Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[TexasLisa]

Hi!

I had to throw my FF out this morning. It had spoiled. The only thing I didn't do was not stir it for a few days. I had been fermenting all winter long without any problems. Our temps have been in the 80's. If it is the weather causing it, I am in trouble since I live in S. Texas. Any ideas?

Lisa

 

[highline]

Oh, kibble! I was reading this thread trying to imagine throwing hearts and livers and chickens and pork shoulders into the hooch, and leaving it, and it was just ... not working for me at all.

Yeah, that would be nasty for sure..

 

[highline]

Hi!

I had to throw my FF out this morning. It had spoiled. The only thing I didn't do was not stir it for a few days. I had been fermenting all winter long without any problems. Our temps have been in the 80's. If it is the weather causing it, I am in trouble since I live in S. Texas. Any ideas?

Lisa

I'm definitely no expert but, my suggestion would be to be sure and keep an inch or so of water on top. And maybe not use any floaters like BOSS that could allow mold to grow on the surface.

 

[TexasLisa]

I'm definitely no expert but, my suggestion would be to be sure and keep an inch or so of water on top. And maybe not use any floaters like BOSS that could allow mold to grow on the surface.

BOSS???? I just switched scratch and it has BOSS in it. Is that what is making it spoil?

Lisa

 

[Costa Rica Art]

I've been fermenting dog food (FDF) for about 3 months now. One big difference I notice is the odor. Plain n simple, FDF stinks. I guess it's the chicken and fish meal in the food. (26% protein) Fish meal is listed about 1/2 way down the list so I don't think there is that much there, just enough to boost the protein from the normal 18% - 21% to 26%.

One of the reasons I started feeding FDF is GAS. I mix FDF with dry kibble about 1:3 and the dogs love it. But unfortunately for me the only real difference I've noticed is the farts smell different.

I cheat, I have a lot of liquid that I strain off the chicken's FF which goes into the next mash as a starter. Being that I have a lot I have taken to pouring some over the dog's food, he loves it. I also pour whey from my yogurt making over his food, he sure goes for it and to me he seems to have a better stool, it is not the hard looking clumps but looks to be softer and I don't notice the smell like it had before, it seemed to be strong but now any more. I don't think there is going to be any problems doing it this way, think?

 

[highline]

BOSS???? I just switched scratch and it has BOSS in it. Is that what is making it spoil?

Lisa

Lisa, I really don't know, I'm just guessing. My only thought is that somehow mold got in there. Some of the more experienced will chime in though. Maybe adding ACV every so often would help too, if the problem was alcohol content rose to the sour level.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I moved mine outside to the coop a few weeks ago. I try and keep some water over the top to prevent any mold growing on top. I have BOSS in mine & I dont believe it would cause it to spoil. From time to time when I forget to stir it that day I get some minor mold on top & I just stir it back in. Never have had a problem.

When I go to gather eggs I give it a good stir and add some water to keep it covered if needed. I use a 3 gallon bucket in bucket set up and have a large scooper spoon with holes in it if I need to drain it as I put it in their feeding container. The top of the bucket is covered with a plastic pan that you use put under potted plants to catch water. I did this to keep the hens out and hopefully cut down on bugs once the wx gets warmer. I keep a gallon container of water in the coop to add to the FF & another container of dried feed to add as needed. Has worked well so far.

 

[highline]

I cheat, I have a lot of liquid that I strain off the chicken's FF which goes into the next mash as a starter. Being that I have a lot I have taken to pouring some over the dog's food, he loves it. I also pour whey from my yogurt making over his food, he sure goes for it and to me he seems to have a better stool, it is not the hard looking clumps but looks to be softer and I don't notice the smell like it had before, it seemed to be strong but now any more. I don't think there is going to be any problems doing it this way, think?

Your method is great. With all the probiotics you are getting into your dog, makes me wonder why the stool would soften. I want the stool to be good and firm to avoid any anal gland issues.

I tried a couple of times just pouring some juice over the kibble, some liked it some didn't.

 

[TexasLisa]

I moved mine outside to the coop a few weeks ago. I try and keep some water over the top to prevent any mold growing on top. I have BOSS in mine & I dont believe it would cause it to spoil. From time to time when I forget to stir it that day I get some minor mold on top & I just stir it back in. Never have had a problem.

When I go to gather eggs I give it a good stir and add some water to keep it covered if needed. I use a 3 gallon bucket in bucket set up and have a large scooper spoon with holes in it if I need to drain it as I put it in their feeding container. The top of the bucket is covered with a plastic pan that you use put under potted plants to catch water. I did this to keep the hens out and hopefully cut down on bugs once the wx gets warmer. I keep a gallon container of water in the coop to add to the FF & another container of dried feed to add as needed. Has worked well so far.

Thanks for replying. You stated the obvious and my little voice was telling me, but I ignored it. Keep it covered with water and stir. I will have to keep a bucket of water near by. I kept my ff on the dry-moist side.

Lisa

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I prefer mine like a oatmeal cookie dough consistency since the hens get less messy eating that way but when it gets warmer it tends to get mold on the top faster so I have to keep it moister.