Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[aoxa]

Yep. And then all the water mixed in with the feed instead of draining and became soup. 

Take a picture.. Can't really picture it.. Is the water raising to the top?

:/ If it was really soupy, I'd be inclined to add a bit more grain. What is the ratio between the food and water?

 

[delisha]

Not noticing any change in poop yet. Actually noticed a few with runny poop.

Does FF help with the smell of broody poop?

Huge difference in broody duck poop..its worse!!! if that is possible.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Huge difference in broody duck poop..its worse!!! if that is possible.

Oh jeez. I got pooped on 3 times when my duck was broody and it smelled like black death. How could anything make that worse?

 

[delisha]

Quote: I don't know, but it is. When the hens get off the nest to eat and poop, I can smell it from the yard. Its so bad. I can tell from the smell they are off the nest. I run like mad to get the pile and take it out of the barn before the ole man smells it. He would flip if his precious duck barn smelled. He was upset because I left dishes in the sink before I left to go do chores outside. He did not think it was funny when I told him I could have sworn he said he would finish for me.

 

[chickachee]

I would like to take a bit of time to apologize to Bee here on the forum. Yesterday I reacted too quickly to something Bee said. For those of you that read this thread, you know what took place so I won't go over it again.

Bee is a very kind soul. I know she would never do anything to offend or hurt anyone. I over-reacted plain and simple. I know it was not meant to be personal and I hope she will accept my apology.

I also apologize to those on this thread for my post. Anything personal should never be posted on an open forum. I'm sorry.

I was hoping you'd come back!! Yay!!

 

[chickachee]

A happy group of smooshed faces!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Huge difference in broody duck poop..its worse!!! if that is possible.

I'll second that.

 

[pigeonguy]

But for the good of the flock, culling is imperative and the new generation that is squeamish about killing will never learn to keep healthy flocks if they cannot learn to judiciously kill certain birds. You can only "rehome" so many roosters until the your area is flooded with ads on free roosters. That signifies many people who do not want the full responsibility of keeping animals but do want the dividends that these animals provide. It shows poor stewardship and a childlike viewpoint that often works towards the detriment of their flocks~a have my cake and eat it too mentality. Never good but still very prevalent these days. I'm hoping this thread and the OT thread bring home the fact that, with the pleasure of keeping animals, comes great responsibility and tough decisions that any adult should be able to face up to and perform. If not, care of another creature should not be in their hands.

Wow. That was very hurtful and harsh. I certainly don't consider myself irresponsible. As a matter of fact, I take keeping my animals very seriously. I strive to learn everything I can regarding their care. And I don't believe that being unable to personally kill one of my animals speaks to a lack of responsiblity or maturity. Not everyone has been raised around people schooled in animal husbandry. Killing an animal is just as unnatural to me as not being able to kill one is to you. I spent my entire life in the city. I know nothing about animals or farming of any kind. So I read everything you write. I study and implement everything I reasonably can. And if the day should come when one of my animals should need to be killed...I will pay someone to do it for me. No animal of mine will ever suffer.

I have to tell you Bee that I am really upset. I think you have a lot of nerve saying that people such as myself should not have the care of another creature in their hands. That was really uncalled for and...mean.

Well, you don't have to kick me off. I will not post another word on this thread. But, you can't stop me from reading, because despite being offended, I still need to learn.

galefrances You don't have to be able to kill a chicken or any other animal to Cull it. There are people like me that yes at 2AM in the morning would come do that for you .What you need to do before it is to late. Meaning do it now before you need it done. Find someone that kills chickens for meat and ask them if they would do the same for you. Most people that kill for meat don't have a problem with killing a chicken for any reason. They are going to do it anyway. I think the intention here is that no one wants to see an animal suffer. We do need to take into consideration though that it is ok to give meds and try to save it and yes sometimes even if it looks hopeless. I have seen this work where I have said let me take her out back and the owner has said no try to save it and by golly it worked. Not my way of doing things but if it is yours it is OK. Because its just a chicken and I see people suffer to death a lot happens every day. I just watched it happen to my mom took 4 days and I sat at her side holding her hand the whole time sure we gave her morphine to keep her comfortable but couldn't they just have gave her something to put her to sleep. No because its a human life. If ever I wanted to be merciful it was then. What makes chickens any better than humans.
Some people believe that it is best not to try when it looks hopeless others do. Some people say that if that happened to me I would kill it (lets get it straight that cull and kill are not the same cull =remove from flock kill = dead) and then sometimes when the time comes sentiments kick in and they don't do it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rors-anyone-want-to-follow-their-progress/350

If that would have been anyone else she would have said kill them and start over but it wasn't it was her prize flock and they got screwed over. So I'll give them a second chance. Softy (said with a music tone teasingly) Everyone has a heart somewhere and Bee has shown that over and over again. She's just rough on the outside. Every time something bad actually happens you could count on her to shed a tear on the inside. She really does mean well and has some of the soundest advice on this whole site. The thing is you have to sort out what works for you. You will always have people that have different opinions than you or someone that has what you consider better advice.
Trust me inside that gall is just a big oh sweaty. Sorry Bee it had to come out sooner or later.
PS I have never met Bee but if you go threw and read her post you will see what I am talking about. Read enough and you will think you know her too. The link above proves what I am saying.
PPSS: galefrances please come back and join us. We are a community (if not family) built of all different kinds of people. To keep the community / family going we need you to stay with us.

 

[Beekissed]

You got me! Actually, since I know this flock and know their genetics, I know they weren't naturally sick birds...but I am in the process of doing a slow cull/kill. Already culled the one hen and am looking at another as we speak. So, I am a softy up to a point and then my practical side kicks in and I cannot ignore it's voice...sort of sounds like my mother nagging at me.

If you really want to see my heart break, come spring when I have to cull my old 6 yr old hens to make room for the new ones that Fred is sending me. Any of the oldsters not laying come spring will have to go. It's just nature's law and mine as well. I'll be crying my eyes out then, you just wait.

 

[pigeonguy]

If I had read the thread today instead of posting on what I read last night before going to sleep with the mouse in my hand (somehow that don't sound right) I might not have typed it but kinda glad I did. None the less.
galefrances YAAAAYYYY YOUR BACK.