Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

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I used to use regular dry feed, and switched to FF. My layers love it, my meaties (Red Ranger and White Bresse) are like pirhanas, and my broodie and her 3-week-old chicks absolutely dive in. I am so pleased with it, especially with the tremendous reduction in waste.
 
I take some dry feed with me and throw it so I can get the ff in the containers! But it only works for a second. LOL When the feed hits the ground they jump in it like somebody sliding into home plate! LOL To get the container on the ground I have to fake them out, act like I am going to set it down in one spot then change spots real quick. Otherwise it usually ends up on one of thems back! I go out in the afternoon to let them free range a while and usually take scratch then. They surround me to see what I brought. They give me a little uneasy feeling doing that! The sneaky little critters have got to where they will pinch the back of my legs! Pigs for sure!
 
I am wondering, how high of temperature have you guys stored your ff in? Mine is attracting a lot of gnats in my house so I put it out in the garage yesterday. I am wondering if it might be too hot out there. It stays in the upper 80's to 90's out there.
 
Triple Willow said:
I am wondering, how high of temperature have you guys stored your ff in? Mine is attracting a lot of gnats in my house so I put it out in the garage yesterday. I am wondering if it might be too hot out there. It stays in the upper 80's to 90's out there.
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I have mine in a non-insulated shop and don't have any fly or gnat problems. Of course, we get more mosquitos and gnats when it rains. And since there's no rain, there's no pests. I keep thinking we'll get something, but the sprinkles we've gotten, I bet don't total over .1" since August. But I can't tell because my rain guage is sun rotted and there hasn't even been enough moisture to get the dirt and dead bugs in it wet.

Our hottest temp has been 105 this year and the only "problem" I've seen, is the top of the FF getting drier than normal. It gets a little crusty on top, but it can be stirred back in, or just scooped into their feed bucket. They haven't let a drop go to waste yet.
 
Thanks you guys. I am glad to get it out of the house. I am having a problem with gnats in the house and flies outside. I put a fly trap out about a week and a half ago and it is full and there are still flies everywhere. The coop is at least 75' from the house and it has a few flies, not many. The majority are hanging around the doors trying to get in the house. If they had known the ff was in here it would have been really bad. lol And the gnats, I think they are all in the house! lol We have a lot of humidity here plus pretty regular rain lately. Some around us have had serious flooding. The dang bugs love it here!
 
ramblinH said:
This is what I've been doing also ;)

You aren't kidding about being pigs! I've had fun bringing them our table scraps to see what they will and won't eat. I get a kick out of watching them fight over it!
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I think the funniest thing I have seen mine eat is spaghetti. They grab a mouthful and run with the others chasing them. lol They are really not to bright - every time they find something good to eat they start sqwalking and running. Well of course everybody is going to try to catch them and take it away, whatever it is! lol
 

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