Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Cyan Night]

I've just started using FF for my layers and now I'm wondering if my batch has gone bad. I keep it all submerged and stir it as often as I can remember, but every now and then it develops a crusty layer of dried bubbles. Is this normal? I've never cared for the smell of it, so I have no idea on how it should or shouldn't smell. I'm not exactly a baker, which means I'm also not used to these smells.

 

[LindaB220]

I've just started using FF for my layers and now I'm wondering if my batch has gone bad. I keep it all submerged and stir it as often as I can remember, but every now and then it develops a crusty layer of dried bubbles. Is this normal? I've never cared for the smell of it, so I have no idea on how it should or shouldn't smell. I'm not exactly a baker, which means I'm also not used to these smells.

Sounds right to me. I don't submerge mine because I'm lazy and don't like to strain. I like thick oatmeal consistancy. But the crusty layer is just stirred down and then you feed. I love this stuff. Healthiest bunch of birds around.

 

[Cyan Night]

Sounds right to me.   I don't submerge mine because I'm lazy and don't like to strain.  I like thick oatmeal consistancy.  But the crusty layer is just stirred down and then you feed.   I love this stuff.  Healthiest bunch of birds around.   

I question it also because my girls won't eat it anymore .__.
First couple days, "OMG THIS IS GOLD!"
Now they turn their beaks up at it like there's something wrong with it. Either there is, or they are just picky, feathered billy goats :/

 

[OHhappychicks]

I've just started using FF for my layers and now I'm wondering if my batch has gone bad. I keep it all submerged and stir it as often as I can remember, but every now and then it develops a crusty layer of dried bubbles. Is this normal? I've never cared for the smell of it, so I have no idea on how it should or shouldn't smell. I'm not exactly a baker, which means I'm also not used to these smells.

I do mine like LindaB220. Oatmeal consistency. It will develop the whiteish crust on top. I don't stir mine except when I'm mixing it. When one bucket gets to be about 1/4 or so empty, I will add lukewarm water to it, to a soupy consistency, and stir it. Then I let it sit. It may be 2-3 days before I add more feed to it, all the while we are feeding out of the other bucket. When that bucket gets about 1/3 to 1/2 empty I will mix up the bucket that has been sitting. It will have whitish/grayish bubbly film over it. I will then start adding feed. I do mine in thirds. Third feed and water, then repeat 3 times. Stirring after each. It will have about 1-2 inches of water over the top, but as it soaks up liquid it will be oatmeal like. I let it set for about 12-24 hrs then we start to feed out of that bucket, then we start the process over with the other bucket. I always try to leave about 1/4 of feed in bottom to start the next fermentation. It really doesn't take that much. I have started with just a couple of cups. This is probably info you already know, but just wanted to share!

But yes, a crusty layer of dried bubbles is normal. It shouldn't have a rotten smell. Just kinda sweet~n~sour. That's the best description I can give. It also shouldn't have any black mold. I haven't experienced any mold on mine. I've been ff since I think around last Oct.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I question it also because my girls won't eat it anymore .__.
First couple days, "OMG THIS IS GOLD!"
Now they turn their beaks up at it like there's something wrong with it. Either there is, or they are just picky, feathered billy goats

Hmm! I can't think of why they wouldn't eat it. It took mine a couple of days before they would eat it, but now they love it. Maybe give them a little more time. Maybe the weather has been to hot and they aren't hungry, if they are outside, maybe more bugs and greens!!?? Not sure if weather affects chickens or not.

 

[Cyan Night]

My little EE gave me that look like "I'd rather starve than eat that again." And continued to scratch around, kicking everything into the pans. She's a sassy little beast. Right now it smells like sour wine. Is it alright to leave it at the oatmeal consistency? I usually keep it soupy (although I hate how it takes so long to strain it), but I've heard that it can develop mold if not left under a thick layer of water. I haven't noticed any mold, but I don't want to chance it if that could happen

 

[LindaB220]

I question it also because my girls won't eat it anymore .__.
First couple days, "OMG THIS IS GOLD!"
Now they turn their beaks up at it like there's something wrong with it. Either there is, or they are just picky, feathered billy goats

Take the dry feed away. They will eat it.

 

[OHhappychicks]

My little EE gave me that look like "I'd rather starve than eat that again." And continued to scratch around, kicking everything into the pans. She's a sassy little beast. Right now it smells like sour wine. Is it alright to leave it at the oatmeal consistency? I usually keep it soupy (although I hate how it takes so long to strain it), but I've heard that it can develop mold if not left under a thick layer of water. I haven't noticed any mold, but I don't want to chance it if that could happen

I've never had mold and I don't keep mine soupy. Soupy is messy and like you said takes to long to strain. Don't keep it covered in water. I throw a dish towel over my buckets, that is all that covers mine. I've never smelled sour wine, but I would think that would be about right.

 

[Latestarter]

My little EE gave me that look like "I'd rather starve than eat that again." And continued to scratch around, kicking everything into the pans. She's a sassy little beast. Right now it smells like sour wine. Is it alright to leave it at the oatmeal consistency? I usually keep it soupy (although I hate how it takes so long to strain it), but I've heard that it can develop mold if not left under a thick layer of water. I haven't noticed any mold, but I don't want to chance it if that could happen

You don't need to keep it covered with water. The bacteria you are growing as you ferment, EAT mold. Mold should NOT form unless you leave it un-tended for a prolonged period where the good bacteria run out of stuff to eat (that's what fermentation is). The longer the ferment goes, the more "sour" it will smell. Once you add water and fresh grain/pellets/mash/scratch/etc. and give it a good stir, that smell should "sweeten" right up and not smell so sour. Leaving it like oatmeal is perfect! That way there's NO STRAINING

Just dish it out and let them pig out! The grayish/whitish layer that forms on the top sometimes is NOT mold, that is the GOOD stuff! just mix it in and serve it up. The stuff that gets stuck on the sides of the bucket as you use it is not a problem either... just scrape it back into the mix as that's where it should end up next time you refill the bucket w/water and "stuff" anyway

Like @OHhappychicks said, just throw a towel over it and if you're feeding from it every day, there really isn't even a need to stir it... just mix it around a bit as you're dishing it out for your birds. The ferment will mix through the entire lot regardless.

 

[Cyan Night]

You don't need to keep it covered with water. The bacteria you are growing as you ferment, EAT mold. Mold should NOT form unless you leave it un-tended for a prolonged period where the good bacteria run out of stuff to eat (that's what fermentation is). The longer the ferment goes, the more "sour" it will smell.  Once you add water and fresh grain/pellets/mash/scratch/etc. and give it a good stir, that smell should "sweeten" right up and not smell so sour. Leaving it like oatmeal is perfect!  That way there's NO STRAINING e Just dish it out and let them pig out! The grayish/whitish layer that forms on the top sometimes is NOT mold, that is the GOOD stuff!  just mix it in and serve it up. The stuff that gets stuck on the sides of the bucket as you use it is not a problem either... just scrape it back into the mix as that's where it should end up next time you refill the bucket w/water and "stuff" anyway Like @OHhappychicks
said, just throw a towel over it and if you're feeding from it every day, there really isn't even a need to stir it... just mix it around a bit as you're dishing it out for your birds. The ferment will mix through the entire lot regardless.

Okie dokes, thanks so much. I've been reading a lot about it, but it seems people do it different ways and have different opinions about how to do it. Can definitely be confusing. I guess I'll just have to be firm with the tyrant, feathered billy goats.