I also use the one bucket method. You do not have to have a layer of water on top of the feed. You end up just wasting a lot of water that way. You can make it as soupy or dryer if you want to. The main thing is you just have to stir it well every day. So back off on the water and it will be so much easier to deal with. Mine is usually the consistency of oatmeal, maybe a little wetter. I don’t mind if it drips a little, but it is definitely not submerged and I’m not wasting any water.
Yes it was! We are also in Florida and we have a BSF bin that produces almost year round free food that is 40% protein, 30% fat and 5% calcium. All that from food scraps that the chickens can't eat!
How much do you think you actually serve each chicken, either measured by the dry before fermentation, or after fermentation? I have fifteen chickens and they love it, but I'm trying to not have more than they can eat out at one time. I am free-ranging them on my acre of land and I keep crumbles available at all times. I started last week and it appears that it will end up being about a quarter cup per chicken per day before fermentation. I like to feed them in the afternoon after they have all laid their eggs so that they all have access to the feed. However, when they first come out of the coop in the morning, the first thing they want is food. Maybe I will switch to one morning feeding.
I honestly cannot say how much to give. I have a mixed flock, and I have some that barely nibble & then head out to free range, and others that will sit & gorge until they practically waddle away. I honestly just eyeball how much I put out and if feed is being wasted, I reduce the amount.
Each time you start a fresh ferment it takes a few days to get that good fermented liquid going. When you rotate, you always have it to some extent. I have under 20 chickens now, and am in Florida, so the one bucket method just works best for me.
Can you tell me more about the feeder you use when you go away on vacation? I have a tube feeder that worked great for dry feed, but I can't for the llife of me figure out how to leave them fermented food for let's say 5-4 days. Any sugesstions? Thanks for the great video! Subscribed.
Sorry, I may have not been clear in the video. I do not leave fermented feed for five days. I fill up regular dry feeders when we go out of town. My FIL is the one who helps when we go out of town, & he is 80 & I don’t want him having to mess with ferment when I am gone. No suggestions for that. Sorry.
You can absolutely ferment it. I used to feed scratch and peck grain and it had fish meal in it. I can’t afford it now because I have 15 chickens :-) but you can absolutely ferment it. One water to one part feed. You might have to add a little water, but she don’t want it soupy like this. You want the consistency of oatmeal. Stir it every day. It might get a white film and that’s completely normal. If it’s blue or green, that is not normal. There’s a difference between fermented smell and moldy smell.
I use either layer pellets or crumbles mixed with some scratch feed. I know there are some videos online where people get very technical and complicated with their recipe. but I keep it simple.
Probably a few days. I honestly have never just left it. I am constantly rotating. The temperature I am sure would also be a contributing factor for spoilage.
I'm in Florida also.....are you currently doing your one bucket method or are you still on a 3 bucket method. Basically is it hot enough to start 1 bucket method.
I keep adding more water and feed. Personally, here in Fl it is so hot I wash out my bucket and start over every month or so. From what I have seen on other sites they just keep adding and rotating.
It really depends on your weather and the amount you need. Most other videos show people fermenting on a three day cycle with multiple buckets. Because it is so hot here I just use one. I honestly just start using it immediately. I cannot say if that is right or wrong but it is what works for me.
No. It is the ferment. Yeast bubbles. Make sure the water stays above the grain. Google some pictures or some of the other channels on CZcams that do this. They may have some better up close pictures or video. I hope this helps.
I actually do stir every time I add feed. I only do this in the summer because it is so hot here. If I let feed, go for numerous days in one bucket it seems too fermented. This works perfect for my personal flock and method.
I also use the one bucket method. You do not have to have a layer of water on top of the feed. You end up just wasting a lot of water that way. You can make it as soupy or dryer if you want to. The main thing is you just have to stir it well every day. So back off on the water and it will be so much easier to deal with. Mine is usually the consistency of oatmeal, maybe a little wetter. I don’t mind if it drips a little, but it is definitely not submerged and I’m not wasting any water.
That bug looked like a black solder fly. That's great chicken food.
Yes it was! We are also in Florida and we have a BSF bin that produces almost year round free food that is 40% protein, 30% fat and 5% calcium. All that from food scraps that the chickens can't eat!
Your presentation is very beautiful and you are managing your farm in a completely natural environment
Thank you!
Thank you that is so helpful ❤.
The only issue with that is that you're losing most of the water soluble nutrients from your feed in the water you drain off.
Exactly
You need to add dry feed on it so that you do not loose the nutrients by draining the water .
How much do you think you actually serve each chicken, either measured by the dry before fermentation, or after fermentation? I have fifteen chickens and they love it, but I'm trying to not have more than they can eat out at one time. I am free-ranging them on my acre of land and I keep crumbles available at all times. I started last week and it appears that it will end up being about a quarter cup per chicken per day before fermentation. I like to feed them in the afternoon after they have all laid their eggs so that they all have access to the feed. However, when they first come out of the coop in the morning, the first thing they want is food. Maybe I will switch to one morning feeding.
I honestly cannot say how much to give. I have a mixed flock, and I have some that barely nibble & then head out to free range, and others that will sit & gorge until they practically waddle away. I honestly just eyeball how much I put out and if feed is being wasted, I reduce the amount.
So what is the difference between started over and adding to your fermented feed?
Each time you start a fresh ferment it takes a few days to get that good fermented liquid going. When you rotate, you always have it to some extent. I have under 20 chickens now, and am in Florida, so the one bucket method just works best for me.
Can you tell me more about the feeder you use when you go away on vacation? I have a tube feeder that worked great for dry feed, but I can't for the llife of me figure out how to leave them fermented food for let's say 5-4 days. Any sugesstions? Thanks for the great video! Subscribed.
Sorry, I may have not been clear in the video. I do not leave fermented feed for five days. I fill up regular dry feeders when we go out of town. My FIL is the one who helps when we go out of town, & he is 80 & I don’t want him having to mess with ferment when I am gone. No suggestions for that. Sorry.
Nice set up❤
Thank you.
but if the feed mix have fish meal does that make it can not be Fermented ? as it will make mold easily ?
I am not sure. Mine does not stay around long enough to mold.
You can absolutely ferment it. I used to feed scratch and peck grain and it had fish meal in it. I can’t afford it now because I have 15 chickens :-) but you can absolutely ferment it. One water to one part feed. You might have to add a little water, but she don’t want it soupy like this. You want the consistency of oatmeal. Stir it every day. It might get a white film and that’s completely normal. If it’s blue or green, that is not normal. There’s a difference between fermented smell and moldy smell.
I've heard from another video that if it starts bubbling like that with a layer of film it's not good to feed your birds. Is that true?
All of the other videos I have watched said it was supposed to do that. My chickens love it.
@@nearlyorganicnoshing2798 Thank you so much for confirming. Love your videos!
What does your ferment consist of?
I use either layer pellets or crumbles mixed with some scratch feed. I know there are some videos online where people get very technical and complicated with their recipe. but I keep it simple.
Have you ever had an issue with your ferment growing mold?
No. But I regularly wash out my containers & don’t let them sit for days.
How long does the mixture last once the fermentation process is complete?
Probably a few days. I honestly have never just left it. I am constantly rotating. The temperature I am sure would also be a contributing factor for spoilage.
I'm in Florida also.....are you currently doing your one bucket method or are you still on a 3 bucket method. Basically is it hot enough to start 1 bucket method.
I am still doing one bucket but it is not nearly as bubbly as it is in the middle of summer.
@@nearlyorganicnoshing2798 awesome thanks.
Can I ask how many chickens your ten scoops feeds?
Currently 28
So once it’s fermented do you just empty the entire bucket and start fresh. Or are you just using that same water and adding more feed?
I keep adding more water and feed. Personally, here in Fl it is so hot I wash out my bucket and start over every month or so. From what I have seen on other sites they just keep adding and rotating.
@@nearlyorganicnoshing2798 thanks
I want to talk to you about natural food for chickens
I am not an expert by any means but I will answer any questions I am able to.
How many chikens you have i have 47
Around 30 adults when this video was taken.
How long do you ferment for?
It really depends on your weather and the amount you need. Most other videos show people fermenting on a three day cycle with multiple buckets. Because it is so hot here I just use one. I honestly just start using it immediately. I cannot say if that is right or wrong but it is what works for me.
Was that mold on the top??? 😳
No mold. It is part of the fermentation process. Like making a sourdough starter.
When I saw that grey matter on top 0:30 of my fermented crumble, I thought it was mold/bad.
No. It is the ferment. Yeast bubbles. Make sure the water stays above the grain. Google some pictures or some of the other channels on CZcams that do this. They may have some better up close pictures or video. I hope this helps.
@@nearlyorganicnoshing2798 Thank you
I’m trying this method and it smells rancid
Yes !
I think you're brewing beer
The black soldier fly is good for the chickens but this process isn’t! They aren’t getting fully fermented since you keep adding and not stirring.
I actually do stir every time I add feed. I only do this in the summer because it is so hot here. If I let feed, go for numerous days in one bucket it seems too fermented. This works perfect for my personal flock and method.
Equal parts feed and water is usually quite sufficient. You’re using way too much water.