How much fermented feed?

[Jeclay66]

Hello!! My chicks are 4 months old and are finally outside for the first time!!! I have been reading a lot about fermented feed. I ferment my own sauerkraut and pickles so im excited to try this . I have a couple of questions:

1. If after 3 days and the ferment is ready and I am not ready to use it can it be saved just like regular fermented food? Should I drain the water and refrigerate it or is it safe in a cool dark place?

2. How much should I give my girls? I have 6 of them and they have free access to organic crumbles. Can I cut back on the dry or just have it available at all times?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts

 

[azygous]

Fermented chicken feed is different that other ferment foods. Fermented feed reaches its peak nutritionally at around day three, and then it goes "flat" losing some of the nutritional value. At its peak, fermented feed is light and fluffy. After that, it becomes dense and heavy. When it reaches that stage, it's best to quickly feed it out. But it will keep for a while refrigerated.

An average chicken will eat a minimum of half a cup of fermented feed a day. Some will need twice that. You need to find suitable containers to feed it from as a regular dry feeder won't work. I use dog bowls elevated on little stands that I made so the bowls don't sit on the ground and get tipped over and dirt kicked into the food.

You can use a spoon full of the previous ferment to start your next one. Using filtered water further cuts down the time it takes subsequent feed to ferment, usually just 24 hours compared to the two or three days for the first ferment. It helps to have two staggered ferments going so you never run out and you always have fermented feed at its peak to feed out.

 

[Jeclay66]

Thank you so so much - your response really helped me!!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

We all do it a little differently, so don't be surprised if you see conflicting info.

1. I don't drain out water... in fact the way many of us do it, there isn't anything to drain. I aim for a thick oatmeal consistency, no excess liquid, and basically serve it from 24 hrs on until the jar is empty (and then I make the next batch starting with whatever excess there is in the jar). I also simply leave my feed jar sitting out in my house, but in hot weather it'll ferment much faster, so I make much smaller batches in summer.

2. I feed approximately 3.5 cups of fermented feed to my flock in the morning (10 adult/near adult birds) and free feed dry during the rest of the day.

 

[azygous]

I and my chickens also prefer the dryer fermented feed. I barely cover the dry feed with water. When it's absorbed a few minutes later, the mixture has no standing water. By the time it's ready to feed 24 hours later, it's fluffy, fragrant, and not a bit sloppy.

This consistence helps when you have sloppy eaters with beards and small chicks that would be inclined to wallow in the slop if it were wet.

 

[Jeclay66]

We all do it a little differently, so don't be surprised if you see conflicting info.

1. I don't drain out water... in fact the way many of us do it, there isn't anything to drain. I aim for a thick oatmeal consistency, no excess liquid, and basically serve it from 24 hrs on until the jar is empty (and then I make the next batch starting with whatever excess there is in the jar). I also simply leave my feed jar sitting out in my house, but in hot weather it'll ferment much faster, so I make much smaller batches in summer.

2. I feed approximately 3.5 cups of fermented feed to my flock in the morning (10 adult/near adult birds) and free feed dry during the rest of the day.

Thank you so much, that really helps. I was going to draing the water into a new batch but maybe I can keep adding to the almost gone batch, lol kind of like sourdough.

 

[Jeclay66]

I and my chickens also prefer the dryer fermented feed. I barely cover the dry feed with water. When it's absorbed a few minutes later, the mixture has no standing water. By the time it's ready to feed 24 hours later, it's fluffy, fragrant, and not a bit sloppy.

This consistence helps when you have sloppy eaters with beards and small chicks that would be inclined to wallow in the slop if it were wet.

I might try that as well. Or mix what they have been eating with some of the fermented....they didn't seem to excited about it this morning for the first try. Also, the fermented water I gave to my dog and he loved it. Great nutrition for his 13 year old body.