building paradise for the birds

[birdman55]

this is what it looks like leveled...in the spring im going to use my laser level and get it perfect so i can make boxes in the ground and then
put masonry sand in it...this tip was given to me by a very experianced and very knowledgable breeder....thanks tony....
here are the pics...and now im going to put up the wire on the inner walls..and then the outside..so be back in a flash....the area to the left in front of these coops is where the small pond will be...and I will be using the existing walls that are standing for the enclosure...the area is 40by 8 in the coops

the outside are in these soon to be coops is 16 by 26

 

[beverly evans]

Quote:
My fav. threads on here are the two ff ones, "fremented feeds....anyone using them?" and "fermented feeds for meat birds." It is so simple and it has many more benefits than just the solution to the rat problem. Let's see how many I can remember. PROBIOTICS FORMED BY THE FERMENT, MORE EASILY DIGESTED FEED SO THEY GET MORE OUT OF IT, (oops, missed the shift button!) less smelly and runny poop, and all round healthier birds, and there are more, but the main one for me is that there is no waste! With dry food the fines are not eaten or are billed out on to the ground but with ff it stays together and gets eaten and the fines are where the bulk of the nutrition in the feed is found. Tikkijane has a post all about it where you get a concise rundown It is mentioned all over the thread. All great people on there ready to help the newbies. There is only one drawback to ff and that is that most of us feed twice a day and if you take a trip you have to find a chicken sitter willing to come two times. Or you could feed dry just during that time. Check us out, you'll be glad you did! : )

 

[birdman55]

My fav. threads on here are the two ff ones, "fremented feeds....anyone using them?" and "fermented feeds for meat birds." It is so simple and it has many more benefits than just the solution to the rat problem. Let's see how many I can remember. PROBIOTICS FORMED BY THE FERMENT, MORE EASILY DIGESTED FEED SO THEY GET MORE OUT OF IT, (oops, missed the shift button!) less smelly and runny poop, and all round healthier birds, and there are more, but the main one for me is that there is no waste! With dry food the fines are not eaten or are billed out on to the ground but with ff it stays together and gets eaten and the fines are where the bulk of the nutrition in the feed is found. Tikkijane has a post all about it where you get a concise rundown It is mentioned all over the thread. All great people on there ready to help the newbies. There is only one drawback to ff and that is that most of us feed twice a day and if you take a trip you have to find a chicken sitter willing to come two times. Or you could feed dry just during that time. Check us out, you'll be glad you did! : )

can you post the thread for everyone I would be interested in learning and using this....also the area in front of the 40by 8is 30 by 36

 

[aart]

this is what it looks like leveled...in the spring im going to use my laser level and get it perfect so i can make boxes in the ground and then
put masonry sand in it...this tip was given to me by a very experianced and very knowledgable breeder....thanks tony....
here are the pics...and now im going to put up the wire on the inner walls..and then the outside..so be back in a flash....the area to the left in front of these coops is where the small pond will be...and I will be using the existing walls that are standing for the enclosure...the area is 40by 8 in the coops

the outside are in these soon to be coops is 16 by 26

Are those grazing frames I see on the ground...to the right on the top pic and to the left on the bottom pic?

 

[birdman55]

Are those grazing frames I see on the ground...to the right on the top pic and to the left on the bottom pic?

the existing posts that look like a bunch of tree branches are getting removed this spring and I will be using the 30 by 36 foot as an enclosure for a pair of peafowl and ducks..there was a greenhouse standing there but was taken down...well it fell down last year with all the snow we had......





ten thousand dollar greenhouse.....for a hundred dollars in scrap

 

[beverly evans]

Quote:
My fav. threads on here are the two ff ones, "fremented feeds....anyone using them?" and "fermented feeds for meat birds." It is so simple and it has many more benefits than just the solution to the rat problem. Let's see how many I can remember. PROBIOTICS FORMED BY THE FERMENT, MORE EASILY DIGESTED FEED SO THEY GET MORE OUT OF IT, (oops, missed the shift button!) less smelly and runny poop, and all round healthier birds, and there are more, but the main one for me is that there is no waste! With dry food the fines are not eaten or are billed out on to the ground but with ff it stays together and gets eaten and the fines are where the bulk of the nutrition in the feed is found. Tikkijane has a post all about it where you get a concise rundown It is mentioned all over the thread. All great people on there ready to help the newbies. There is only one drawback to ff and that is that most of us feed twice a day and if you take a trip you have to find a chicken sitter willing to come two times. Or you could feed dry just during that time. Check us out, you'll be glad you did! : )

Sorry, forgot to answer what you asked. Any feed will ferment and all it takes is to cover the feed with water, (any water,) when it is all absorbed add enough to have a wet mortar consistancy, (not runny,) stir a couple of times a day for 3-4 days, (less if warm weather or more if cold, but not a consideration if done inside where it is warm,) and voila you have ff! To make it happen over nite you cheat and use apple cider vinegar with the mother in it, kefir, kombucha, or one of the many starters they have on the market. I prefer to let nature do it. You make enough to last several days and when it gets low, like one feeding left, you add water, stir it up real good and add new feed. No need to add anything as the probiotics and good bacteria in the remains of the original batch are enough to ferment the new. Most feed enough in the AM for them to finish in a morning and then feed them half that much at nite before they go to bed. If they free range and get other nourishment, otherwise give more. They let you know. I personally mix steamed or rolled oats, half and half with layer feed, then add about a quart of black oil sunflower seeds and scratch for good measure. In the winter I also add alfalfa, about 1/4 of the total, as there is nothing green in my yard for them. BTW I only have 30 chickens and 10 0f those are growouts and bantams. The amount of work involved depends on how many chickens you have. How many do you have? Hope this helps. It is really simple, don't make it complicated and it will work for you.

 

[aart]

I meant these circled in red:

 

[birdman55]

I meant these circled in red:

well its my homemade feeder that I made...all you do is put two by four with the taller end up and put some wire netting and spread wheat on it water it and whamo....you have a never ending supply until winter that is...the chickens will eat down to the wire and then they sun bathe on it as well...and they never pull out the wheat.....

we have about forty chickens

 

[aart]

Quote: Yeah those are what I know as 'grazing frames' preserves greenery, whether existing 'lawn' to planting grains to other plants, from being scratched to death.

 

[wildsam]

Just thought I'd finally add some pics of our birds' accommodations...


These are the duck condos, with the goose corner and the chicken tower on top.


The entrance to the chicken tower from the rear of the condos.


The juvie pheasant pen (right) with the new barn in progress, for duck and chicken winter quarters (covered). Some duck pens in the front.


The duck pens from higher up. The pond in the front right, a couple of duck houses on the front left.


A close up of one of the 3 duck houses. This one is for our Muscovies, including bay window!

Can't find the pics of our group of adult pheasant pens... grrr. Gotta look or take some more if I get a chance... sooo, hope you enjoy til then!