Venting with Fermenting Fail

[blackdog043]

Sorta, it will rise and be puffy, but when it's fermented, you will be able to smell the difference. It's a good smell to me, like a sour dough. (forgot, you don't cook much)

 

[Leigti]

I second the one bucket idea. Why make more work for yourself if you don’t have to don’t worry if it doesn’t bubble. You will be able to tell more by the smell than anything else.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Fermenting is alot easier than cooking, I don't like cooking either. Think your "problem" was temperature & when you put a lid, it has to have a "crack" ... It needs to breathe. Instead of a lid I put a piece of cloth (taffeta), keeps the bugs out & can breathe. It gets warm here, thinking a lid would "mold". 50/50 is a good ratio, it won't be soupy but like mush, make enough that there's left over to add to and keep going.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The only reason I thought I needed excess water/fluid after was because I was reading how some people scoop the excess water to jump start their next batch. So does that mean you have 3 buckets so you can give them fermented feed everyday?

I have a very small flock so I just ferment in a single jar, which lasts me a week. So it's not really all that fermented sometimes, it's just wet. I don't backslop with liquid, rather I use whatever is leftover in the jar and mix it in with fresh water and feed to kickstart it. If the jar gets too grungy or there's any sign of mold (which can happen if it gets hot) then I clean it out and start over again.

 

[lissalischicks]

Awesome! this is all great advice!!

I know what sourdough tastes like so I think I am good!

 

[lissalischicks]

Oops I meant smells like.... I am not going to tasted the fermented feed!!!!

 

[BiggJohnn]

I live in S. Florida, I make a 5gal bucket at a time. I have 16 hens, I leave it out on the back porch. It takes me week to go thru the 5gal bucket. I cut it with cracked corn. Here’s a pic of my FF. In the morning when I go out and feed it’s verry puffed up & has a lot of Yeast I guess. (Scoby?)

 

[lissalischicks]

So tried the fermented feed again and it was at success. The problem is the chickens hate the fermented feed and now won't eat it. Lol after all that work for nothing.

 

[blackdog043]

Is the cosistancy on the wet or dry side? Mine like it drier, like biscuit dough, thick mashed potatoes...

 

[Kusanar]

In warm weather, you can do 1 bucket easily, you get close to the bottom, just add more water, stir it up, then add your feed, the good bacteria will be all mixed into the water you added and will instantly coat the feed and get to work. It will be ready by the next day. In colder temps, I might work with 2 buckets, when you start feeding out of one bucket, go ahead and start the next with some backslop from the bucket you are feeding out of, then when that bucket gets close to empty, refill and let it sit and ferment (stirring daily) while you feed the other bucket out. The bacteria slows down in colder temps and requires more time. A very active and healthy colony of bacteria will actually produce their own heat to an extent, so once you get it going good, it can handle colder temps than one that you are trying to get started.

As for the birds not liking it, if they are already used to soaked feed, give them about half of their normal ration of soaked feed and some fermented feed. They will eat when they get hungry but by giving them half a ration they won't STARVE while they figure it out. If they leave the FF, just dump it out of the container back into the main bucket and give it a stir and give them "fresh" FF the next day.