Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[locoguru]

A five gallon bucket about half full would do the job for you with such a small group. You can use a slotted spoon to scoop it out and strain it in the mornings. Just toss back in a cup or so of feed and top off the liquid when it starts to get too low. You'll probably never use all the food in one go; but, that's not an issue.

You can use flock raiser feed instead of grower & layer feeds separately. Just be sure to sit out calcium (oystershell, whatever) for your hen. It will help to keep you from having to do two separate mixes.

Lentils are great. I use them pretty regularly. They have a crude protein level of 30% so use in moderation. Remember that fermenting adds roughly 3% protein to feed being used. Split peas is the name of the "field pea" when used for human consumption. It's been used for ages as a feed ingredient, so feel free to toss it into the mix if you like. Field peas rate about 24.5% on crude protein and compare favorably to other feed ingredients. I feed my gals our left over black eyed peas from time to time; but, I've never fermented them. I've treated them more as a treat than anything. They have a crude protein content of 23.2% and are also known as "black eyed cowpeas". Their composition is decent enough that adding them as a part of your fermentation would not be a bad thing.

If you are wanting to add scratch grains, check out the cp levels on the tag. Most are in the range of 8 to 11% cp. If that's the case, you can use this calculator to determine what mix you need to hit the % crude protein you need for your pullets & hen. Start by using the CP for the legumes + scratch mix (don't worry that they call one part of it "concentrate", just put your scratch information there). It will tell you how many parts each are required.

Like this:



Then take that mix + the pellets and it will tell you how many parts of each of those is needed to get the final cp. Remember, fermenting will increase the amount of protein in the feed and help with the absorption of the nutrients, so you don't have to go crazy with the %s.

So it doesn't matter how long the grain ferments in the bucket if you only have a few birds to feed?

 

[highline]

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

Sometimes listening to those little voices don't necessarily mean you are crazy....

 

[TexasLisa]

Sometimes listening to those little voices don't necessarily mean you are crazy....

HA! I am one of those who talks back to them!!

Lisa

 

[Kilsharion]

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

Our temps aren't causing it, Lisa. Yeast requires air to live. If you don't stir it, you aren't getting air down into the yeast (assuming you have a layer of liquid over your FF). You have to stir it - if you don't, you have to put an air pump to pump air into it like an aquarium.

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

Lisa

There's no problem with "floaters"....I have tons of them. They are fine.

 

[TexasLisa]

Our temps aren't causing it, Lisa. Yeast requires air to live. If you don't stir it, you aren't getting air down into the yeast (assuming you have a layer of liquid over your FF). You have to stir it - if you don't, you have to put an air pump to pump air into it like an aquarium.



There's no problem with "floaters"....I have tons of them. They are fine.

Thanks Kilsharion! I started a new batch. I plan to be more vigilant on stirring and adding water.

How is your husband feeling today?

Lisa

 

[Kilsharion]

So it doesn't matter how long the grain ferments in the bucket if you only have a few birds to feed?

It doesn't matter. You'll be fine. I don't use all my FF at each go. There's generally about a quarter of a bucket left behind and it just gets mixed in with the new feed that I mix in. Every time you take out feed, you should add more dry back in and a bit more water. Every once in a while, I will add another splash of vinegar (not much) just because. It's not necessary.

 

[Kilsharion]

Thanks Kilsharion! I started a new batch. I plan to be more vigilant on stirring and adding water.

How is your husband feeling today?

Lisa

He's much better. Thank you for asking

 

[bbsnooks]

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.

Hello all I decided to do my chick feed a little different.. and it seems to be working out..

I've been mixing up a bit dry'er mix.. so the chicks dont get FFF -fermented feed face..
and the Older roosters.. dont like the wet.. waddles. < cant blame them.. >
( its due to the type of feed.. I'm hoping to change to different feed when I'm done with these 2 high sack's.. so that it will drain better.. )
so.. I take some of the 2-3 day old fermented feed ( soupy consistancy).. and mix. with new chick starter feed. to just damp cookie dough consistancy
.. and let set over night.. to feed out in the am.. and pm ... so it gets a bit of ferment on the new feed.. 12 - 18 hrs..
and i noticed that.. its heating up . like a compost pile.. pretty warm.. and smells like baking bread.. sweet. and no mold
and the chicks still like it better than.. the regular.. I did a side by side taste test just yesterday.. I dont think they touched the dry food.



well .. the other thing i'v started.. is to make some of the LAB's.. with the rice wash.. .. & milk..
that video was good some one posted .. but i wish there was a cheat sheet to follow directions.. any one know? of one.?
thanks..

 

[kacklinkelly]

I have tried both methods, water level above the FF and now I keep it at an oatmeal consistency.
I prefer the oatmeal consistency. The meaties I'm feeding don't go as crazy for the FF in the am
as they do the crumble they get in the pm. Don't get me wrong, they eat it all. Just eat the
crumble faster. Our laying hens sure do like the FF. I offer them dry as well. The dry usually
stays in their feeder and the FF is GONE.

 

[MamaJoJo]

I have started batches of ff twice now and my birds love it. My problem is not having the right set up to be able to do this consistently. I need to see more pictures of other set ups. I live in alabama and the temps and humidity here make me worry about trying too large a batch that would be kept outside but I have a very small house and having it sitting on my counter in small batches that I have to restart every two days is very inconvenient. Putting on my inventor hat now.