Fermenting Question

[baby-blue]

Hello! I’ve been fermenting food for my guineas for a while now and I’ve begun experimenting a tad. I have intentions of making ACV for them and my chickens and my horses since it’s so expensive to buy and I’d go through it by the gallon. I haven’t been able to get any apples but I had an extra fermenting bucket and I was feeling a little bold. I threw some alfalfa leaves in there, added a few spoonfuls of some already-fermented alfalfa/BP, added about a cup of brown sugar, and then covered it all with well water just to see what would happen. I’d hoped it would make some vinegar-y substance that I could add to their water, but it now smells like alcohol. It’s been bubbling and fermenting and it’s had a good layer of yeast on top of it whenever I open the bucket. It gets stirred a few times a day. It’s been going for 5 days and most days I’ll leave it out to sit in the FL sun. Is it possible that I did somehow make alcohol? If I did, is it safe to assume that the guineas and chicks cannot have it in their water? Would there be any other use for it?

Day One


Today

 

[paneubert]

Yes. You made alcohol. Wild yeast is happy to float in there and ferment for you.

It will turn into vinegar if you leave it exposed to oxygen for an extended period. It will most likely look really gross between then and now.

It won't be apple cider vinegar, but just some random alfalfa and brown sugar vinegar.

Stirring it would speed this process since you are introducing more oxygen to the mix.

 

[chickens really]

Fermented feed is not needed and the process is another internet hoax...

 

[paneubert]

Fermented feed is not needed and the process is another internet hoax...

Well hold on a second.....it is most certainly not a hoax. While it is certainly not needed for a healthy flock, the process and reasoning behind why some people choose to ferment their feed is nowhere near a hoax.

Plus, that is not what they are asking about here. They are trying to make vinegar.

 

[chickens really]

Well hold on a second.....it is most certainly not a hoax. While it is certainly not needed for a healthy flock, the process and reasoning behind why some people choose to ferment their feed is nowhere near a hoax.

Plus, that is not what they are asking about here. Did you read their post, or just see the title and comment? They are trying to make vinegar.

...I can read...

 

[paneubert]

...I can read...

Why do you feel it is a hoax? You have me curious. I am not a rabid fermentation supporter or anything like that, but I do understand and accept the science behind why some think it is beneficial or worth their time.

 

[baby-blue]

Yes. You made alcohol. Wild yeast is happy to float in there and ferment for you.

It will turn into vinegar if you leave it exposed to oxygen for an extended period. It will most likely look really gross between then and now.

It won't be apple cider vinegar, but just some random alfalfa and brown sugar vinegar.

Stirring it would speed this process since you are introducing more oxygen to the mix.

Alright, thank you! Random alfalfa-y vinegar is perfectly fine with me and I’m sure the crew won’t complain. Thank you!

Fermented feed is not needed and the process is another internet hoax...

I’m curious now too - what would make it a hoax? I know it’s not essential to their diet and a healthy, happy flock. Mine sure do gobble theirs up, though, and it’s helped push the food to last longer than it used to. If there are any other benefits, I’ll take them!

 

[paneubert]

I’m curious now too - what would make it a hoax? I know it’s not essential to their diet and a healthy, happy flock. Mine sure do gobble theirs up, though, and it’s helped push the food to last longer than it used to. If there are any other benefits, I’ll take them!

I don't ferment, but I do wet their feed and add some alfalfa every 2 or 3 days. As a healthy treat/meal replacement. Mine gobble it up. It is the texture and change of scenery as much as anything else I am sure. Also easy for me to do since it just means adding some water to some pellets and putting it in the run with them. No need to mix or ferment or monitor or anything.

As for the "science" behind why some people do legitimately ferment their feed, here are a bunch of NIH results. As long as you trust the feds to do valid research, then these scientific studies show the benefits.

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=F2DHXMrUJeqO0wKr7qmAAQ&q=fermentation+nutrients+ncbi

 

[baby-blue]

I don't ferment, but I do wet their feed and add some alfalfa every 2 or 3 days. As a healthy treat/meal replacement. Mine gobble it up. It is the texture and change of scenery as much as anything else I am sure. Also easy for me to do since it just means adding some water to some pellets and putting it in the run with them. No need to mix or ferment or monitor or anything.

As for the "science" behind why some people do legitimately ferment their feed, here are a bunch of NIH results. As long as you trust the feds to do valid research, then these scientific studies show the benefits.

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=F2DHXMrUJeqO0wKr7qmAAQ&q=fermentation+nutrients+ncbi

I’ve through that and a few other studies as well. I have seen what I believe to be positive changes in my birds, but I don’t have the science to back my specific situation.

 

[paneubert]

I’ve through that and a few other studies as well. I have seen what I believe to be positive changes in my birds, but I don’t have the science to back my specific situation.

Does your feed have soy as a main ingredient? Here is just one result from the first page that jumped out at me.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5088370/

I am sure there is one for corn as well. Or any other "main ingredient".