Colorado

[coloradogal]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds
I took four days and read the entire thread. This can be used for meats or layers, its helpful to all of them.
I started with just the crumble, so I could get used to it. I do three or four scoops food and use enough water that it's easily stirred but not soup, and one glug ACV. Then let it sit for two days or so. I'm also not using the two bucket straining system, just one bucket and dumping the slop into the little chickie trough my FIL made for me. Now that I'm used to it I've started adding a scoop of scratch as a treat. And I have a second bucket going now, that way each batch can got for longer.
The thread is very helpful and informative. Good luck!

I tried the two bucket system but don't have enough holes.... so am back to straining by hand. I haven't seen a huge reduction in food but that's because I still give them the option for dry stuff. I now put my egg shells in the bucket with the poultry vitamins instead of doing it the old way and putting it in the water. Egg yield is about the same. I am still on the board as far as the whole poop thing. The younger ones seem to have more watery poo but was told it could take a few weeks for their system to get adjusted. I do ACV along with kefir whey that I have left over from straining. The mix smells soury, just like you'd expect from a fermented culture.

It is more work as now that the weather is colder, the food bucket has to be stored in the house. But I figure since I'm already fermenting tons of other stuff, why not this? It's almost like having a massive sourdough starter in your house.

 

[coloradogal]

hahahahaha free turkey anyone?

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/grd/3306531239.html


poor turkey being blamed for the chickens not laying. looks like a hen to me.

 

[gardendufus]

So I really am interested in your opinions on how long I should keep this aggressive GLW segregated from the flock. Is 2-3 weeks reasonable?

 

[coloradogal]

So I really am interested in your opinions on how long I should keep this aggressive GLW segregated from the flock. Is 2-3 weeks reasonable?

I've never done it outside of doing it just for a day or two when a roo ticked me off. i am not proud to say it but then i enjoyed seeing him miserable without his flock.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Yes, although it may be a temporary fix and then off to solitary again. In my experience, having a mixed flock of ages and breeds of chickens is like a window into the workings of organized crime. There is a boss and she is surrounded by one or more enforcers. They keep everyone in line and will push the weak to the outskirts of the flock. They will do in those not able to fend for themselves. So, to help this situation, you can have a few feed stations and at least two watering areas and some hiding triangles so the bird(s) being picked on can hide her head and back in these areas. It has been now about five years and my bully and boss are still here, but the chickens that they have taken a dislike to, have died from weaknesses that were not apparent to me, even after being separated into less stressful areas and being "babied" so to speak. My current flock has settled down and everyone is good and knows their place, even the roo, who has been checked in by the enforcer.
It has been a learning experience for sure.

 

[coloradogal]

I am a meanie... if I see a hen get mean to another, I'll push her or wait until she's roosting and push her off. I was raised around mixed aged flocks and they either got along or the mean ones went away quickly. Eventually, all that is left are the nice ones. I can't always catch them as I had issues last year with not knowing if the backs were bare because of Nemi or due to feather eating. I suspect now it was Nemi as all the girls have feathers again.

I do agree with Margie about the spaces to hide though. I have tons of places to hide and always try to have many places for food/water. I use an old papasan chair now for a secure place for the smaller ones to hide. the big ones can't get their big butts in there.

Here are the newest fuzzy butts.

 

[Pozees]

I am a meanie... if I see a hen get mean to another, I'll push her or wait until she's roosting and push her off. I was raised around mixed aged flocks and they either got along or the mean ones went away quickly. Eventually, all that is left are the nice ones. I can't always catch them as I had issues last year with not knowing if the backs were bare because of Nemi or due to feather eating. I suspect now it was Nemi as all the girls have feathers again.

I do agree with Margie about the spaces to hide though. I have tons of places to hide and always try to have many places for food/water. I use an old papasan chair now for a secure place for the smaller ones to hide. the big ones can't get their big butts in there.

Here are the newest fuzzy butts.

Too cute That little lavender will be interesting to watch grow out, huh?

 

[Pozees]

So I really am interested in your opinions on how long I should keep this aggressive GLW segregated from the flock. Is 2-3 weeks reasonable?

I think you've gotten sound advice from those with far more experience than I. Solving your bully problem permanently may turn out to be a matter of her not living there any more - and only time, and your satisfaction with your flock, will tell; it's possible she is sufficiently corrected by her separation that it is no longer an issue, or something you can simply address periodically using this same method. Whether she would be a bully in an entirely new environment is a question I don't know the answer to.

I hate situations like this; it seems like there is no one right answer, and that's because it's your flock, and only you can decide whether a problem is solved, and what you can live with.

 

[coloradogal]

Too cute That little lavender will be interesting to watch grow out, huh?

It will. It hatched from a green egg so know it was one of the ee hens. It makes me want to hatch some more of the green eggs just to see. I found a home for one more of Nemi's little baby roos today. I also gave 2 hens away last week and 2 of my 3 big roosters are going to grandma's today. So in the chicken math world, I am almost chicken neutral even with the new babies.

I'm getting ready to hatch some chicks for Marge. She wants marans... so we'll see. It's nice to put eggs in the incubator knowing they have homes already after they come out.

 

[Pozees]

It will. It hatched from a green egg so know it was one of the ee hens. It makes me want to hatch some more of the green eggs just to see. I found a home for one more of Nemi's little baby roos today. I also gave 2 hens away last week and 2 of my 3 big roosters are going to grandma's today. So in the chicken math world, I am almost chicken neutral even with the new babies.

I'm getting ready to hatch some chicks for Marge. She wants marans... so we'll see. It's nice to put eggs in the incubator knowing they have homes already after they come out.

The best of all possible worlds I would say I would be hard-pressed not to put in a few more green eggs - I mean, as long as you're going to incubate some eggs anyway, right? LOL