Fermenting feed

[GldnValleyHens]

I've known about fermented feed for sometime now, but never was interested in it, until I saw it can save money

So....now I'm interested. I don't know much about it, scrolled through some threads, and found there isn't any articles on it that I could find. So you fermenting experts tell me the basics please? How to ferment correctly, what ratios, and the specific benefits? I assume it saves money because chickens consume less of it or eat all the feed without spilling. Thanks!

 

[Smuvers Farm]

@lazy gardener YOOOHOOOO!!!!

 

[Shevraeth]

Check this out:
https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

I'm pretty sure it's written by someone on here as I see it around a bunch and saved the link

 

[lazy gardener]

@lazy gardener YOOOHOOOO!!!!

Check this out:
https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

I'm pretty sure it's written by someone on here as I see it around a bunch and saved the link

Yep. That article was written by Tikijane. It's the how and why of FF!

 

[ChickensinAfrica]

Not only does fermenting feed save money but I'm also sure it helps their health. Here is a good link...

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Thanks guys!

 

[jubahn]

Hope everybody is doing good!

I have a question, can I feed fermented feed to my chickens daily? This is what I do and would like to have suggestions:

The feed for the day is 19.5 lb and I take 45% off and ferment it, its around 8.7 lb, then I mix the 8.7 lb fermented with the 10.8 lb that needs to complete what they are eating daily.

Any good advice is welcome, thanks.

jubahn

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Yep, fermented feed daily is how I do it. But I use the old backslop method. Fill the bucket half full of feed, add warm water, let sit without a lid, Next morning, take the bucket out, put the spoonfuls in the feeders, refill the bucket to the halfway mark, repeat.

I only feed once a day, up in the morning. At dusk, I'll toss some scratch into the coop to give them a top up and stir the deep litter. Usually there is a little left for the early morning to scratch around in. They also get fruits and veggies culled from the supermarket. They love cantalope and bananas, not much on mangos though lol.

I'm sure I'm going to have to get a bigger bucket soon, but usually now there is a bit left in the bowls by the afternoon.

 

[jubahn]

Yep, fermented feed daily is how I do it. But I use the old backslop method. Fill the bucket half full of feed, add warm water, let sit without a lid, Next morning, take the bucket out, put the spoonfuls in the feeders, refill the bucket to the halfway mark, repeat.

I only feed once a day, up in the morning. At dusk, I'll toss some scratch into the coop to give them a top up and stir the deep litter. Usually there is a little left for the early morning to scratch around in. They also get fruits and veggies culled from the supermarket. They love cantalope and bananas, not much on mangos though lol.

I'm sure I'm going to have to get a bigger bucket soon, but usually now there is a bit left in the bowls by the afternoon.

Ok this is how I do it so I can get some feedback.

I get the 8.7 and fill it with 2 gallons of water, this becasue when the feed gets wet this is when the water in the bucket is over the feed. I add 1ml of white vinegar, I let it sit for 3 days, I mix each day, I use this "Twin Bubble Airlock" for the air to come out, then on the 3rd day I mix it with the dry feed and have it ready for the next day, it smells very nice

Please give me your feedback, thanks in advance.

jubahn

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Hey jubahn, i'm a lazy chicken keeper so that kinda sounds like a lot of work to me.

I don't put a lot of water in mine. My flock likes it about soft cookie dough thickness, the spoon will almost stand up in it.

I don't generally add anything to it. If you put it in a bucket and leave the lid off, you will get naturally occurring yeast that sparks the fermenting. With the weather being so cool, and the feed station being on the back porch, I'll add a pinch or two of bread yeast to the warm water. It will kick start the fermenting and take about 2 days. Leave some in the bottom of the bucket when you feed, just refill the food and water. It's like a sourdough starter.

Back when FF was new, there was all this add apple cider vinegar with mother, make sure the water was always over the feed, have three days of buckets going, strain it if the chickens didn't like it soupy. Ladidida. Just so much work lol.

Now it's simple, water, feed, a bit of yeast if it's in a cool place, sit over night. I don't even add the yeast but maybe once a week, the ferment is strong enough to carry it on.