Colorado

[wsmith]

Here is a photo of our EEs. I walked into the hen house and there they were, all lined up ready for a photo shoot!

 

[coloradogal]

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

Nah, I don't really want a huge flock going into winter. Although the best time for a new flock is this time. By the time they get ready to lay, it's spring already.

Here is a photo of our EEs. I walked into the hen house and there they were, all lined up ready for a photo shoot!

The one on the end is very large. #1 I have from you is more the size of the one next to the big girl. They still aren't laying yet but one of the black stars is.

 

[pichuris]

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!

Same thread I got the idea from. I never used acv in my buckets all I did was include 50/50 of hen scratch and layer then added water enough for it to mix easily and little more due to the feed expanding. It sat for 24 hours and was bubbling and smelled fermented/sour. I use 4 collanders but will be moving to a bucket with holes drilled in the bottom.

Basically Add your feed of choice then water enough for the feed to get wet then enough water to cover the feed. Mix a few times a day so it gets air. The natural components of the air ferment the feed. It will be bubbly almost appears to be boiling. Be sure to use plastic or glass since using metal can cause corrosion and possible metal poisoning from what Ive read. And yes plastic can leech as well.

Some will use the non pasterized acv with mother to get the fermenting started right away but is not necessary. Some say stay away from putting calcium supplement in the fermenting feed some put oyster shell and others put the ground up egg shells.

I think thats really it in a nutshell but please correct me if I am wrong or left something out.

By the way as of 2pm right before I left for work I already had 15 eggs. That is a record breaker for me. And they didnt eat as much today as yesterday. I am as well on the fence about the "quality" of their poo. Today I noticed quite a few runners but everyone is eatting and no one looked sad or depressed.

 

[Mommato5]

So I was in the middle of making jam when I hear chicken noise...  I think that is odd the door is shut, and that is kind of loud.  I go out and Arry, my quiet little SLW  is on the rail and clucking up a storm.  (Pissing of some drunk neighbors)  The squirrel that live behind us is on the fence and I think that she id angry about that and thinking 'crap I am going to have to re home her'.  Then My Husband tells me there is a bunny in the backyard (they are never there so this is the first one that have ever seen).  Sooo we corral the girls and help the bunny get out of the yard, after a few attempts to jump over the 6ft fence we get the bunny out of the yard and the chickens calm down.  Now if that does not happen again all will be good. 

We have bunnies in our yard all the time! Most of the time the chickens just ignore them but other times they'll chase them off. Like one time, a bunny was eating an apple that fallen from our tree and the chicken ran it off so THEY could eat the apple (and forget the other 20 apples scattered about, they wanted THAT one!)! LOL We also have squirrels that run across the chain,link fence in our yard to sneak apples right off the tree! The chickens watch the squirrels but thankfully don't announce them!

Coloradogal, the chicks are adorable! I really hope I can hatch some eggs some day....

 

[pichuris]

Chickie fever ... feeling fever coming

 

[Pozees]

Same thread I got the idea from. I never used acv in my buckets all I did was include 50/50 of hen scratch and layer then added water enough for it to mix easily and little more due to the feed expanding. It sat for 24 hours and was bubbling and smelled fermented/sour. I use 4 collanders but will be moving to a bucket with holes drilled in the bottom.
Basically Add your feed of choice then water enough for the feed to get wet then enough water to cover the feed. Mix a few times a day so it gets air. The natural components of the air ferment the feed. It will be bubbly almost appears to be boiling. Be sure to use plastic or glass since using metal can cause corrosion and possible metal poisoning from what Ive read. And yes plastic can leech as well.
Some will use the non pasterized acv with mother to get the fermenting started right away but is not necessary. Some say stay away from putting calcium supplement in the fermenting feed some put oyster shell and others put the ground up egg shells.
I think thats really it in a nutshell but please correct me if I am wrong or left something out.
By the way as of 2pm right before I left for work I already had 15 eggs. That is a record breaker for me. And they didnt eat as much today as yesterday. I am as well on the fence about the "quality" of their poo. Today I noticed quite a few runners but everyone is eatting and no one looked sad or depressed.

Nice summary! So one thing I was wondering was whether it smells strong and whether the smell will permeate the house? The only other thing was can I cover it with cheesecloth or something if I want to try in the barn for now - in winter no way I could do this in the barn, it isn't heated or insulated and isn't completely enclosed, so would have to do in the utility room, thus the question about the smell.

I just read an Ussery article about mixing poultry feed at home, which kind of piqued my interest. I don't think it would save money but would give more control over ingredients. Food for thought.

 

[Pozees]

Here is a photo of our EEs. I walked into the hen house and there they were, all lined up ready for a photo shoot!

I love the variety!

 

[ONSTAD1]

just wondering.... who lives in Ward? Airola? others?

mo

 

[Mtn Margie]

My mail gets routed through there, but we live up above "Jimtown". We are supposed to get our first freeze Wed. night. Oct. and no snow yet. Interesting.....

 

[maggiemo]

Coloradogal, you have marans? I am gagging for marnas and olive eggers. I just moved into a house where I can have chickens. I don't have the ability right now to have chicks but will soon.
Can I contact you?
Thanks. Oh, my name is mo too. So we have two Colorado 'mo's'