Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Well...not exactly. A heavy bird perching on the side of the bowl can flip it quite easily. I use a large one for water and, if it weren't for the weight of the water or that I place it down inside an old tire, my birds can flip it. Easily.

 

[Tikkijane]

What do people use to feed their FF in?  At first I tried a bowl, which was quickly flipped over, then I tried a plate, which they just walked on... so I've been reduced to putting it on a rubber mat in their run.  Which works, I guess, but I'd prefer a cleaner area.  Won't the metal troughs just leach into the food?

What do others use?

 

[Tikkijane]

This is a 10ft lenght of vinyl gutter, cut into sections, with end caps.

 

[hyelaw]

Thanks all! Didn't realize I'd have to make one. I'd like a hanging one, but I would prefer wood and my coop isn't big enough. We have some of those rubber bowls, and I don't care for them. My birds make a mess of everything...

Would cedar be okay to use?

 

[Beekissed]

It shouldn't cause a problem, though some birds are overly sensitive to the oils in some cedar wood....I'm thinking the FF would seal up the inside of that trough pretty well to keep that from being a problem but you never know.

 

[hyelaw]

Yeah, I want something that won't rot from being exposed to moisture, but I know it can be a potential problem. Wish I could find a thick piece of bamboo to cut in half like pvc!

 

[Beekissed]

Yeah, I want something that won't rot from being exposed to moisture, but I know it can be a potential problem. Wish I could find a thick piece of bamboo to cut in half like pvc!

I've not noticed any rot setting in, even in my oldest wood trough, so it may be a nonissue or take such a long time to happen that it's a moot point.

 

[cpchicks]

Sorry the photo wouldn't open on my post with the description of my ff trough. I hope it works this time.
See post #17306 for instructions.
Thanks hyelaw

 

[Jacqdiva]

A yeasty smell is fine. It's the wild yeasts that populate it and make it ferment. 

If it's bad it has a noticeable bad smell. Not yeasty or fermenty, but gross.


As an aside, it is possible for a batch to go bad. Because of the high heat here in FL I usually start a fresh batch about every week. Otherwise things can go icky... maybe after two or three weeks, hard to tell. So I cut my chanced of having a batch go bad that I'm planning on feeding that day by heading it off and starting up new batches fairly regularly.  

I have a rotation of three containers. It takes about 3 days till its ready.

 

[Jacqdiva]

left hand bowl is chick starter. Other bowl is FFeed.