So let the boys out this morning. They immediately went to doing what pigs do best. They rooted all over the place. This will be all mud in just a few days. I have 1 more panel that I can use to expand the yard some more later.
Of course, all the critters wanted to meet the new guys and welcome them to Outback Farm. I have an album on my Outbackfarm Face Book page if you'd like to see the sheep and goats meeting them too. It's so funny to see the sheep's reactions! The goats have seen them since Sat. since they've been in the barn with them. In this picture, you can see that first stall is where they've been. The goats have the rest.
Bubba ad Stella wanted to come say hello too. They are so funny, those dogs. In everybody's business all the time.
A few days ago I started some grains to fermenting after seeing a blog post over at www.tosingwithgoats.
I hope these are doing what they're supposed to be doing right about this time. It's been cold at night so maybe they're a bit slower going? The bucket on the right I had just stirred. On the left I had not yet. I had started with the left bucket full. Then had to take out half of it because it had expanded that much. I hope it works because I really want to feed them this way since they are used to eating brewery grains. So if anyone else does this, does it look right to you so far? It was Monday when I started this. It's got cracked corn, wheat, whole oats and some rolled barley.
13 comments:
I read that same blog post, and now I'm considering fermenting or sprouting grain for my goats! I'll be following along to see how it goes for you!
I gave some to the pigs this morning in their soggy milk soaked bread and they loved it. So far so good.
Oh, I will be watching also! I made a very small batch... maybe a cups worth to see how it would work. It's been cold here at night also. I think today was the fourth day. I could tell the difference in the smell, which I thought was pleasant. I offered about two tablespoons to my goat kids, but they were not to impressed - but then, that was their first sample of grain. I will continue to offer it until they start eating it. I am sure they will start sampling it at some point. I would really like this to work.
Linda, I'm so glad you're trying this too. I haven't given any to my milking does yet because I want to start a little at a time. Don't want to mess with their eating good right now. But I know this will be better for them.
Someone in FB mentioned they do this but add some raw milk. I'm going to try that too. Seems like that would speed up the fermentation process?
This is really good for me because I have spent way too much money on pigs in the past. And right now, I feel like this and the free breads and scraps will make all the difference in the overall cost. I am even thinking of getting another pig.
Thanks Kris, it helps to know that we aren't alone! I was worried about doing this because I have read that silage isn't good for goats and in a sense this fermented grain is like that. However, I decided to trust 'To Sing With Goats' and just go for it. It makes a lot of sense to ferment it to up the protein and they also get natural probiotics.
The kids didn't want anything to do with the fermented grain. So, I stuffed some in their mouth. They spit and sputtered and then decided they liked it! lol. They really like the liquid from it to. Since they are only 4 weeks old and I am trying to ease into the grain, I have only been giving them a measure that hold two tablespoons, heaping once a day. Next week I will give them two measures and so on each week. It's usually only in the mid 60's to low 70's in the house, so I let it sit for 3 days before I start feeding it and I only make enough to last for three days so I have three jars on my mantle. Of course when I start feeding more I will have to find something else to ferment it in. I only have two goats and one is a wether, so I only really need to worry about the doe once they are older.
I've been giving some to my 2 does I'm milking and I do believe I am getting more milk. And they like it. So I may gradually start adding more fermented grains to their dry ration. Looking good!
That is great! How much is some? Do you have an amount you want to eventually give them?
Linda, I have a small coffee can that I use to measure the feed. Right now, I am giving my one goat that I'm milking, 2 full cans of feed. The other doe that is feeding kids gets about 1 1/2 cans. The doe who is due in about a month, gets almost a full can once a day. Forgot to say the first 2 does are fed twice a day. Then I have an unpregnate doe who just gets a half a can once a day.
So, the milking doe, I am giving about half now of the fermented grains with her dry grains. The others also half fermented with the dry. I hope to eventually go to all fermented grains. But I also want to give them alfalfa pellets. And sunflowers seeds, which can be added to the ferment buckets. I just don't want to do too much changing on them while milking them. But so far, I don't see any problems. Like not wanting to eat it at all.
You mean add the alfalfa pellets to the fermenting buckets? I thought of thought, how much alfalfa to grain would you add?
No, I'll just add them dry I think. Seems like adding them to the wet would make it thicker? Or heavier? I don't know. I'm making another bucket and adding sunflower seeds this time. Have to go get more wheat first.
I'm going to do another post about this.
Oh great, I will be looking for it... :D
Kris, how is the fermented grain working out for you?
Linda, I haven't done this in awhile now. I sold all my goats so just have sheep and alpacas now. They eat sheep pellets.
But in March I'll be getting 2 pigs. So I will probably start fermenting grain for them, if I can't find any from a brewery.
Are you doing any grain like this? My goats and pigs loved it. Also gave it to the chickens.
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