Trying fermented feed

[lazy gardener]

I don't know. How big a batch is it? My recommendation would be to start over with a very small batch: about a quart, and once you get that going, you could use it for starter to do what ever size you need. I do 2 containers which each hold 2 quarts of pellets and enough liquid to make the right consistency. Feed out one container per day, and there is always an other container ready for the next day. Mine smells a bit yeasty. Puffs up like rising bread dough. For a quart, a tablespoon of ACV with the mother would be plenty.

 

[acro1010]

I don't know. How big a batch is it? My recommendation would be to start over with a very small batch: about a quart, and once you get that going, you could use it for starter to do what ever size you need. I do 2 containers which each hold 2 quarts of pellets and enough liquid to make the right consistency. Feed out one container per day, and there is always an other container ready for the next day. Mine smells a bit yeasty. Puffs up like rising bread dough. For a quart, a tablespoon of ACV with the mother would be plenty.

It's in a 5 gallon bucket. It may just be my nose. I'm going to check back on it tomorrow. I was doing small batches but it got overwhelming to do such small batches.

 

[acro1010]

I don't want this thread to stop. I am not continuing at this time my fermenting venture. I wasn't allowed to keep chickens on the lot I am renting for my trailer. When I built the coop and run it had two walls Ply wooded. Then when I heard she was coming to inspect and the fact it is getting cooler I plywood another side. Amazingly either she likes me or she didn't see nor hear what was inside the "shed". The fermented feed added too much smell for the time being. Any comments about my close call are welcome, be they tasteful.

 

[acro1010]

And thank you for all the help thus far everyone!!!!

 

[Meeka3]

I have a question, I have only fermented in our mild winter weather so far and it seemed to be successful, but we are now having quite warm spring weather and my ferment has a dark grey scoby instead of white, is this still alright to stir in and use?

 

[lazy gardener]

I think it is fine, as well as it smells like what you are used to. Can you put it in the house to keep the temp more moderate? What temp is it being fermented at now??

 

[Meeka3]

We had a couple of days at 30 degrees Celsius, it was a bit cooler today, but as we come into summer it's going to be that or hotter, but it does smell ok. I put acv that has garlic added, so the smell of vinegar and garlic are quite overwhelming and probably mask any other smell. I have a separate one made with starter crumbles for my babies and it seems fine, it isn't grey and it doesn't smell and I don't put acv in this one because I wasn't sure if it was good for the babies. They are 6 weeks old.

 

[LogCabinChicks]

Okay so I want to comment on my post about the fact that it shouldn't smell bad it should smell like yeast....two weekends ago I drove two hours away to buy a coop and 11 hens. Along with the hens came their feed. It was in a white feed (tyvek) type bad and said something like "poultry feed" -- no ingredients tag, nothing. Like the most generic feed bag you've ever seen. We feed our hens Poulin Grain (http://www.poulingrain.com/product_details.php?product_id=256&category_id=5). Anyway, I decided to mix it with mine, no sense in wasting it, and ferment it too. OMG did it smell horrible when fermented!!

I thought I did something wrong, maybe the container wasn't clean enough...so I fermented a new batch. It was just as bad. So whatever by products was in this feed was not fermenting at all....So, I used that feed as "scratch" I really don't like feeding it to them at all...there was maybe a week's worth of feed in that bag, so using it this way, I have just a little bit to go. All I have to say is, that now, I know, it does matter what you're fermenting.

My feed smells like sweet yeast. My hens LOVE it, even the new ones.

 

[LogCabinChicks]

 

[LogCabinChicks]

How much fermented feed should one soak for 5-6 chickens a day? Also, what is the best feed to use as a base? Is it ok if there are millet and BOSS in it? How long is the initial soak?

When I had just 5 hens I was doing it in quart canning jars. Some hot water, some apple cider vinegar and feed. At first I used the chick feed, then grower, now layer. I rotated 3 jars....on day 3 I used the first jar....on day 3 I used the jar # 2 and filled jar one....each jar last two days. The longer they sit the sweeter they get. But three days is good to start. I always gave them a dry feeder too. But the 1/2 jar amount was gone by dinner if I gave to them at breakfast. Hope that helps!