California - Northern

[casportpony]

 
So my plan is to switch the bigger birds over to layer feed when the dels start laying the Buffs should be about 16 weeks(if they lay spot on 20 weeks). But I will have chicks still at that point some 8 weeks and younger if everything goes according to plan. 

What should I really look for in the next 4 weeks to be sure  that my Dels are pullets.

Give them all starter. When the Dels start laying, give them free choice calcium. If you do not have cockerels, switch to layer a couple of weeks after the Orps are laying.

Medicated feed can cause problems. The latest news letter from CAHFS(UCD Necropsy) said a bunch of Turkeys were killed because the medicine used in the feed was not mixed correctly. It was not amprolium but it can cause problems too. I would take them off of it at 12 weeks at the latest.

Was it bacitracin? And did they mention the mfg?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Found it!
http://www.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/about/publications/cahfs_connection.cfm

-Kathy

 

[liz9910]

Quote:
Welcome to the best thread on BYC!

 

[ronott1]

Was it bacitracin? And did they mention the mfg?

-Kathy

The Article said:

Quote:

 

[Kaylish]

I figured I'd finally pop in here and say hi!! NorCal feather mama here.

Welcome!

 

[chickee]

Fermenting the feed is adding beneficial bacteria to their diet. This increases nutrition uptake. Yes, people use whatever feed they like in the fermenting process. I prefer to use organic. My biggest, most obvious benefit was lack of waste. The girls were killing 50# in less than a week. I'm now on day 10 from one #50lb bag. It's almost gone. Still, a 40% decrease of waste is significant.

I start mine with apple cider vinegar, about 1/4 cup in a 40 gal container. I only put one bag at a time in the container. Really should have two as the idea is to allow it to ferment 3 days before using. Ideally I would start a new one every 8 days. The trick is to keep enough water over the top of the feed to avoid mold growing. (Need a couple inches). I do stir mine now and then (with a big stick) to make sure no pockets of air exist.

The chickens LOVE the feed. They gobble it down. If some drops off the scoop on my way to the feeder, they eat that too.

Because it is a wet medium, I find it easier to add things that may be powdered, such as capsium, or probiotics.

The drawback is that it stinks. Some people keep it in the house. I cannot imagine doing so.

Do you portion it out or give them as much as they will eat?

 

[CackleJoy]

Ahh..now I remember that term! I think I have heard it used here before.

You're welcome on the thread. I have learned so much there. It gets little technical sometimes, and some times argumentative because someone always wants to complicate it by arguing about this enzyme and that enzyme, but Bee is good at getting things back under control. If there is someone sturring things up when I go to the hread I just come back in a day or 2 and things are back on track.

I know you were not trying to be humorous but the fact that people can create drama out of fermented feed just killed me. Seriously. Made my day.

Chickens are like that too. They can create LOTS of drama out of fermented feed! (That's only by attempting to drown in it but drama is drama - right?)

I will have to check out the thread and thank you for the heads up. I'm sure to learn a lot!

I'm going to go change a stinky diaper now.

 

[CackleJoy]

Do you portion it out or give them as much as they will eat?

I use those 4 lb scoops and give them 2 scoops 2x a day. They always gobble it down. They practically lick the feeders clean. I don't think they are hungry because I also feed fodder. Often I will go in and find them playing with left over wheat grass. If the wheat grass is not all eaten immediately then I know they aren't starving.

So I don't portion it out but I'm not sure that it's all they will eat. I'm thinking my chickens are like dogs and lack the STOP mechanism.

 

[Audio51]

Quote: About a 1/2 cup of the fermented feed per bird per day on average. In winter when there is less forage I give a little more. In spring/summer...a little less...

Quote: I know...right? Some people will make drama out of anything. It is soooo simple to use and some just really want to complicate it.

Hope you had fun with that diaper....

 

[chickee]

I use those 4 lb scoops and give them 2 scoops 2x a day. They always gobble it down. They practically lick the feeders clean. I don't think they are hungry because I also feed fodder. Often I will go in and find them playing with left over wheat grass. If the wheat grass is not all eaten immediately then I know they aren't starving.

So I don't portion it out but I'm not sure that it's all they will eat. I'm thinking my chickens are like dogs and lack the STOP mechanism.

About a 1/2 cup of the fermented feed per bird per day on average. In winter when there is less forage I give a little more. In spring/summer...a little less...

I know...right? Some people will make drama out of anything. It is soooo simple to use and some just really want to complicate it.

Hope you had fun with that diaper....

Thanks CackleJoy and Audio51! I will have to try it out