POLL: Ferment or Not Ferment...what do you do?

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Yeah my chick starter one was wet but my all flock one was more crumbly even though I added more water.

Yeah keep adding as much water as you need so it doesn't get too dry and let bad bacteria grow. I usually put the water in, let it absorb and settle, and then check about an hour later to see if it needs more. Then I just check it once daily to make sure there is an inch or two of water above the feed.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?
If YES...what feed do you use?Do you use ACV to ferment?Do you use sourdough discard to ferment?How many days do you allow it to ferment?Do you also offer dry feed during day?

No.

The only time I ever did at wad when and accident resulted in a full feeder getting wet.

No, because it just seems like a lot of work and mess for little reward.

Bingo!

It would be a lot of work to manage it. Also, I don't have a place in my house for it and don't need any more reason for raccoons to visit.

When I have a big pile of "feed dust," I add water to it in a rubber feed tray and put directly out for chickens to eat.

I do this regularly with the dust that collects in them feeders' pans after a few weeks.

I also make electrolyte mash periodically in them summer.

I gave wet mash to chicks daily to ward off pasty butt.

And I make a mash with the whey I would otherwise throw out after making acid-set cheese when I have milk that's approaching the end of it's shelf life.

But this is always a supplement/treat in addition to their regular dry feed.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

No.

The only time I ever did at wad when and accident resulted in a full feeder getting wet.



Bingo!

It would be a lot of work to manage it. Also, I don't have a place in my house for it and don't need any more reason for raccoons to visit.



I do this regularly with the dust that collects in them feeders' pans after a few weeks.

I also make electrolyte mash periodically in them summer.

I gave wet mash to chicks daily to ward off pasty butt.

And I make a mash with the whey I would otherwise throw out after making acid-set cheese when I have milk that's approaching the end of it's shelf life.

But this is always a supplement/treat in addition to their regular dry feed.

Oh that's a new idea with older milk!
Thank you so much for taking time to share!

 

[Nodakj]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...what feed do you use?

I use Nutrena Naturewise All Flock​

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Do you use ACV to ferment?

I don't even know what ACV is.​

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Do you use sourdough discard to ferment? No i don't sourdough.

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How many days do you allow it to ferment?

I let sit 3 days at most. Sometimes just over night.​

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Do you also offer dry feed during day?

Always available​

 

[PioneerChicks]

I ferment! I wrote the BYC article Fermenting Chicken Feed: A Straightforward Method

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh that's a new idea with older milk!
Thank you so much for taking time to share!

This is much like the recipe I use, though I heat only to about 190F and don't always salt the curd. https://nourishedkitchen.com/farm-cheese-recipe/

You can vary the flavor slightly by using lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar.

I use most of the whey for breadmaking, but give leftovers to the chickens. Not too much of it though. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/using-whey.1499577/

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I ferment! I wrote the BYC article Fermenting Chicken Feed: A Straightforward Method

Awesome! I will definitely go check it out!

 

[Chicks in VA]

Im fermenting my fist batch right now
i also will allow dry feed!

 

[Davish]

So there are a lot of threads here on fermenting chicken feed. But thought it would be interesting to get a little more information gathered in a single thread.
So here's hoping yall participate and give details so we can make sure our babies are all fed the best they can be!

I recently ran across a post on social media regarding fermented feed with sourdough discard. I wasn't sure about it...read up on it and decided to try it.

https://www.pantrymama.com/how-to-feed-sourdough-discard-to-chickens/​

There are lots of details you don't get unless ya talk through the "recipe and directions".

No one wants to put their precious babies in any danger or risk of illness!
So looking forward to hearing your thoughts and what you do!

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...what feed do you use?​

Do you use ACV to ferment?​

Do you use sourdough discard to ferment?​

How many days do you allow it to ferment?​

Do you also offer dry feed during day?​

I soak whole corn
But the add my own sourdough yeast starter
Easiest is

Half gallon Buttermilk and 5 lbs of bread or all purpose glour
Mix and put in refrigerator ina lidded tul but also inside a plastic bag
Because it can explode
In 2 weeks ready from fridge
Take half and add to soaked corn and feed your yeast with more glour a cup or two

Keep yeast alive
In fridge
Feed each week or ip to a month
Do not restir in created alcohol

 

[lori_smith99]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...Layer Pellets and Starter grow as mine are all between 13-28 weeks

Do you use ACV to ferment? YES

Do you use sourdough discard to ferment? NO

How many days do you allow it to ferment? 2

Do you also offer dry feed during day? YES

They love their "mash" but also like to scratch the dry food, so I do a mixture of scratch and dry pellets usually spread around for them to "work" for and I feed them their mash (which is the mixture of pellets and starter, ACV, minced garlic, flax seed, oregeno and sage), in the morning and that usually lasts them until around 5ish. Seems to work out pretty good so far and I love making their mash because they get so excited over it