Dixie Chicks

[hennible]

There are so many things you can raise on waste to feed chickens!! Very cool NAF.

 

[Amberjem]

@NotAFarm and
@perchie.girl you two have such descriptive and informative ways of sharing information I really admire that...not that everyone else doesnt as well Just the way they do it.. @vehve does as well but usually a it different when we are conversing as aposed to some of the things he has written

 

[BriardChickens]

In my set up, I have no smell and the worms can't seem to climb up the smooth plastic bin!. The only time I touch the worms is when I take some for the chickens or if one is still working it's way over a dried piece of veggie.

 

[BriardChickens]

There are so many things you can raise on waste to feed chickens!! Very cool NAF.

What else could one raise as simple as mealworms on scraps? Do tell?

 

[NotAFarm]

Now the sprouting....
I currently have barley and BOSS sprouting. The barley is "Whole Barley Animal Feed-Organic" from Azure Standard. The BOSS is Royal Wing Whole Black Oil Sunflower Seed that I purchased at Tractor Supply. Both were started Wednesday. The barley soaks 5 or 6 hours and then the BOSS soaks overnight. I fed half of the barley to chickens this morning and will feed the other half tomorrow. I'll feed the BOSS tomorrow and Tuesday. I use the shoe box size plastic containers with lots of holes drilled around the bottom for drainage and air flow.
Barley showing the sprouts of green:


Barley bottom side showing roots:


BOSS top of container. You can see some brownish color, that is pieces or debris that will not sprout and will add to the chance of mold if not properly rinsed each day and fed promptly. I buy BOSS sold for wild bird feeders so it has some "junk" in it. I try to remove as much as I easily can but find it isn't worth my time to get it "spotless" . The chickens just eat around what they don't want.


Bottom of the container showing holes and roots:

 

[hennible]

What else could one raise as simple as mealworms on scraps? Do tell?

Black soldier fly larva, worms and I think crickets... As far as I know all of them can be raised indoors with zero smell if you designed the habitat properly... I'll post some pics and a link in a bit

 

[BriardChickens]

Black soldier fly larva, worms and I think crickets... As far as I know all of them can be raised indoors with zero smell if you designed the habitat properly... I'll post some pics and a link in a bit

We had crickets at the pet store, kept them on rabbit food. Especially the bigger adults stank after a few days. Easy to catch and clean.

I've seen he soldier fly larva thread.. what is it? Excuse the non knowledge.. so new at this!

 

[hennible]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/936287/how-to-use-the-whole-animal-waste-not-want-not/60
Okay, in here from the page this links to and on for a bunch of pages we talk about mealworms, crickets, black soldier fly and earthworms ( well actually not technically earthworms, composting worms like red wigglers and tiger worms I think) and there's lots of handy links to other websites about keeping bugs... Snails you can raise snails too!

 

[NotAFarm]

I almost have the exact same set up, except I only have 1 large container for the "mealies". The flock goes crazy when they do get some! Still in the mealworm farm expansions phase here .. Hubby just rolls his eyes...

I am not sure why

It's in their DNA

In my set up, I have no smell and the worms can't seem to climb up the smooth plastic bin!. The only time I touch the worms is when I take some for the chickens or if one is still working it's way over a dried piece of veggie.

Yep, no smell and they can't escape. Easy peasy! I use a long handled plastic spoon from the ice cream place (think peanut buster parfait type spoon). I never touch them.

I try to make sure I always have them when I have a momma with chicks. I swear the hens have a special call for the worms.....the whole flock will arrive at the broody coop when I bring them over and the hen gives that call....it's like they know they are getting something extra special and will pace around the broody coop trying to find a way in!

When I do feed them to the flock in general, I try to make sure everyone is there and make a long line of them so everyone can get a couple before they are gobbled up.

 

[perchie.girl]

I almost have the exact same set up, except I only have 1 large container for the "mealies". The flock goes crazy when they do get some! Still in the mealworm farm expansions phase here .. Hubby just rolls his eyes...

I am not sure why

Wait till you discover growing cockroaches..... OMG....

deb