbles .. and have taken a cell phone photo.. it appears to be yeast to me. but since I'm new at this just checking..

I'm about to make another batch.. and i would like confirmation that its ok to use the water.. for starter.. on the next batch.

I'm looking for directions on how to post a photo.. if any one has directions..< I haven't found any yet.. > ahh think i may have found the icon..
ok . . . photo upload success

Thanks for input.. I'll wait to hear what you say before using water to inoculate the next batch.
Debra

That looks normal..you have some good fermenting going on there. Just make sure to stir it good a couple times a day. : )

~ Aspen

 

[Kilsharion]

You get a good film like that on wines sometimes, too. It's just the yeast colony going happy nuts. Means you've got a very lively colony. As suggested, be sure to keep it well stirred and you'll be fine. There is a distinct difference between the smell of a good fermentation and bad fermentation.

I've brewed for so many years that my husband has finally stopped complaining about the smell. Heh, yesterday he actually mentioned that the bird's food smelled like something he'd enjoy eating....until he saw me toss a treat of mealworms in with it. He promptly decided maybe he wouldn't like it so much afterall...

 

[Kilsharion]

So i started mine this week and how important is it to keep water. I keep adding too mich feed and when i wake up its to the top of the bucket with no water on the top.

You need to keep the water levels high enough to coat all your feed. Otherwise the fermentation doesn't quite take properly. At least, that's been my experience...others may disagree.

I keep mine in the utility room of the house; but, my house tends to stay around 70ish or hotter.

And, the kind of bubbles you may see is like...do you make pancakes? If you do, then you've seen how they kinda bubble and pop as they cook up? That's about how a newly started fermentation can look - just random, little bubbles. Smile at it, pat it, stir it and it will get to going. You know you have a good one going when you stir the feed and you hear it sound like what would happen if you stirred a soda pop.

 

[bbsnooks]

You get a good film like that on wines sometimes, too. It's just the yeast colony going happy nuts. Means you've got a very lively colony. As suggested, be sure to keep it well stirred and you'll be fine. There is a distinct difference between the smell of a good fermentation and bad fermentation.

I've brewed for so many years that my husband has finally stopped complaining about the smell. Heh, yesterday he actually mentioned that the bird's food smelled like something he'd enjoy eating....until he saw me toss a treat of mealworms in with it. He promptly decided maybe he wouldn't like it so much afterall...

Thanks.. for the input ( all of you..) .
I happened to get this first thing in am.. I probably stir too often.. ? to get this.. but this am.. i was slow getting up.. and found the film.. and it bubbled more when i moved it to window ..

Glad to have the feed back that .. its supposed to look this way. will stir.. and start next batch.. It so nice to have a place to check up .. on these things.!

I've really gotten alot.. out of byc and threads about fermenting feed. I had begun sour cabbage last fall .. it is good .. and now I've really enjoy seeing how good it is for chickens.. that like your husband.. i'm thinking .. im going to put some of the old time fermenting .. in use for me too.

 

[Bleenie]

Okay, I am having some trouble with my process. I have been able to cut back to a single bucket for fermenting. I keep it inside so it works quickly and is nice and doughy smelling by the next morning with a good film.

My problem is, the other day I opened a bucket to feed and it smelled HORRIBLE, literally like dog poo or something. I was worried about feeding it to the birds so our old iron gut cow got the full bucket and gobbled it up. Today I opened the bucket to feed and scooped out of the top and that looked and smelled fine but the stuff at the bottom was slimy and smelled faintly like the stuff from the other day.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here but until I know I think I am going to start fermenting single feedings so I start fresh everyday. The cow is pregnant right now so she will happily appreciate my mess-up. But if i can keep this from happening i'd rather not "waste" anymore feed!

 

[mrsamplias]

Okay, I am having some trouble with my process. I have been able to cut back to a single bucket for fermenting. I keep it inside so it works quickly and is nice and doughy smelling by the next morning with a good film.

My problem is, the other day I opened a bucket to feed and it smelled HORRIBLE, literally like dog poo or something. I was worried about feeding it to the birds so our old iron gut cow got the full bucket and gobbled it up. Today I opened the bucket to feed and scooped out of the top and that looked and smelled fine but the stuff at the bottom was slimy and smelled faintly like the stuff from the other day.

I'm not sure what I am doing wrong here but until I know I think I am going to start fermenting single feedings so I start fresh everyday. The cow is pregnant right now so she will happily appreciate my mess-up. But if i can keep this from happening i'd rather not "waste" anymore feed!

It might be too warm in your house. I had our ff bucket in our greenhouse when the weather was cold. Now, our weather is warmer and I just moved the bucket back into the garage. The ff buckets (for dog and chickens) were starting to get too fermented with the warmth of the greenhouse.

 

[Bleenie]

It's usually about 70F in here, is that too warm for backslopping?

 

[Bitterroot]

Just wanted to share a great deal I found on ACV for those who are using the stuff with mother to inoculate the stuff without to make their own with mother.

Walmart has a deal online, 2 one gallon jugs for $7.66. If you purchase $45 worth of stuff, shipping is free. I got 12 one gallon jugs of ACV for just $45.96, or only $3.83 a gallon shipped to my door. A great deal, and should last me for a while between poultry fermenting and home cleaning.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/23324859