FERMENTED FEEDS...anyone using them?

[lazy gardener]

You can see a pic of it in my interview:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/byc-member-interview-lazy-gardener.1013154/

It's the last pic.

Re: the smell of ammonia: after one of my recent episodes of pulling poison ivy, I was washing up with ammonia. I was pouring full strength onto a wet wash cloth and decided to wipe my face with it, just in case any oils had sprayed onto my face. Stupid, What was I thinking? what a stupid way to die! move. Note to self... never get full strength ammonia on your face. But... when all was done and said, I only had a single tiny little spot on one wrist where some oil must have gotten between my glove and my shirt sleeve. My Poison Ivy salve took care of it. Without that salve, I'd still be dealing with the rash 6 weeks later!

 

[ChickenNewB17]

Feeder for fermented feed? I'm looking for ideas on how to serve the fermented feed. Up until now, mine were small enough to just eat our of an old cake pan, but now I need something bigger as I've added six new girls to my flock. I'd love to see pics of what y'all are using.

 

[blackdog043]

This is what I use for my FF. I just put a few big spoon fulls in each side. I wanted something that I could hang on my coop wall and could easily remove it, to clean and refill. I added the key hole slots, to make it easy to do. I got it at tractor supply.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...l-feeder-2x175-qt-capacity-black?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Leahs Mom]

Wooden window box from Menards.
2 pyrex pans set inside.

PROS:
Deep enough they don't dump it out all over.
Glass so it isn't corroded by the acid feed and no plastic chemicals or metal leaching into feed.
Easy to remove the pans to wash.
High enough that they don't scratch litter into it.
Narrow enough that the adults don't stand in it and scratch.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've been using a pie plate for six chickens. They don't all eat at the same time so no issues.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Well, there is NO doubt that FF is what kept my quarantine chick alive for 16 days! The chick did have Marek's according to my own personal diagnosis. Which it seemed to have overcome with the exception of the paralyzed legs. Which I decided was not quality living and so dispatched Tuesday night.

Without FF and the moisture inside, the chick would have been dead within days as it wasn't drinking any water at all.

Losing a chick stinks, but I cannot deny the benefit of FF!!

 

[igorsMistress]

@Leahs Mom love that idea!

 

[lazy gardener]

Feeder for fermented feed? I'm looking for ideas on how to serve the fermented feed. Up until now, mine were small enough to just eat our of an old cake pan, but now I need something bigger as I've added six new girls to my flock. I'd love to see pics of what y'all are using.

I have a bachelor pen with 12 boys waiting for freezer camp. They get their FF in a super large dog bowl. The main flock now consists of 38 birds. They have 2 gutter feeders, and a dog bowl. I also sometimes use a plastic chip and dip bowl It consists of a dip bowl area in the middle, surrounded by a moat for the chips. It resembles a sombrero that has had the top punched in. That works very well for FF. Based on weather, and free range time, I sometimes toss some FF onto the grass, they do a good job cleaning it up.

The gutter feeders are super easy to make: I used chop saw to trim 2 x 4 to match the angles at the ends of the gutter. used aluminum siding screws with the rubber gaskets to attach the gutter to the 2 x 4 end caps. Put a couple of 2 x 4 feet on the bottom to keep it stable, and attached a dowel across the top, raised up about 4" from the top of the gutter edges, (mounted so it would spin) to keep the birds from standing in the gutters. Note to self. When cutting gutter with power saws, reverse the saw blade, or the gutter will shatter.

 

[FlyWheel]

You're talking to the geek who used to come home from school and read the encyclopedias for entertainment!!!! Way back in the ancient days, some time after the invention of electricity, but way before computers became household tools. When record player needles got stuck, when one dialed a number... during the time of party lines!!!

Well, now I know. Thanks. That makes one...

I'm not about to admit I know what a party line is .

I remember when my parents got their first private line. It was nice being able to pick up the phone without having to worry if there was someone else on the line.

BTW @LazyGardener: They make poison ivy soap, just so you know.

 

[lazy gardener]

Well, now I know. Thanks. That makes one...

I remember when my parents got their first private line. It was nice being able to pick up the phone without having to worry if there was someone else on the line.

BTW @LazyGardener: They make poison ivy soap, just so you know.

Yeah, I've seen stuff in the stores. But, you're also talking to the original tight wad. Hubby says I pinch my pennies till they bleed. I won't buy such a product to have it sit on a shelf... nor will I wish I had it when I DO need it. Instead, I'll reach for the ammonia or bleach bottle, and strip the oils out of my skin along with any possible urushiol in the process, and be good to go. I've heard that Fels Naptha is also great for poison ivy. I have lots of that on hand.