Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

I mix the alfalfa pellets in with my fermented feed. It works really well and the pellets break down really fine so it makes the feed look green. The birds don't seem to care what color the feed is. They just care how fast I can get it into the feeders for them. I also soak it overnite for my horses, it gets really warm by the time I feed it to them. The horses and birds are really appreciative of that warmth with the cold we have had off and on.

I bet they do like that warm feed. Do you know what percent of your feed you feed as alfalfa?

 

[Triple Willow]

I only use live traps, b/c I feed them suckers to my chickens, free protein!

I thought about that.

 

[IAFarmGirl]

I bet they do like that warm feed. Do you know what percent of your feed you feed as alfalfa?

Probably around 2 or 3%. I don't weigh it when I mix so it does vary some. I use Flock Raiser, scratch, cracked corn, and the alfalfa pellets so it's running between 18 & 20% protein. Most of the farmers around here are using non-GMO corn because it's cheaper all the way around so at least I don't have to worry about that. Mostly the higher % protein is for the turkeys. Then I give free choice oyster shell & grit. I had my first turkey egg last nite! I had noticed that the turkey hens were hitting the oyster shell pretty hard so I figured I should be seeing some eggs from them soon.

 

[Triple Willow]

Probably around 2 or 3%. I don't weigh it when I mix so it does vary some. I use Flock Raiser, scratch, cracked corn, and the alfalfa pellets so it's running between 18 & 20% protein. Most of the farmers around here are using non-GMO corn because it's cheaper all the way around so at least I don't have to worry about that. Mostly the higher % protein is for the turkeys. Then I give free choice oyster shell & grit. I had my first turkey egg last nite! I had noticed that the turkey hens were hitting the oyster shell pretty hard so I figured I should be seeing some eggs from them soon.

That's great. That first egg is like you layed it yourself! lol I've never had turkeys. I remember my grandparents having some.

...so far I'm mixing layer, steam rolled oats, cracked corn and flax.

 

[Beekissed]

Good morning, my FF friends!

If you live in the NE right now you are no doubt getting snow, snow and more snow. Hope everyone is keeping safe and warm, keeping their FF and water thawed and accessible and no one is falling on the ground....ahem..coughTWcough....not mentioning any names or anything but try to stay upright out there folks!

Going into the polar vortex again this week so some might see more frost bitten combs....someone on another thread was suggesting comb caps made from baby socks but I can't imagine any self respecting rooster not clawing that off in about two seconds, but if you have a particularly docile roo that wouldn't, it might be handy in a pinch.

 

[armorfirelady]

Polar vortex is here as well. And of course the snow never left have hen with a bloody comb but I left it be since the blood froze almost instantly not he comb. I believe one of the older girls put her in her place when they were enjoying some scratch I threw out. Stella believes she needs to be first to eat lol

 

[Beekissed]

I had to do some training on that very thing this morning. I have a couple of Delawares that have become food aggressive after a change in the flock matrix and the loss of available forage. One even pecked me yesterday! Today I had to train on that and it took all of two seconds to have her and the rest of the hens standing back respectfully as I filled the feed trough. I don't allow any bird to show excess aggression, particularly at the feeder as this keeps some lesser birds from getting enough food. The usual peck here and there I don't mind but grabbing, holding on to the back of the head or comb and chasing them repeatedly is a big NO here.

I'm the only old hen allowed to do all that.....

 

[Lacy Blues]

Kassaundra, are you planning to breed that columbian patterned hen on the right with a naked neck? As I was looking at these pictures, I could just imagine her with a naked neck and full beard!

She would be SOooo cute!

I wonder if pellets would work better than the cubes... I wonder if just wetting them would be best. Ohhh experiments experiments (sigh). lol

You can just wet the pellets but they need to be used very quickly, like within 12-18 hours. I used to use them and they would get this super mildew smell to them if not used right away. My birds did not like them at all. I would mix them (all broken down) into their food and somehow, the birds manage to leave only the alfalfa in their feed pans! So, I quit and started using alfalfa cubes instead. I chip them into very thin layers and then soak in hot water for 20 minutes to a couple hours, depending on how long til feed time, and the girls all clean them up lickety split!

He looks good but I can see where he may lose those points or the skin on them. Let's hope it's just the outside layer of skin. One good thing about it if he does...he won't get frost bit points again. Maybe another massage on that comb with the CO....we are getting some major cold temps again starting tonight and the rest of the week. Brrrrrr! He'll need all the protection he can get if those same places get frosted again.

Hu? My birds have. Points that were lost last winter got more frost bite this winter. I've never had one lose just the skin so I don't know.

You wont want my cats either-- they dont touch a mouse or chick in the house.

We have been catching 1 mouse a day in the house. I am ready for d-con-- unless some one has a better idea. THe catch and rellease is not working!

I like fermenting the cubes this summer-- even the horses loved it!!

Still looking for pellets . . .

I can balance for rations too--- and protein is about enough. When I spoke to mill owner he said they don't balance for the vit and min any more, just add a premix and done.

I am trying to put together a large live catch mouse trap. I want to catch as many as possible overnight and then in the morning, dunk the whole thing in a bucket of water til they're all drowned. Then I'll lay them out on a baking sheet and freeze them. Then I'll take my cleaver and chop the little boogers into smaller chunks and mix them into my evening feed. They really need to start earning their keep. I would do all of that so that each bird was sure to get some.

Going into the polar vortex again this week so some might see more frost bitten combs....someone on another thread was suggesting comb caps made from baby socks but I can't imagine any self respecting rooster not clawing that off in about two seconds, but if you have a particularly docile roo that wouldn't, it might be handy in a pinch.

I tried making a comb cap last year. I got some felt and some wax paper. I put wax paper between two layers of felt and traced the shape of my rooster's comb. Then I cut out and sewed together each side, attached tie down straps and put it on him. While I was holding him, he kept it on without any problem. Once I released him into his pen however, even though I had waited until dark, he scratched and clawed at that thing til he got it off. Took about two seconds!

I had to do some training on that very thing this morning. I have a couple of Delawares that have become food aggressive after a change in the flock matrix and the loss of available forage. One even pecked me yesterday! Today I had to train on that and it took all of two seconds to have her and the rest of the hens standing back respectfully as I filled the feed trough. I don't allow any bird to show excess aggression, particularly at the feeder as this keeps some lesser birds from getting enough food. The usual peck here and there I don't mind but grabbing, holding on to the back of the head or comb and chasing them repeatedly is a big NO here.

I'm the only old hen allowed to do all that.....

Bee, how do you do this? I read your description before but don't know how to get the attention of the one being overly aggressive like you described. I don't have many that do this but there's one or two that make me really mad sometimes!

 

[Beekissed]

Quote Lacy Blue:
Well..if the points fall off, they can no longer become frost bit as they no longer exist. It's called self-dubbing and it works the same as if you had dubbed them as a prevention for frost bite. The remaining comb has no more extremities to lose circulation to...usually they frost down to the point where the body cannot provide good circulation in colder weather. The point below that gets enough circulation in cold weather to remain healthy tissue.
Quote:
When I bend over to pour FF into my trough, the food aggressive hens will dart forward and even place their heads right into the bucket as I'm trying to pour..at which time I grab their heads, give a little shake until they are squawking and trying to get away and then I give them a little flip to the side. Just the same thing they do to another hen trying to get to the feeder. It's a language they understand.

Then I stand over the feeder and note anyone climbing into the feeder or trying to run anyone else away from the feeder and just poke them in the side or on top of the back sharply until they get off the feeder and act like they have manners. When everyone is eating side by side and calmly, without pushing or pecking aggressively, then I step back and leave them be.

This only has to be done every once in awhile when a flock member forgets the pecking order...top hen is ME, then comes the rooster, then the rest of them. Sometimes I'll stand over the feeder, pecking them away lightly if they try to approach(tap with the edge of the fingers on the side or back), until they are all standing back politely and waiting, then I let them come in more calmly and in an orderly fashion. These things only happen once or twice a year, usually after a disturbance in the flock matrix/pecking order when birds have been culled, new pullets come into lay and start feeling like big girls. Sooner or later someone needs a lesson on who really rules the roost and I'm not passive about that...it creates a very calm, quiet flock that never has pecking, fighting, injury issues like so many I've read about on these forums.

Just like dogs and children...they seem more secure when someone gives them boundaries and limitations and is consistent on those.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Well..if the points fall off, they can no longer become frost bit as they no longer exist. It's called self-dubbing and it works the same as if you had dubbed them as a prevention for frost bite. The remaining comb has no more extremities to lose circulation to...usually they frost down to the point where the body cannot provide good circulation in colder weather. The point below that gets enough circulation in cold weather to remain healthy tissue.

Yeah, this is what I thought originally and didn't want to state the obvious as I didn't want you to think I was being snotty, particularly because WBF (?) was mentioning just the skin on Rodney's points.

When I bend over to pour FF into my trough, the food aggressive hens will dart forward and even place their heads right into the bucket as I'm trying to pour..at which time I grab their heads, give a little shake until they are squawking and trying to get away and then I give them a little flip to the side. Just the same thing they do to another hen trying to get to the feeder. It's a language they understand.

Then I stand over the feeder and note anyone climbing into the feeder or trying to run anyone else away from the feeder and just poke them in the side or on top of the back sharply until they get off the feeder and act like they have manners. When everyone is eating side by side and calmly, without pushing or pecking aggressively, then I step back and leave them be.

This only has to be done every once in awhile when a flock member forgets the pecking order...top hen is ME, then comes the rooster, then the rest of them. Sometimes I'll stand over the feeder, pecking them away lightly if they try to approach(tap with the edge of the fingers on the side or back), until they are all standing back politely and waiting, then I let them come in more calmly and in an orderly fashion. These things only happen once or twice a year, usually after a disturbance in the flock matrix/pecking order when birds have been culled, new pullets come into lay and start feeling like big girls. Sooner or later someone needs a lesson on who really rules the roost and I'm not passive about that...it creates a very calm, quiet flock that never has pecking, fighting, injury issues like so many I've read about on these forums.

Just like dogs and children...they seem more secure when someone gives them boundaries and limitations and is consistent on those.

My one pen that has the problem on occasion... about half the birds will hide in the coop while I'm out putting food in their dish. Usually, I spoon mine out because it's not real deep and the feed is fairly thick. If I was to pour it, I think it would all come out in one big clump. I could probably use the spoon to poke them with if need be. There's occasionally one hen that will get up on the feed dish and I'll poke her in the side or abdomen til she gets off. I can't tell which hen is being overly aggressive as they all look so much alike and it doesn't happen every day, just once in a while and then after I've stepped out of their pen.