Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[MargaretYakoda]

Update on my FF experimental setup.
I have sometimes left the lid ajar, and sometimes snapped it shut. So far, so good. No big explosions. (I know, I know... no fun here!

)
The temps here have been getting down to the mid-forties overnight, and up to maybe 55 during the day. The feed in the picnic cooler is fermenting along just fine. Bubbles are on the surface of the water in the morning even though temps are nothing near the range of an indoor set-up.

Right now I'm just fermenting organic layer pellets.

 

[Beekissed]

Good! I'm glad no fireworks ensued and I'll be interested to see how the cooler works this winter as temps get colder. Could be viable solution to those who do not have electric to the coops but would still like to keep the FF there. Please keep us posted!

 

[Triple Willow]

That's a pretty bird!  I wouldn't mind having a few buckeyes in my flock just to see how they perform...I love their coloring! 

We couldn't live without our wood heat here..it's all the heating source we use.  There is nothing like wood heat...forced air heat is so inadequate after you've had a wood stove.  When we visit other people in the winter months we sit around and freeze in their homes, then thank God when we get back to our little cabin in the woods with the warm fire. 

I just saw Jake barking up at one of the trees in the yard and looked out to see my chickens all gathered in duck and freeze mode but not hawk mode....I knew what was happening.  We've got a deer bone yard out here in the yard so it's drawing in buzzards.  I went out and there sat a cheeky buggar in the tree and he just wasn't going to fly off.  I clapped my hands and he finally left...Jake HATES a buzzard.   

The only birds picking carcasses around here are the chickens..and they do an excellent job.  You'd think they were professionals! 

I really do like the Buckeyes. They are pretty and so sweet. That roo's feathers always look wet and even oily they shine so much. The roosters don't even fight, just quiet. I have two Buckeye roos and I believe it is the one in the picture that pesters me to death. Every time I go to feed he is dancing around in front of me like a little kid. lol The pullets are really sweet too and the quietest in the pen. I'm hoping that they will lay good. The Buckeyes started out slower than the Delawares but the Buckeye roos have caught up I believe. I need to weigh them. I'm hoping to do some BuckeyeXDelawares for meat. I wish they would be really mean so I wouldn't hate killing them. lol I may sell the pullets as layers and keep the roos for the freezer. I'm hoping the Buckeye roos can get along with my Australorp roo.

We've got a new hawk that's moved in since the other one got hit by a car a few months ago. Dang it! You're right, they are some pretty birds. I got a good look at the one that was hit by the car when I moved it off the road. Reminded me of a Barred Rock! lol

 

[Beekissed]

That's the hardest part for me when killing roosters...all those beautiful feathers going to waste! Some roosters are just too beautiful for words.

 

[Triple Willow]

That's the hardest part for me when killing roosters...all those beautiful feathers going to waste!  Some roosters are just too beautiful for words. 

They really are and I love the traits of a good roo. They are like the man you've always wanted, except for the thing with all the other hens of course! hahaha

 

[RoseMarie1]

The Treatment involves getting your core body temps up for a short while in order to simulate an increase in temperature, which increases white blood cell to the source of infection/inflammation~or so the premise states~and can shorten the life of your cold/URI. Simply put, it's an old timers solution to not having antibiotics or having a viral infection that doesn't respond to such. I've tried it several times when I had the first makings of a cold and it has worked each time to curtail it...if done properly. Most folks don't follow all the steps and then say it doesn't work..my son, for one. He never does it right and so it doesn't work for him, but others who have tried it report favorable results.

Here's the routine. At the first sign of a cold..sore throat, sniffles, cough, etc...and that goes for the symptoms you are currently dealing with as well...fix yourself some hot boullion or hot tea. Run a hot bath...as hot as you can possibly stand it and still sit down in it. Drink the hot drink while you are soaking in the hot bath. This is not a bath for washing, so don't wet the head. When it's as hot as you can stand it, both inside and out, get out and dry off briskly. Slather Vick's to the chest and the soles of your feet. Yes, the soles of your feet. Put on warm socks, and a sweat suit if you have one...whatever extra warm clothes you have, put it on. Go straight to bed and cover up with the warmest blankets you possess. I usually take some cold tablets in this process so that I can sleep through the next part because it's very hard for me to sleep when I'm hot. Stay bundled like that for as long as you can stand it..the hotter the better.

The next day, drink 3 glasses of OJ...you can space that throughout the day. That day you will feel about 50% better than you did the day before..at least, that's been my experience. The day after that, you'll feel about 75% better...drink the OJ that day too. On the third day, you should be feeling almost 100% better than you were...keep drinking the OJ.

I've had this work time and again and it's not all hocus pocus...simulating a fever does much what a fever does for you, it merely activates your natural immune response. The OJ helps with that as well and I've found it works better than taking Vit. C caps...makes your skin lovely as well. The Vicks? The menthol works in some way, not sure what...but when I put it on my feet, I can taste it in my mouth, so there's a systemic effect going on there whatever it is.

Can't hurt to try it and see if it helps even a little bit. It's kept me from experiencing a cold for many years now, so I'm a believer.


Yep..that's cold packing and the meat produces its own stock. We've been canning deer since I was a little girl...tons of it. That's the meat I was raised on and it's still pretty much the only red meat we eat as we don't buy store bought meats.

Thank you Bee. Sure wish I'd had this when all this mess started and I might could have avoid going to the Dr.
I cut and pasted it so I can have it on hand. I have heard about putting the vicks on ya feet before.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Good! I'm glad no fireworks ensued and I'll be interested to see how the cooler works this winter as temps get colder. Could be viable solution to those who do not have electric to the coops but would still like to keep the FF there. Please keep us posted!

yep interesting! Was telling a friend of mine an idea I had to keep mine warm for the winter and he reminded me of his freezer panels he had given us. Don't know HOW I'd fit those in my utility room though. I've got to go take a look at them to see what I can come up with for them though. he said these would insulate it to keep it from freezing but mines on the inside of the house right now.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Dogs are the best deterrents toward other dog types. YEs, fox are fast. Lightening fast. Dh chased one, yelling like a madman, as it ran for dear life. It climbed over the mesh fencing for a fast excape.

In general, animals go for the easiest prey. A dog doesn't make it easy.

We have lots of hawks, espcially late summer early fall when the adults abandon the young to fend for themselves. THey are noobies at hunting and usually come look at our chickens. I know a good number will not survive the winter, but I am not willing to give them MY chickens.

Years ago DH worked on the eagle project, and he was paid minimum wage to collect the dead chickens from the local commercial chicken farms. THe goal was to provide winter food to the birds at the winter rookeries so they had plenty of food and ate clean food that was not contaminated by DDT. ( The eagles are fish hawks and depend on the fish in the rivers for winter food). IT was a 5 years study. I went with him one day-- gag those carcasses are a gross green, and stink. But the beauty of 30 + birds sitting in the trees was remarkable. A high number of juveniles that were still in gray plummage, Those in the regal white were astonishing. THe grad student made a pencil/ink drawing and had a number of them printed up as a limited edition. I'm not sure which one I liked better the bald eagle, or the loon.

 

[Arielle]

Rose, hope you recover quickly. Yes, fever is the body's method to kill these germs. CHicken soup also has healing powers-- it has been proven in the last few years.

Eggs- was some asking bout how to boil and peel-- I resisted the peel under running cold water but it us my best method. Hate wasting all that water so I lower the volume to what works. ALso OLD eggs that have started to dry out a bit are better than fresh.

Canning deer-- I wish I had a deer to can. Wonder if it is worth going to the weigh station and giving out my phone number . . . . . Still need a better knife. I have tried acouple slot style sharpeners but they don't make them like they used to!!! EVen the blades-- bought one from Walmart, and the first day I snapped the blade. SHeesh.

TW-- where did you get your buckeyes????

 

[Triple Willow]

@Arielle.. Got them from Meyers.

I got some Delawares, White Leghorns, Anconas and Dominiques from there too. I really like the Delawares and Leghorns as well as the Buckeyes. Anconas and Doms are still debatable.