LOTS of feed being wasted

[Tabatha]

So I just get a 5gal homedepot bucket with lid, put some chicken feed (mine is mash) in it, let's say half full, and then pour tap water onto it until it's all submerged. Cover it with lid but allow some opening and wait 3 days (stir daily).

Where do I put this bucket? out in the open or in a closed shed (with ventilation)? I can't put it inside the house or in the garage (due to smell).

Thanks.

It shouldn't smell horrible...Mine smells exactly like sourdough starter. Not "good", but not rotten either. I keep mine in the kitchen, but only because I don't know enough about the "rules" to be comfortable putting it anywhere else. I think it needs to be somewhere where it won't have drastic fluctuations in temp

 

[Beekissed]

Fluctuations in temps do not matter....the ferment will go dormant in constant temps in the 40s or below, but it won't die, it just doesn't convert the nutrients as quickly. In higher temps of 100 or above the ferment will be more and more active, but it won't die and it may need to be "fed" more often to keep it from smelling of a deeper form of sour.

When it's that hot, I just make smaller batches so that I refresh once a week but in all the temps in between I usually only refresh the bucket every other week or so when it gets down towards the bottom.

But the temp fluctuations do not kill the ferment or cause anything to "spoil"....just colder temps slows down the process and higher temps speed it up. You don't have to refresh your feed every day and it's recommended that you do not as studies have shown that a deeper fermentation yields more nutrients made available in the feed.

I keep my FF in the coop all year round until the temps get to 40 or below consistently in the fall/winter, then I bring it into the house until the temps warm up to 40 or above in the spring.

If you are doing it right, the smell is a tad stronger than the light ferment of the beginning of a batch that smells pleasantly like sourdough bread....not a smell you would want in a kitchen or anywhere else in the house in the warmer months but tends to be just fine in the cooler temps of a winter home if you keep the lid on it and only crack it on one side for gassing.

 

[Tabatha]

Fluctuations in temps do not matter....the ferment will go dormant in constant temps in the 40s or below, but it won't die, it just doesn't convert the nutrients as quickly.  In higher temps of 100 or above the ferment will be more and more active, but it won't die and it may need to be "fed" more often to keep it from smelling of a deeper form of sour.

When it's that hot, I just make smaller batches so that I refresh once a week but in all the temps in between I usually only refresh the bucket every other week or so when it gets down towards the bottom. 

But the temp fluctuations do not kill the ferment or cause anything to "spoil"....just colder temps slows down the process and higher temps speed it up.  You don't have to refresh your feed every day and it's recommended that you do not as studies have shown that a deeper fermentation yields more nutrients made available in the feed. 

I keep my FF in the coop all year round until the temps get to 40 or below consistently in the fall/winter, then I bring it into the house until the temps warm up to 40 or above in the spring. 

If you are doing it right, the smell is a tad stronger than the light ferment of the beginning of a batch that smells pleasantly like sourdough bread....not a smell you would want in a kitchen or anywhere else in the house in the warmer months but tends to be just fine in the cooler temps of a winter home if you keep the lid on it and only crack it on one side for gassing. 

Ok. Cool. Like I said I'm new at this so I still have a ton to learn. Thank you so much for the info. I think I baby my ff to much because I don't know what I'm doing and am terrified I'll kill my chickens...lol.

 

[Beekissed]

You won't.

No worries!

 

[Sindylue]

Thank all of you for the wonderful information. Again I love this site. I still am reading some of the information that was provided.

 

[seann]

Yes this is all good.
Question now, how do we put this fermented feed through "auto feeder" ... my current auto feeder is 3" pvc pipe (gravity fed). It works flawlessly with mash.
Will it still work or will it clog?
I guess I can just pour the fermented feed manually.

 

[Tabatha]

Yes this is all good.
Question now, how do we put this fermented feed through "auto feeder" ... my current auto feeder is 3" pvc pipe (gravity fed). It works flawlessly with mash.
Will it still work or will it clog?
I guess I can just pour the fermented feed manually.

I wouldn't put it in. I don't think it would work, but I'm new at ff. Someone else may have a more experienced view. I hear of people leaving the auto feeder with dry food in it and just giving them this in the am.

 

[Beekissed]

Yes this is all good.
Question now, how do we put this fermented feed through "auto feeder" ... my current auto feeder is 3" pvc pipe (gravity fed). It works flawlessly with mash.
Will it still work or will it clog?
I guess I can just pour the fermented feed manually.

I wouldn't....it'll just build up in the pipes and make a mess and it won't perform like it would with dry feed. Most of us use troughs and we don't pour the feed...it shouldn't be that soupy...but it can be scooped. I can fill a trough enough to feed the flock for a 4 day vacation out of town and no problem, so it's much like a continuous feeder if you want it to be.

 

[sueandthe6]

I have heard that if the feeder is raised (or hung) at level equal with the height of the back of the bird, they are less prone to billing through feed. Not sure why, but some claim it works. We have different sizes of birds, so this doesn't work for us. Besides, we feed fermented feed and they don't waste a drop.

I had this recommended to me last week when i bought a feeder. my thought was that the feeder would swing around while they are trying to eat. does this happen for anyone who hangs it

 

[jtbass2756]

I had this recommended to me last week when i bought a feeder. my thought was that the feeder would swing around while they are trying to eat. does this happen for anyone who hangs it

Have all of mine hung...from the younger ones to the older ones. Never have a problem with wasted food any more.. However, just to make sure about rodent wasting it also, I fed the chain thru an unside down funnel so that the funnel covers the top. Since its a slope. I never see any sign of little critters.