Fermenting troubles!

[scalci]

So I started fermenting and although it's a pain, I do like the idea. I make a wet mash for my girls since I have a few that I adopted with clipped beaks, one of which has not been able to maintain a healthy weight without wet food. That's how I came across the idea of fermenting and I have done a lot of research but still seem to have some issues...

First off, I know some people ferment a moisture of mash (wet pellets/crumbles) and seeds/grains, then some just do the grains. I prefer the mixture since they can't just live off of seeds, plus one of my birds requires wet mash at least a few days a week to maintain a healthy weight. I just have a few things I am having some trouble with...

Smell: I understand that it is supposed to be a spur but delicious smell, not a yeast/dough type smell.
Well, I have a terrible sense of smell, but to me it smells sour, almost with a hint of vinegar (which I typically like the smell of) and a slight hint of dough (which I like the smell of). Even though I think both are delicious smells I am not crazy about this smell, and I am concerned that it may not be the right smell.

Consistency: For some reason mine separates, at first some of the wet food sunk to the bottom of the liquid while the other half rose to the top and overflowed, leaving a middle layer of just liquid. After stirring it multiple times over the first 2 days the wet food finally all settled leaving an inch or so of water at the top. However, a lot of the seeds/grains then rose to the top. So I am not sure how anyone, wether they do just grains or a mix of grains and pellets/crumbles can avoid some of the contents floating on the top (which can risk mild growing on it). Some of these floating seeds (primarily sunflower) have turned a funky grayish blue.

Mold: i understand that there should be a layer of water on top to avoid mold growing.
As I already stated I have had the seeds float and get a little funny looking, I have also had mold grow on the upper sides of the container!! (Did I mention how I have a phobia of mold?! I literally have the same reaction to big pieces of fuzzy mold as arachnophobics have of spiders! -Repulsion, panic, shivers/chills, creepy crawly feeling all over), so this is not good on many levels!

Any suggestions/advice is appreciated! I want to keep my girls healthy, especially since one is a 6 1/2 year old who lays 5 eggs a week. She has her own instagram and everything (@doodles_roost) so I need to do anything I can to keep her living a long healthy life!

 

[centralcaligirl]

Could you post a picture of your fermented feed? Especially the part that you're concerned looks like mold?

 

[Pyxis]

I would be careful. While it has been proven by studies that lacto-fermented feed can be beneficial for chickens, improper feeding or fermenting of FF can kill them.

I say this because it was proven by a necropsy report - a friend of mine here on BYC has a friend whose flock became severely ill after eating fermented feed that was done/fed improperly. She lost many of her birds. One was sent off for necropsy and it came back that the fermented feed was the direct cause of the sour crop that killed them.

FF sits in the crop after the birds eat it; birds aren't like mammals where the food immediately moves to the stomach and the digestive process starts. If there is any mold/the fermenting wasn't done correctly, it can cause severe sour crop and kill the birds.

 

[lazy gardener]

Posting a pic of your FF would be helpful I've been fermenting for 4 years, and have never had issues with mold, nor have I ever had a bird get sick. From what I'm reading your ferment is too wet. It should be thick, without a separated layer of water. If you continue to do the mixture of grains/prepared feed, you might consider giving the grains a head start: Put them in your bucket, and cover them with water. Let them soak for 24 hours, then add the prepared feed. That should help them to remain mixed in with the prepared feed. If you post your ? on the fermented feed thread, you might get more response, especially from folks who use grains as a base for their FF. Have you read Tikki Jane's article? It has a lot of very helpful information. I'd be more concerned about a bird inadvertently getting sick on feed that has gotten moist in the feeder or the storage barrel than I would with a bird having issues with FF.

 

[PirateGirl]

Not everyone starts with the same feed, but a few tips that might help with some of your issues.

Water line should be approximately half inch above the feed.

Mix your feed 2 times a day. (I just used a spoon or spatula)

Do not have more feed in your container than your chickens will fully consume in one day.

Ferment on a 3 day cycle. (I have 3 containers going that I rotate)

In warmer climates the process goes faster, but there is also higher risk of other things growing, so don't really let it keep going too much longer than the 3 days.

Do not leave containers in direct sunlight.

Containers should be open (or covered with cheese cloth or a lid with holes) to allow air exchange.

You may get a white film that grows on top which may just be your good scoby.

You can totally wash your containers between batches.

Good luck! FF isn't for everyone and some feeds tend to be easier than others, I think I've given up on fermenting my new bag of feed, but the 50 lbs of the previous brand was a breeze.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Fine line between fermented and moldy. I personally don't mess around with it. Have you tried feeding a pellet ration? It might be easier for them to pick up.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, there is a huge very distinct line between fermented and moldy. I know the difference between good yogurt and moldy yogurt.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

IMO, there is a huge very distinct line between fermented and moldy. I know the difference between good yogurt and moldy yogurt.

I will admit I don't have any experience fermenting chicken feed. I do have experience making silage. Get it right and it's a wonderful sweet smelling fodder, get it wrong, too much moisture, too much heat, too much air, and you get moldy feed that can kill. That's what I'm referring too. Just my 2 cents, meant no offense.

 

[1muttsfan]

You may be better off just giving your special needs hen a wet mash a few times a week. I really prefer sprouted grains to fermented, they are full of nutrients and birds love them.

 

[holm25]

I would be careful. While it has been proven by studies that lacto-fermented feed can be beneficial for chickens, improper feeding or fermenting of FF can kill them.

I say this because it was proven by a necropsy report - a friend of mine here on BYC has a friend whose flock became severely ill after eating fermented feed that was done/fed improperly. She lost many of her birds. One was sent off for necropsy and it came back that the fermented feed was the direct cause of the sour crop that killed them.

FF sits in the crop after the birds eat it; birds aren't like mammals where the food immediately moves to the stomach and the digestive process starts. If there is any mold/the fermenting wasn't done correctly, it can cause severe sour crop and kill the birds.

Fine line between fermented and moldy. I personally don't mess around with it. Have you tried feeding a pellet ration? It might be easier for them to pick up.

I will admit I don't have any experience fermenting chicken feed. I do have experience making silage. Get it right and it's a wonderful sweet smelling fodder, get it wrong, too much moisture, too much heat, too much air, and you get moldy feed that can kill. That's what I'm referring too. Just my 2 cents, meant no offense.

You may be better off just giving your special needs hen a wet mash a few times a week. I really prefer sprouted grains to fermented, they are full of nutrients and birds love them.

I agree with these guys... Put your birds on a pellet and don't mess around with this stuff. It isn't worth the extra time in my opinion. It's a lot easier to just dump a bag of feed into a feeder and walk away... I don't use FF and my birds look just as good as everyone else's. It's too risky IMHO. A batch gone wrong could easily kill a bird or birds.

ETA I sprout grains ever once in a great while in the winter just to give my birds a treat but I never ferment...

I know I will probably catch hell for some of this...