Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Tivona]

ok has anyone just combined the feed and water together and strained as they use it. not using the 2 bucket system.

You mean something like this? I use a salad spinner basket hooked with a bungee to drain. Refilling after I have taken out the food. I am only leaving a small amount each time but there is always some left before I add the new dry feed.

 

[bruceh]

yes bee i do that now. but it drains so slow. it would be easier for me to put it a collander to strain.. i am feeding 49 birds

 

[bruceh]

.yep that would work

 

[galanie]

For the moment, I'm not even making it so I have to strain it much. It's just a glob of peanut butter stuff in a bucket. I pull it out with a strainer for a scoop but i don't have to really let it drain if I don't want to wait.

I had that same problem before. Either the strainer holes clogged or I had to wait forever. Or use something with bigger holes which half the food would run out of. Now, eh, It's not as wet. Fewer hassles.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have my eye on something like this:

http://www.qvc.com/qvc.product.K340...pla=Cookware&cm_ite=K34005-000-000&adtype=pla

But I'm not sure how large the mesh is. It may be too large.

 

[Beekissed]

No, I mean like this....takes just seconds to drain out enough to feed:

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for the video! A video is worth a thousand words... And we got to hear your voice too!

I'm looking at the ss basket 'cause I'm wanting to avoid plastics - especially with the acidic content. I always get concerned about leaching undesirable substances into food from plastic - and even more-so with the acid content in a ferment. [Just me...not particularly advocating it for everyone...]

No, I mean like this....takes just seconds to drain out enough to feed:

 

[Ashdoes]

I'm using one bucket and mixes just enough feed and water to make it not runny. Then I use a big spoon and plop it right in the PVC trough feeder my FIL made me. It's working out great. I leave a quarter of the amount, add more dry and water, and it's bubbling by that evening. A couple times I have been able to just sit and watch it bubble, which is pretty cool. I also keep it in the house, at the sliding door in the back, so it stays warm. I'm thinking I may have to get two buckets going, so they can ferment longer. It's going well though.

 

[galanie]

My favorite PVC feeder for this type of food is still just a 4" PVC pipe about 4 feet long that has been split in half long ways. No ends needed, that way all the watery stuff can run out the ends. Just make some sort of feet for it so it'll stay upright. Easy peasy.

 

[normanack]

Remember the TV show The Victory Garden?
Beekissed, you need to do Victory Chickens!