Fermenting Feed

[chanceitup]

I recently started to ferment my chickens & ducks scratch (corn, barley, oats, etc.) and was curious if anyone has had any luck with adding vitamins/electrolytes/antibiotics/etc. into their fermented feed? I recently tried adding some powder vitamin/electrolyte mix and it seems to have caused the batch to not ferment, as I didn't get any bubbles and it didn't get the usual smell.

I've read that you need to de-chlorinate your water in order to get a proper fermentation. In every batch (except one), I've been able to get it to ferment without de-chlorinating the water prior. In all of the cases except the one, I added Strong Animals' Chicken E-Lixir. While I can't say it with certainty that this is causing it to ferment, wanted to hear from others on their thoughts.

So far I will add that the chickens and ducks love the stuff and I plan on experimenting a bit to see what works and doesn't work. I thought the chlorinated water situation may cause a hindrance, but so far that doesn't seem to be the case.

- Chance

 

[rosemarythyme]

What kind of antibiotics are you feeding to the chickens?

Just a guess but maybe something in the additives you're using is killing off stuff in the ferment, so instead of fermenting it's just sitting there wet. Not sure, as I don't add anything to my ferment (and if I do, to treat for a specific issue, I add it immediately before feeding).

 

[chanceitup]

There were concerns of MG, so I treated one batch with Tylosin/Amoxicillin, but that batch fermented. I don't plan on adding any antibiotics in the future unless they seem to be in need.

I've done a few more batches and so far the only one that didn't bubble is where I used the powdered vitamins. I guess for now I'll stay away from using it.