Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[JJSS89]

I've learned what NOT to do with FF!!

My bucket was sitting on the floor (floating wood..). I put a little blanket over the bucket to stop the dogs from drinking the water. Major error!!!

There wasn't enough tension in the blanket. It started to touch the top of the water. The blanket absorbed all the water.. I came home to a 3 square foot or "less attractive" floating wood flooring lol.

Can we keep that outside in the summer? I guess not, I thought the heat would make it turn bad.

No the heat is what activates the bacteria (good bacterias) Don't let it bake and bake but warmth is a good thing.

It shouldn't be sitting around for longer than a couple days anyway.

 

[LindaB220]

No the heat is what activates the bacteria (good bacterias) Don't let it bake and bake but warmth is a good thing.

It shouldn't be sitting around for longer than a couple days anyway.

I make a big bucket full and it lasts me 4 days. As long as it doesn't get over 105 F or so it will be fine. I have some in the storeroom for the small chicks and it was 110 in there today. I think I'll move it out under the shade. If it starts getting a little old just add some grain and water to reactivate it. No worries. It really will last for weeks as long as you stir it occasionally like when you feed.

 

[JJSS89]

Yeah I have made it last for like 10 days before but I just prefer to use it up and have a fresh batch. As soon as it's fermented, I pour off the water and start a new batch and the completed stuff is gone two days later. Just my method - didn't mean to inject it as a necessity.

 

[LindaB220]

Yeah I have made it last for like 10 days before but I just prefer to use it up and have a fresh batch. As soon as it's fermented, I pour off the water and start a new batch and the completed stuff is gone two days later. Just my method - didn't mean to inject it as a necessity.

Sounds to me like you are doing great. How many chickens and how much do you make?

 

[Kassaundra]

I've learned what NOT to do with FF!!

My bucket was sitting on the floor (floating wood..). I put a little blanket over the bucket to stop the dogs from drinking the water. Major error!!!

There wasn't enough tension in the blanket. It started to touch the top of the water. The blanket absorbed all the water.. I came home to a 3 square foot or "less attractive" floating wood flooring lol.

Can we keep that outside in the summer? I guess not, I thought the heat would make it turn bad.

Mine is outside year round and we are seriously more hot then you. Mine has been outside for 3+ years.

 

[JJSS89]

Well a few weeks ago I was making 10 gallons every day for my cornish x rocks. I butchered 107 of them over the past few weeks and they got ferment from 3-8 weeks old. I kept one cockerel alive who currently weighs over 12 lbs and is on a restricted diet of fermented feed and veggies.

Other than that I have a brooding flock of 4 cochin bantams and a laying flock of 20 Rhode Island Reds who get fermented feed. I make 2 coffee cans full of ferment for them each time. About 4 times a week, sometimes less.

 

[LindaB220]

Well a few weeks ago I was making 10 gallons every day for my cornish x rocks. I butchered 107 of them over the past few weeks and they got ferment from 3-8 weeks old. I kept one cockerel alive who currently weighs over 12 lbs and is on a restricted diet of fermented feed and veggies.

Other than that I have a brooding flock of 4 cochin bantams and a laying flock of 20 Rhode Island Reds who get fermented feed. I make 2 coffee cans full of ferment for them each time. About 4 times a week, sometimes less.

Bet you're glad that's over. Right? Kudos.

 

[Sabz]

Oh, great! I will leave it outside(in the shed) then, way easier than trying to keep the indoor cat and dogs out of that bucket.

I thought I could just add grains all the time, without having to change the bucket? I thought I read somewhere that we could do it that way also. Oups. Anyhow, it didn't turn bad yet, it is just 4 days old.

Thanks, I would probably have kept the same bucket for way longer than 10 days haha.

Have you tasted your FF?!

EDIT: by the way, my layers LOVE the FF. They run after me when I get to the coop And they used to be very afraid of me. I think I'll be able to train them to be more friendly with that miracle stuff.
The meat birds think it is OK. They'll eat it, but won't jump in it like they do with their feed. But they still finish all the FF I give them, just takes a little more time I am very happy to have found this post.

I also gave some to my parrot this morning, he said it was good

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh, great! I will leave it outside(in the shed) then, way easier than trying to keep the indoor cat and dogs out of that bucket.

I thought I could just add grains all the time, without having to change the bucket? I thought I read somewhere that we could do it that way also. Oups. Anyhow, it didn't turn bad yet, it is just 4 days old.

Thanks, I would probably have kept the same bucket for way longer than 10 days haha.

Have you tasted your FF?!

EDIT: by the way, my layers LOVE the FF. They run after me when I get to the coop And they used to be very afraid of me. I think I'll be able to train them to be more friendly with that miracle stuff.
The meat birds think it is OK. They'll eat it, but won't jump in it like they do with their feed. But they still finish all the FF I give them, just takes a little more time I am very happy to have found this post.

I also gave some to my parrot this morning, he said it was good

My 3+ year old ferment juice is the same I started w/, have always made it in 30 gall trash bucket and used it for several weeks, when it starts getting low, add more grains / food and water to the old.

 

[LindaB220]

My 3+ year old ferment juice is the same I started w/, have always made it in 30 gall trash bucket and used it for several weeks, when it starts getting low, add more grains / food and water to the old.

I wondered how long your feed lasted. I made a gallon for my new 13 chicks and it lasted 4 days, then today I half filled my 5 gallon bucket and will see how long it lasts. I'm making half of a 5 gallon bucket for my 14 3.5 mo old pullets It lasts them 3-4 days. My soaked oats that I fermented in a 18 gallon container is bubbling and fermented after 5 days. Kept it under water. I add 2 cups to my small remaining amount of ff but they are eating it. Yea!!!!