help please ... first time fermenting chicken feed

[Brenda Jones]

is this bad for my babies? It is bubbling like crazy. I used an organic non GMO feed and a mesophillic culture to start it. The feed looked fine yesterday then when I went to feed this morning it looked like this.

 

[JaeG]

That's what's known as the "Scoby" (Symbiotic Colony Of Bacteria & Yeast) that can form on the surface. If it smells yummy then it's still good. Just give it a good mix.

You don't need a starter culture to get fermented feed going. Just the feed and water is enough. Have you read this excellent article on Fermented Feed?: https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[PioneerChicks]

I think it is also called Kahm Yeast, at least, that's what I have been taught. It is harmless, though if left to grow it will get super smelly and I have heard it makes the food sour. I like to skim off the majority of it before feeding it to my chickens. Don't worry, they won't die.

Edit: Here is my method: Fermenting Chicken Feed: A Straightforward Method

 

[Brenda Jones]

Thank You all so much. It almost smells like my sourdough starter that has been going for 8 years. I was worried because my chicks haven't really eaten much of the soaked food since I received them. But the person that gave them to me was feeding them differently. But she has other chickens too that are older

 

[ChickNanny13]

Being that your chicks were fed differently, it may take a few days for them to "try". You could sit out with them, tap the FF with your finger, all it takes is one to try & the rest will follow.