Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[pigeonguy]

And Bee stop referring to yourself as an old timer. Your only 46 your life has just began for gosh sakes. As my dad or grandma would say your still wet behind the ears. Knowledgeable yes old no. Even with having chickens we ain't old there is one old guy about 8 miles from me that was born with chickens on the farm and he is in his 80's. He don't talk about them though he say's they're just chickens nuthin to talk about.

 

[Beekissed]

Oh, heaven help me if life has just begun...I don't think I have the strength to do this for another 46 years!

I've done a lot of livin' in that time and I'm 'bout worn down to a nub.

 

[pigeonguy]

Well let me tell ya. And I hope this is true for you. I felt worn out from about 44 to 51 (just wished it was over) and the don't know what happened but life got better think I got use to the pains don't think they went away (actually I know they didn't) but I am able to do more like when I was younger. My wife 7 years younger than me now feels worn out and she is at the same age I was when she was telling me. Your only in your 40's quit complaining now roles are reversed. I'm a little easier on her though cause I been there done that. Been with that woman 32 years married 26 of them and still don't know what she see's in me to keep hanging out. Keep exercising and eating chicken it's good for ya and will make you young again.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Take a picture.. Can't really picture it.. Is the water raising to the top?

If it was really soupy, I'd be inclined to add a bit more grain. What is the ratio between the food and water?

Woops! Missed this earlier! Sorry, I already fed it all so no pics this time. I just put in some more, only scratch grains this time. Yes, all the water was going to the top and not draining. I tried stirring it to see if that would help, but it just mixed the water in with the feed and made, well, soup. I'm hoping the grains go better this time. They should drains easier. Not sure what to as far as the pellets go.

 

[Beekissed]

Exercising???? I KNEW I had forgotten something.....

Moved the FF bucket inside today so that I can get back to my good ferment in the feed. I will just use a small gallon bucket to transport feed back and forth to the coop each day when I feed.

 

[Chucklecluck]

I made another batch of feed today and I did it differently this time I mixed two cups of vinegar and eighth cup of bread yeast and three gallons of water and twenty percent layer pellet after a couple hours is was bubbling and smelled like dough.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I've read the thread, but I'm still unclear about something. Wayyyy back I read a post that said you couldn't do the FF inside the house because it let off some sort of gas that would kill you. Did I misunderstand or misread that? I'd like to bring my bucket inside the house because it isn't hot enough outside anymore to ferment. But I certainly don't want to kill or injure my family. Is it okay to ferment in my kitchen? Can I just bring my double bucket inside and find a place for it? Do I keep it uncovered inside or cover it?

Presently I have the setup like Bee outside in double buckets. But nothing is fermenting with the 45F nighttime temps and 53F daytime temps.

 

[Beekissed]

I don't know who posted that, but it's simply not true. Fermenting large amounts of grain or sileage in a silo can emit some dangerous levels of gases but a single bucket of grain isn't quite the same as tons of grain in an enclosed space. People have been fermenting foods indoors, even grains, since time began.

 

[pigeonguy]

I let my bucket get down a little to low on Tuesday when I scooped out and mixed their feed. I just went ahead and put the same that I normally would back in the main ferment bucket. Which still kept It a little low. Then on Wednesday I put back in some extra to bring it back up to normal height and then on Thursday when I scooped out their ration for the day it just did not smell right. Not bad just like no Oder at all so when I added the new feed to bring it up to where it should be I put in a glug of ACV today it was back to normal had that sour smell back but I figured I would let it go an extra day without disturbing except to stir a couple of times thoroughly after work. I fed the chickens dry crumbles starter grower. Left over from when they were in the brooder. They looked at me like I was stupid (they're probably right) They ate it but were not happy and not with the mine, mine, mine, mine attitude Won't do that again. if I screw up again I will at least wet what ever I give them. They will love me tomorrow again though when I give them the half spoiled pumpkin. Then for supper their fermented feed with sweet 16 and cat food mixed in. I'm sure they will be saying. WOW what a treat first pumpkin and them whatever this delicious stuff is. Then that one gourmet roo is going to look up and say. I think its that sweet stuff plus the cats food. I had my doubts last night but he really does love us. And then mine, mine, mine, mine.

 

[Pozees]

Oh, heaven help me if life has just begun...I don't think I have the strength to do this for another 46 years!

I've done a lot of livin' in that time and I'm 'bout worn down to a nub.

Just wait With each year you find strength you didn't know you had, will you only dreamed of, and new ambition you must see through. You go to bed just wiped out, and by some miracle, morning brings the renewal you need (often with the help of some ibuprofen) to start again! One nice thing about aging is the appreciation you gain for things once minor, small increments of accomplishment, and kindnesses repeated day after day you never noticed before.