how long is fermented crumble good for?

[brandonstokley]

I recently started fermenting my chicks crumble and its been going great. took four days for it to get the fermented smell. I took that original batch as a "starter" and made a larger batch. Fermented in a day or two. Im planning on continuing this system of seeding the next batch with the one before.

my question is

I fermented about a weeks worth of food, is there a time limit on how long fermented food lasts?

 

[DobieLover]

I recently started fermenting my chicks crumble and its been going great. took four days for it to get the fermented smell. I took that original batch as a "starter" and made a larger batch. Fermented in a day or two. Im planning on continuing this system of seeding the next batch with the one before.

my question is

I fermented about a weeks worth of food, is there a time limit on how long fermented food lasts?

I have the same batch of fermented Flock Raiser going that I started almost 2 years ago.
I put about half the container into the feed bowl I'm going to give the chickens in the morning then add dry Flock Raiser to get the right consistency and feed it.
I add more water and dry Flock Raiser to the ferment container and give a really good stir and let it go until the next day.
Repeat.

 

[brandonstokley]

I have the same batch of fermented Flock Raiser going that I started almost 2 years ago.
I put about half the container into the feed bowl I'm going to give the chickens in the morning then add dry Flock Raiser to get the right consistency and feed it.
I add more water and dry Flock Raiser to the ferment container and give a really good stir and let it go until the next day.
Repeat.

perfect. this was exactly how I intended on managing this. just didn't want something to go wrong if it took a week to get to the next "feeding'

 

[CarlaCo]

So kind of like kefir when you get it going and it ferments in one day?
I’m just unclear how to proceed. I have a batch that is on day 2 fermenting. If it’s fermented tomorrow, do I strain whatever liquid is left and use that plus some feed and more water to start the next batch? I saw one lady online saying she just scoops out what she wants to give them each day and leaves the rest, adding fresh feed and water as needed.
Won’t some of the grains left over over-ferment or go bad cause they are in there so long?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Fermented food lasts until something you don't want successfully outcolonizes the things you do want. There are successful sourdough starters that have been going for much of 200 years in San Francisco. The process of making a Lambic involves mixing old beer with new, again, some of those have been going for several hundred years from their intial ferments.

If you are doing an anaerobic ferment with your feed completely underwater with a successful, healthy culture, things won't "go over".

That said, the benefits of your ferment will depend on what you are fermening, with what you are fermenting (there are different "bugs" used int he process), and what your birds actually need. Fermenting is famed for making many B vitamins more bioavailable - but if your birdsa are already getting plenty of B vitamins, having them more available isn't a measurable benefit...

 

[CarlaCo]

Fermented food lasts until something you don't want successfully outcolonizes the things you do want. There are successful sourdough starters that have been going for much of 200 years in San Francisco. The process of making a Lambic involves mixing old beer with new, again, some of those have been going for several hundred years from their intial ferments.

If you are doing an anaerobic ferment with your feed completely underwater with a successful, healthy culture, things won't "go over".

That said, the benefits of your ferment will depend on what you are fermening, with what you are fermenting (there are different "bugs" used int he process), and what your birds actually need. Fermenting is famed for making many B vitamins more bioavailable - but if your birdsa are already getting plenty of B vitamins, having them more available isn't a measurable benefit...

These are just some of the benefits I’ve read about.

• It increases beneficial bacteria in their guts.
• It also decreases pathogens in your hens' digestive systems.
• Makes protein more available.
• Requires less feed per serving (one of my fave reasons)
• Increases water intake as water is consumed with the feed.

I’m a big believer in kefir now for my own health and it sounds as if the first three reasons are similar to kefir benefits in humans.

I def made too much for my first batch- it exploded on the counter, lol. But I’m keeping it in the fridge now to stop the ferment and after it’s used up, I’ll switch smaller batches on the counter. I’m only giving 1 1/4 cup a day to the six chickens. So they still have their regular feed as well.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

These are just some of the benefits I’ve read about.

• It increases beneficial bacteria in their guts.
• It also decreases pathogens in your hens' digestive systems.
• Makes protein more available.
• Requires less feed per serving (one of my fave reasons)
• Increases water intake as water is consumed with the feed.

I’m a big believer in kefir now for my own health and it sounds as if the first three reasons are similar to kefir benefits in humans.

I def made too much for my first batch- it exploded on the counter, lol. But I’m keeping it in the fridge now to stop the ferment and after it’s used up, I’ll switch smaller batches on the counter. I’m only giving 1 1/4 cup a day to the six chickens. So they still have their regular feed as well.

FF doesn't live up to the hype.

I've read the studies. LOTS of studies. It has uses, yes, for some people in some circumstances, but its not magic. I recommend you read the studies with a careful eye as well to better understand its benefits, and its limitations. The answer, unsurprisingly, is "its complicated".

 

[Shalker]

Since I've been feeding fermented grains all 5 of my hens are producing an egg everyday. It has been amazing and I know this is the reason. I tried pellets and it turned into mush. How do you do pellets? They love the whole oats and now won't even eat oats if they haven't been fermented.