Texas

[LauriTX]

Instead of doing the several day long ferment, try the overnight ferment. I put feed in a plastic container and cover it with water, it grows in size overnight and mine love it. With 5, I would do about a cup of food to start out and if they finish it quickly, I would increase the amount until they finish the feed in about 15-20 minutes.  I also  free feed dry  as well to make sure that all of my birds get plenty to eat as they free range all day. 

That was going to be my next question...how much to feed them. I have one that is 18 weeks and just laid her first egg yesterday, and 4 that are 12 weeks.

Another question...what is "mother"? I saw that somewhere else too.

 

[showbarnmom]

I know there are threads for this topic, but just thought I would ask here...does anyone use ferment feed? I'm interested but not sure how to start.

I feed FF to a flock of 14. Mine absolutely love it.

"Mother" is another word for the glob of good bacillus in unpasterized apple cider vinegar. While filtered vinegars serve some purpose, vast majority of "good things" come in the mother.

I only mix about two days worth of FF at a time. I mix laying pellets, alfalfa pellets, and oats. Cover with water. And let sit. My first batch I added a glug of ACVw/M, and let it sit. I feed roughly 4-5 cups per day. And my flock eats on it all day. They also free range most days. I have noticed (in 2 weeks) less smell and less flies.

 

[back2simplelife]

Think that would help my two new ones put on extra weight? We are huge ferment fans ourselves.. not to mention my dog and cat drink kombucha daily.. lol. Think I am going to give it a try!

 

[hotrodflash]

Think that would help my two new ones put on extra weight? We are huge ferment fans ourselves.. not to mention my dog and cat drink kombucha daily.. lol. Think I am going to give it a try!

Yes, it would help. You can also add bacon grease or whatever kind of cooking oil that you use, vegetable, canola, olive, coconut, etc

 

[back2simplelife]

Yes, it would help. You can also add bacon grease or whatever kind of cooking oil that you use, vegetable, canola, olive, coconut, etc

awesome! Poor gals are just starving!

 

[Gittx]

I have a question about fermenting. I keep my chicken food outside in a large plastic deck box. Can you ferment food outside? I only read one post on another forum saying to keep it a "room temperature". and I hate the idea of moving the buckets in and out of the house for feedings. Thanks for any help.
Janice

 

[hotrodflash]

I have a question about fermenting. I keep my chicken food outside in a large plastic deck box. Can you ferment food outside? I only read one post on another forum saying to keep it a "room temperature". and I hate the idea of moving the buckets in and out of the house for feedings. Thanks for any help.
Janice

I would not leave it outside in our heat. I would be really cautious of mold and mildew growing in it. But once it cools down I think it would be fine to keep it outside. Some people in colder areas don't feed FF in winter because it freezes too easily for them.

 

[wlhtx]

I would not leave it outside in our heat. I would be really cautious of mold and mildew growing in it.  But once it cools down I think it would be fine to keep it outside. Some people in colder areas don't feed FF in winter because it freezes too easily for them. 

Another area we differ somewhat. I have left mine out, sometimes in full sun, all summer. My husband kicked it out of the shop because he is sensitive to the smell, so it has spent most of the time out on the back porch.

The heat has not bothered it. No molds here. But I am careful to rinse down the sides of my bucket and add fresh food and water back in every couple of days. I think the extra heat has just helped "cook" it a bit more. My worry is how this is going to play out once temps drop later this fall!

 

[TexasLisa]

Good Morning Texans!

No rain in Rosenberg! Do you know how disheartening it was to drive from N. Houston to Sugar Land in rain and get to Rosenberg and there is absolutely NOTHING!!!! We did get the wind though. It had closed the door to the coop and my DH and I had to get flashlights to track them all down last night. We found them all. I finally got to handle my 3 SS chicks (13 wks. old).

Ha! They won't let me near them this morning!

On the ff subject: I leave mine outside all the time. Just stir it in the morning and again at night. It is normal to get a gray/whitish film on the top. To get started, just add your feed, a glug or two of ACV and top it off with water. The feed will swell. If you go to the 'Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds' forum you will get all kinds of good information. Beekissed and Shadowmane started this forum.

Have a great, hopefully WET day Texans!

Lisa

 

[galanie]

We got just enough rain yesterday to keep the dust down a bit. Not enough to do any real good. I need to do a rain dance or something!

I used to leave my FF outside but no matter what I did, gnats would get in it. And it would cook too well in the heat. So now it's in a plastic bucket just inside the back door. Sometimes I smell it, sometimes I don't. I don't mind the smell anyway, it's a good smell.