Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Kilsharion]

My husband handled the ff while I was out of town. We are new to ff so it has only been me researching and dealing with it so far. Anyhow, he left a big metal spoon sitting in it all day today. He thought he was helping me by finding me a spoon to reach the bottom of the bucket. He didn't know metal should not be used. How long would the ff have to be in contact with metal for me to be worried about contamination from the metal? Thanks!

You will probably not have any issues - maybe a bit of off coloured hooch for a while; but, nothing too bad. If you were drinking it, you'd probably have a bit of a metallic tang to it....but, nothing the birds should notice to any extent.

It really takes extended exposure to cause problems; and, even then ... it really depends on the acidity level of your fermentation as to the level of issues that you may or may not experience with metal. It's not a do or die situation, so it's all good.

 

[ElCerritoPlace]

I'm a newbie, and just got some cornish x chicks. I have a bag of crumble, do I have to wait until thats gone to try FF or can I ferment crumble? Sorry, I'm sure this has been asked somewhere in this post, but its a lot to go thru! thanks

 

[Kilsharion]

You can ferment crumble.

 

[countrygirl74]

Hmmm.... I don't know where your post went, but anyhow... I get that pine crumble at our local feed store but I've heard others on here say they recognize the brand across the country. I would just check into feed/ranch/pet stores and see if they carry it.

While I was in rural Mexico a few years back, I was sleeping on the floor of a family home. They keep their doors and windows open to cool their homes and have no screens. I woke up to a tickling on my arm. I reached up to brush it off and jerked up and awake as if I'd just been given a triple shot of espresso straight to the blood stream. I had brushed a massive roach off of my arm and onto my husband....I, to this day, will not let him live down the little girl scream that came out of his macho-man 60-something mouth when he realized what had landed on his chest. I have never seen that man move so fast in my life. I still get the giggles when I think about it.

When my husband and I first started dating, I found out he didn't care for any reptiles. I could kind of understand the snakes, but he was scared of lizards! Even cute little baby lizards! So, I caught one in the backyard one day and put it on the front of his chest. I just hung there on his shirt. Boy was that fun! At least he still married me - LOL. However, I was eventually able to help him overcome his fear of lizards and to a certain degree, snakes. I still usually rescue the king snakes from my dogs on occasion and he still lets me.

About the LAB, has there been any progress to the version for idiots? Someone gave a brief comment explaining it, but I'd like to know the "why" and what its uses are and exactly how to do it.

When my ferment gets that white film on top that looks like something atomic, I add more vinegar. You're saying its a good thing?

Here is the best video, in my opinion, on how to make LAB. Toward the end of the video, he lists all the great uses for it. One of my favorites so far is spraying it on my deep litter for no coop/run smell.

I purposely add some LAB to my ff, even though I started it with ACV because I felt it could use a nice balance.

 

[SunnysMama]

If chicks are getting fermented grains, do they have to have grit?

 

[Kilsharion]

If chicks are getting fermented grains, do they have to have grit?

Yes. They still need to be able to break up the larger bits, etc. Grit is essential to the digestive well being of your bird. Some feeds out there have grit in them. And, if they are getting any treats of any sort (re: mealworms, scratch, etc) they will definitely need it.

 

[SunnysMama]

So, if they are outside in the tractor that is on dirt will they find their own grit? I live in a rural community and you can't buy grit here. Any suggestions because I moved my first 100 broiler chicks outside today and my grain is fermenting nicely so I was wanting to start feeding them that also beings we are going through a 50# bag in a couple of days right now. That is feeding 160 chicks just to clarify.

 

[armorfirelady]

Mine are out foraging in a giant netted area with I'm sure rocks when they scratch but still make grit available at all times

 

[oldrooster]

So, if they are outside in the tractor that is on dirt will they find their own grit? I live in a rural community and you can't buy grit here. Any suggestions because I moved my first 100 broiler chicks outside today and my grain is fermenting nicely so I was wanting to start feeding them that also beings we are going through a 50# bag in a couple of days right now. That is feeding 160 chicks just to clarify.

can you get course sand? i mean not the beach playground all smooth type but stuff with lots of pebbles? More than likely you won't need it I understand that they get small stones from your yard....

 

[Kilsharion]

So, if they are outside in the tractor that is on dirt will they find their own grit? I live in a rural community and you can't buy grit here. Any suggestions because I moved my first 100 broiler chicks outside today and my grain is fermenting nicely so I was wanting to start feeding them that also beings we are going through a 50# bag in a couple of days right now. That is feeding 160 chicks just to clarify.

Strange...Rural communities are generally where it's easiest to find grit...however, you can find grit online for delivery as well. It doesn't take a lot. If they are in a tractor "on dirt" it would depend on the type of "dirt". I live on limestone. Literally...there's like 5" of dirt between me and the stone. My girls are forever finding flint and limestone bits to pick up and use...I still put grit out and they are still using it from time to time. I'd be cautious about not giving them any grit at all. If you can make it available, you will probably find that it lasts quite some time. It takes me a few months to go through grit. I'm five months into my current 50# bag and I'm not even 1/4 the way through it.