Fermented Feeding options for less mess?

[ChickNanny13]

Total agreement with all that say "dry up" the feed, it does make a big difference. I only use crumbles, have used pellets and finally got my technique down. Basically it's the ratio 1:1 and depends on the weather too; warmer weather needing a tad bit more (sprinkle) water while cooler weather less.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Honestly it is such a relief to read this because I have not (yet) had behavior/pecking order drama in my flock and I have lately been concerned about her "bald spot" wondering if the other girls are picking on her, or she has some sort of irritation/mites/other that needs to be addressed, or is starting a molt... and I will keep an eye on other options, but it's just since we switched food and she had quite a beard before, so I really hope it's simple as this food mess in this case.

Only thing was some did stay ugly until they molted in new feathers.

 

[lazy gardener]

I find that my bearded gals sometimes receive excessive grooming assistance from smooth faced gals. This whether they have FF on their beards or not. I can just hear them chatting, "Hey, chubby cheeks, you have something stuck to your face right there. Um... let me help you with that. Oh... sorry... it was just a feather... Hmmm... Tasty, let me even up the other side!" It's just the beards that receive this extra attention. Birds do notice when someone looks different than they do.

 

[PirateGirl]

I find that my bearded gals sometimes receive excessive grooming assistance from smooth faced gals. This whether they have FF on their beards or not. I can just hear them chatting, "Hey, chubby cheeks, you have something stuck to your face right there. Um... let me help you with that. Oh... sorry... it was just a feather... Hmmm... Tasty, let me even up the other side!" It's just the beards that receive this extra attention. Birds do notice when someone looks different than they do.

I have heard this about polish as well. I only have one with a beard and she is low in the pecking order so I can see this happening, not mean exactly...

 

[lazy gardener]

Exactly. I don't put this kind of behavior into the same category with general feather picking which occurs with birds who don't have the extra fluff thing going on around face and top of head.

 

[Sara Ranch]

None of my birds have picked feathers clean off with the assisted grooming of fermented feed. They do assist though....