100 Broilers and Fermented Feed Project

[kuntrygirl]

In the past, I was not familiar with the nipples and how they operate. I always thought that the nipple system required a pipe to be connected to an outside faucet. I learned that is not the issue from Beekissed's post. Thank goodness she posted the pic and the information. I think I am open to water nipples for my birds. I love learning new stuff.

 

[Angelicisi]

I use these in my coops. They could easily be screwed into a bucket.

There are these nipple cups for buckets.

 

[aoxa]

Will the chicks operate this disign ok? Or is it smaller than it looks??lol

I'm sure they could figure it out after a week... I don't use them myself, but hear a lot of good things. It eliminates the leaking nipples and is more natural for them to drink that way.

 

[Pine Roost]

Quick question. This may be in there somewhere, but after scanning through the first 20 pages I didn't see it.

Here it is... I know that temps affect the process, but in a 50-60 degree environment, how long does the feed need to sit to ferment? Also is my recipe of 4 parts 17% crumbles and 1 part 3-grain scratch going to get the job done?? Thanks.

 

[Betania]

what is a bell waterer

 

[aoxa]

Quick question. This may be in there somewhere, but after scanning through the first 20 pages I didn't see it.

Here it is... I know that temps affect the process, but in a 50-60 degree environment, how long does the feed need to sit to ferment? Also is my recipe of 4 parts 17% crumbles and 1 part 3-grain scratch going to get the job done?? Thanks.

It takes a bit longer.. I'd say 3 days.. That's when I start to see some active bubbling.

Yes your ingredients will work. Don't add too much scratch if you don't have forage available (I don't this time of year).
Also what are your scratch grains? (ie: assuming one is corn, I'd guess wheat and oats are the other two..)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Good morning everyone. The little buggars are doing good. No losses so far. They are going through feed like crazy. When I get home, the FF is just about gone and I have to fill the feeders up again. Then in the morning, the FF is all gone. I forgot to raise the wateres as suggested. Will get that done today. Looks like I need to change the bedding. There are areas where there are clumps of poop. I will have to remove that and put down more bedding.

I still don't like the shavings in the FF but I will have to live with it. To confirm my suspicions about the animals eating the FF that had shavings in it, I through some out in the yard yesterday sure enough the ducks were eating the shavings. I had to run them away from the shavings and pick up the mess.


I have been looking for my 3 test subjects whose toes I painted and I can't find them. I guess the polish came off.

So, now I'll have to find something else to mark them. I guess I could spray a little Blue Kote on their toes. I know that's not coming off. It takes days for it to come off of my fingers when I have used it in the past. Nonetheless, I was able to get a weight on a few.

get the FF up on , boards, bricks or tiles till they can't kick shavings into it.

Colored zip ties on the legs will work for identification.

OH yes I know the ones youare talking about. THanks-- I'll look into getting one. THen no more hairs.

When characteristics of brids v mammals are named, I find it interesting that "birds have feathers" is given as well as"eggs" but the assumption was that they had no hair. GUess THAT is not correct. Mammals have hair but so do chickens!


THe nippples I use drip so I put a cake pan under neath with a block of wood to fit. CHicks don't stand in the dripped water rather they stand on the block of wood to reach the nipples. Otherwise the area becomes soggy very fast. I have tried 2 different makers, and one with a ruber ring, other with not. Sometimes the seal is good and other times need a silicone beading around the base. IDK a perect system yet.


For some reason this strikes me as a peice of modern art!!

I made a system for the brooder house using horizontal nipples with 3 adjustable elevations so I can use it for chicks, growing birds and adults. They still tend to drip a bit so those that drip, I keep a small plastic container under them like a sour cream container. After drilling and cutting PVC, there is a lot of residue that needs to be flushed from the system. That will clog the seal. If you dismantle the nipples and flush them, that will usually stop the leaks.
I still like the drinker cups for adults. They never seem to be thirsty with those.

There are these nipple cups for buckets.

These work better for chicks but they are a bigger hassle to clean. They will also freeze in winter.

I use these in my coops. They could easily be screwed into a bucket.

Those are my favorite for non-winter conditions.
The cups spin off for easy cleaning.

what is a bell waterer

This the bell system.

http://www.toolfetch.com/teksupply-...313130373731&gclid=CJbPurLsgLwCFecRMwodBiAABw

here are other options

http://www.alibaba.com/promotion/promotion_poultry-waterer-promotion-list.html

For chicks, I like the nipple with the cup below. Even if it drips, they'll usually drink it before it overflows.

Quick question. This may be in there somewhere, but after scanning through the first 20 pages I didn't see it.

Here it is... I know that temps affect the process, but in a 50-60 degree environment, how long does the feed need to sit to ferment? Also is my recipe of 4 parts 17% crumbles and 1 part 3-grain scratch going to get the job done?? Thanks.

That ratio would give you approximately 16% protein depending on what the grains are so that should work. Corn will lower the protein more, wheat and oats - not as much.

I don't know optimal temperature but mine is in my cellar and on the back porch which both are about the same temperature as yours.

 

[Pine Roost]

It takes a bit longer.. I'd say 3 days.. That's when I start to see some active bubbling.

Yes your ingredients will work. Don't add too much scratch if you don't have forage available (I don't this time of year).
Also what are your scratch grains? (ie: assuming one is corn, I'd guess wheat and oats are the other two..)

My grains are corn wheat and milo. It's just a standard 3-grain scratch. I'm looking forward to trying this because it sounds like it will cut down on the amount they consume, as well as being better for the birds.

 

[aoxa]

My grains are corn wheat and milo. It's just a standard 3-grain scratch. I'm looking forward to trying this because it sounds like it will cut down on the amount they consume, as well as being better for the birds.

Should be good.

I had a grower type feed and was using that cut with grains for chicks last winter and stunted their growth. The protein was just too low. I started at 15% and adding grains cuts down on total %. It worked well for my adults though.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm using 22% starter for the chicks until 5 weeks this time around. After that, I have a fairly reasonably priced 16% organic grower they'll be switched to. The 16% is what I'm using for adults. For the chicks I'll be adding some fishmeal to boost the protein in decreasing amounts each week from the 5 week stage and settle on the straight 16% by the time they're 12 weeks.