FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[Beekissed]

They are really pretty. So they can also be pure white? I have steered away from white chickens because of my hawk problem here, thinking they would be too easily seen from above.

No, the pure white birds you see are my Plymouth White Rocks. White chickens do not attract hawks..truly. That's just a myth. I've had the majority of white birds in each flock I've had in the last 38 yrs and not a one lost to a hawk....and I have just as many or more hawks at my place as everyone else. Feel free to have all white birds if you want...hawks don't need the color white to see a chicken as their eyesight is so very superior to ours, they can see all our chickens equally well. They tend to pick off loners and unwary birds and that is not specific to color.

 

[myfivehens]

THis may have already been discussed but I don't have time right now to read through all the previous comments...where do you keep your fermented feed? Kitchen, garage, etc? I've been keeping mine in the kitchen but it's getting a little messy so I was thinking about moving it to the garage but I'm wondering if that would be too hot or if there would be pests problems then. Thanks!

 

[Beekissed]

THis may have already been discussed but I don't have time right now to read through all the previous comments...where do you keep your fermented feed? Kitchen, garage, etc? I've been keeping mine in the kitchen but it's getting a little messy so I was thinking about moving it to the garage but I'm wondering if that would be too hot or if there would be pests problems then. Thanks!

I keep mine either in the coop or outside the coop for warm months and on a plastic bag and rug in my bedroom for winter months(it's the coolest room but still warm enough for perfect fermentation action).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How many birds for 5 gallon a day?

It varies week to week, but about 60 in 8+ flocks. Right now there are 2 groups of chicks; two weeks and eight weeks, 2 groups about 18 weeks and 4 breeding flocks.
At any time there will be from 40 to 100.
ETA
Right now I have 2 broody hens in broody apartments sitting on about 18 eggs between them. 10 in the incubator and more going in this week.

Your mileage may vary. Different results for different people. ...

Not all birds were created equal.
Surprisingly, a bantam sebright won't eat as much as a LF Java.

Yes, those were Delawares, from a heritage breeding lines. I still have two of them and one is currently one of my broodies. Here's a few pics of them as adults:

Beautiful birds.

No, the pure white birds you see are my Plymouth White Rocks. White chickens do not attract hawks..truly. That's just a myth. I've had the majority of white birds in each flock I've had in the last 38 yrs and not a one lost to a hawk....and I have just as many or more hawks at my place as everyone else. Feel free to have all white birds if you want...hawks don't need the color white to see a chicken as their eyesight is so very superior to ours, they can see all our chickens equally well. They tend to pick off loners and unwary birds and that is not specific to color.

So true. The hawks can spot a mouse in tall grass from high in the air, they can easily find any chicken.

THis may have already been discussed but I don't have time right now to read through all the previous comments...where do you keep your fermented feed? Kitchen, garage, etc? I've been keeping mine in the kitchen but it's getting a little messy so I was thinking about moving it to the garage but I'm wondering if that would be too hot or if there would be pests problems then. Thanks!

Wherever you have room out of the hot sun or freezing temps. In the winter, mine was on the slightly heated back porch. (only use about 3 buckets in winter because of feeding more dry) Right now, the buckets are lined along the garage in the shade.

 

[Bethel3330]

I started my first batch yesterday. Wow, I didn't know how much it would expand!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

THis may have already been discussed but I don't have time right now to read through all the previous comments...where do you keep your fermented feed? Kitchen, garage, etc? I've been keeping mine in the kitchen but it's getting a little messy so I was thinking about moving it to the garage but I'm wondering if that would be too hot or if there would be pests problems then. Thanks!

I keep mine in the kitchen. I have a whole FF assembly line in there. The warmer temps help with the fermentation. It doesn't smell bad to us ... guests say they can't smell it. I can smell it when I'm stirring it. It smells sour ... but not bad.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I keep mine in the kitchen. I have a whole FF assembly line in there. The warmer temps help with the fermentation. It doesn't smell bad to us ... guests say they can't smell it. I can smell it when I'm stirring it. It smells sour ... but not bad.

I think it smells good but the wife just wouldn't put up with it in the kitchen - not because of smell but because of it taking up space. She wasn't fond of it being on the back porch when it seemed like it stayed around zero for months.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I think it smells good but the wife just wouldn't put up with it in the kitchen - not because of smell but because of it taking up space. She wasn't fond of it being on the back porch when it seemed like it stayed around zero for months.

Maybe if she had a bigger kitchen?

Our kitchen is enormous, so I'm happy to have something useful going on in part of it. The FF Station, the Egg Washing Station, and the Coffee Station are the three "hot zones" of our kitchen. I feed way more chickens out of my kitchen than humans. I should probably work on that. I did steal some of the chicken feed yesterday for our lunch. I scrambled a bunch of eggs to mix into the FF for the chicks ... and then I stirred a big container of yogurt into the eggs because I was being slow about eating the yogurt and know the birds like it ... and then I thought the mixture looked and smelled great, so I served some of it on sourdough toast for lunch. Gust got some, too.

I think I need to adjust my priorities a smidge.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, you're right. There's no modifying it. It's a 110 yr. old, long, tall, skinny, brick house. Thick walls that can't be moved or opened up. So a lot of things have to be moved outdoors or to the cellar.

ETA
Bigger kitchen, it wouldn't matter. None of my hobby stuff in her part of the house.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Yeah, you're right. There's no modifying it. It's a 110 yr. old, long, tall, skinny, brick house. Thick walls that can't be moved or opened up. So a lot of things have to be moved outdoors or to the cellar.

ETA
Bigger kitchen, it wouldn't matter. None of my hobby stuff in her part of the house.

Unless of course you're messy and inconsiderate and would take a mile if she gave you an inch. And then ...