Fermented bedding for brooders

[yakitori]

whew, done with the indoor birds, they’re moving outdoors today!

I never thought I’d say bedding smells good, lol. Not the food kind of good, just slightly piney, slightly earthy.

I would do it again and recommend to others as well

It’s all in the composter now!

I may have another clutch coming, and unless my momma hen become broody gain in yhe next 3 weeks, they will be pure brooder babies. I’ll try the same method when that happens and see how well it works with chicks without a momma hen.

 

[Chicalina]

I don't know how you contained it because my hens always scratch it several feet away, often sending chicks flying with it!

 

[yakitori]

I don't know how you contained it because my hens always scratch it several feet away, often sending chicks flying with it!

Oh it didn’t I survived thanks to my trusty broom, dust pan and tile floors! but honestly it wasn’t too bad and took 30 seconds, haha.

 

[Chicalina]

I can't be doing with indoor chicks anymore. That's why I use broodies. Why was yours inside when you had a broody, out of interest?

 

[yakitori]

I can't be doing with indoor chicks anymore. That's why I use broodies. Why was yours inside when you had a broody, out of interest?

I guess I could have moved her out to the coop a lot earlier... but she had just learned to roost herself a few days before going broody. She's not that young, she just didn't know she could fly because her old brood-mate was a somewhat sickly frizzle, lol. I used to carry them to the coop every night. It didn't help that they both had epic crests and beards. They were also terrified of the big girls, and I don't blame them, one of the girls is MEAN and will first pull out feathers and then finish off with a flogging. After the frizzle died, I started to train my satin to use her wings. It took quite a bit of effort, eventually she did it, and I was ecstatic when she roosted herself the first time ...then she went broody a few days after.

Anyway, having been a princess and carried her whole life, I worried for her broody health and had her sit indoors. Took her out twice a day to eat etc....
when the chicks hatched I figured I'd just keep them inside at night until they were more mobile since the cage was already there and it'll be easier for me to keep an eye on them, especially the runt who didn't end up making it.

So tldr, she's a princess chicken who just found her wings and when she went broody I was afraid she would just starve to death if left to her own devices.

Here's her hatching thread and chick thread

 

[Chicalina]

what a lovely story!

I let a pullet hatch eggs this year. Big mistake. She is lowest in status in the flock, couldn't defend her babies and mostly weaned them at only 4 weeks old. Luckily they were raised in the flock from a week old and learned quickly to beware the older hens (yes I've got a mean one too, and another broody protecting her chicks), to run away from danger and to forage by themselves. So I think they are growing up quite hardy and self sufficient despite their lack of top notch mothering.

 

[yakitori]

Fermented bedding take 2!

Well guess what? I’m brooding again

This specific bedding was prepared a week ago in order to bring my 7 week old bantams inside for a few visiting kids to play with. The banties spent two nights in it before the current brood inherited it.

My current brood is just 2 bantam chicks. We’re on day 3 so far... let’s see how long this bedding will last

 

[TinyFeetFarm]

18 day (?) update.
Checked the bedding yesterday, and it seems to have mostly dried out. Decomposition is definitely going on - when I dig the bedding up, I can see a layer of white bokashi mold (beneficial, non harmful fermentation mold). Apparently this is an indication that everything is breaking down as it should.

Chicks are hyperactive, happy and healthy

I'd be interested to know more about this. How long did it stay operational? Did you do it again this year? Update, please!

 

[yakitori]

I'd be interested to know more about this. How long did it stay operational? Did you do it again this year? Update, please!

hi! im still using this method. I generally toss it out at the end of each brood, adding more shavings as the chicks grow. sometimes for my quails, that’s about 6 full weeks indoors.