Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[ChickChickChicky]

You've got the internal parasites, like Ascaris which is estimated to infect a quarter of all humans. It's the most common Helminthic infection. Then there are pinworms, the most common parasitic worm in the United States. As many as 50% of preschool children may have pinworms. Hookworms, tapeworms, lymphatic filariasis are also fairly common in humans. Dracunculiasis only affects about 16,000 each year but since it's the most horrifying parasitic worm I can think of, it gets a mention.

An ESTIMATE of 50% of PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (the highest percentage quoted) is a far cry from EVERYONE. The estimate of 25% of all humans infected with Ascaris is a figure I'm sure applies to the worldwide population, not to the American population. "Fairly common" is vague enough to be meaningless.

I do not want to turn this into a p*ssing contest, argument, or anything else. I only ask that each of us use common sense and a little research before we quote various things as gospel. I'm ending my part in this portion of the thread because I don't want to offend anyone. Let's just agree to disagree, shall we?

 

[TamTurkey]

Umm Eww..note to self don't eat while surfing backyardchickens.com . I wish I could get a tape worn then I could eat more. Lol. I don't know about every living thing having worms but if any animal is eating a lot and not satisfying its appetite then normally the culprit is a worn of some sort stealing the nutrients. I have always just broad spectrum wormed my animals to make sure if there was ever a question in my mind rather than paying a vet. It won't harm them if they dont have them. Good luck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Umm Eww..note to self don't eat while surfing backyardchickens.com . I wish I could get a tape worn then I could eat more. Lol. I don't know about every living thing having worms but if any animal is eating a lot and not satisfying its appetite then normally the culprit is a worn of some sort stealing the nutrients. I have always just broad spectrum wormed my animals to make sure if there was ever a question in my mind rather than paying a vet. It won't harm them if they dont have them. Good luck.

 

[Mumsy]

I raise chickens for one reason and one reason only. I want meat and eggs from birds that are not indiscriminately given antibiotics, poisonous wormers, GMO frankenfood, and birds bred and raised to be packed in stacked batteries to lay eggs and die within two years. If I wanted to eat that kind of meat and those kinds of eggs I would buy store bought.

This thread was started to help people to learn a more natural way of feeding. Period. There are plenty of threads for the folk that want to do it differently. Just take a look at the "Help! Emergency!" threads. You won't find me there.

Peace.

 

[TamTurkey]

Mumsy. My apologies. I was under the idea that this was back yard chickens not completely natural chicken. Fermenting feed is a healthy way and I applaud anyone who isn't stuffing antibiotics and steroids, etc into their animals. Although most of us want to put healthy food on our plates. I don't know many who want to lose their animals to something as easily fixed as worms. And you surely don't want to put a worm ridden bird on their plates! I know there are more natural ways like burning the hwll out of their insides to make them have turbo poop with cayanne and running the risk of the worms living and other animals consuming them. It's good to be natural but not at the price of the animals health as well as your own. Prevent as much as you can naturally but when you do find an illness it should be treated in a scientifically proven manner. If you are letting animals die of simple things then its no better than the commercial productions letting smaller ones die because they haven't grown at the right rate. Healthy birds are better than natural birds if you are put in a situation to choose. Peace.

 

[WRVgirl]

So...My FF is giving my birds runny poops. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong again

Also, I can't get my baby chicks to touch the stuff....they're just running around in it and covering it in bedding.

Ugh.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So...My FF is giving my birds runny poops. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong again

Also, I can't get my baby chicks to touch the stuff....they're just running around in it and covering it in bedding.

Ugh.

How long have you birds been eating the ff, reason i am asking is someone else had this problem and it was said it can take a little time for their digestive tracts to acclimate to the ff.about the chicks I can't say there since I haven't had any chicks yet to try it on. but aoxa has chicks that started on the ff right off maybe PM her and see if she can give you some tips.

 

[armorfirelady]

So...My FF is giving my birds runny poops. Is this normal? Or am I doing something wrong again


Also, I can't get my baby chicks to touch the stuff....they're just running around in it and covering it in bedding.

Ugh.

If you have just recently started then yes. When I started FF they had loose stools for a week or 2 before it firmed up.
As for the chicks I have heard others just leave it until they eat it.

 

[WRVgirl]

It's been a while [I want to say a month, but it may be a little less than that.]

I'm hoping they get regulated soon. They're all gross and have dirty butt right now. lol

As for the chicks, I'm just going to keep clearing the the bedding off the top and hopefully they figure it out.

 

[Mumsy]

Mumsy. My apologies. I was under the idea that this was back yard chickens not completely natural chicken. Fermenting feed is a healthy way and I applaud anyone who isn't stuffing antibiotics and steroids, etc into their animals. Although most of us want to put healthy food on our plates. I don't know many who want to lose their animals to something as easily fixed as worms. And you surely don't want to put a worm ridden bird on their plates! I know there are more natural ways like burning the hwll out of their insides to make them have turbo poop with cayanne and running the risk of the worms living and other animals consuming them. It's good to be natural but not at the price of the animals health as well as your own. Prevent as much as you can naturally but when you do find an illness it should be treated in a scientifically proven manner. If you are letting animals die of simple things then its no better than the commercial productions letting smaller ones die because they haven't grown at the right rate. Healthy birds are better than natural birds if you are put in a situation to choose. Peace.

No apology necessary TamTurkey. BYC has a whole lot of threads by whole lots of different kinds of chicken and poultry owners and owner wannabes.. I don't frequent 99.9% of the threads because of various difference's in beliefs and methods. I personally have made the decision many decades ago to stop using poison to treat my livestock. For anything. I do not believe a healthy bird at any cost is a better bird. I choose to put that bird out of my flock and continue my natural methods with those that thrive under it and breed from those birds. I understand there are many people that choose differently. I understand for instance many people raise chickens as pets and they will do what ever they can to keep that pet alive or comfortable. I am not one of those people. I won't let birds under my care suffer. But...I keep chickens for food. Food for my husband and me to live healthier lives.
This is a drawing showing what I keep in my barn emergency cabinet.



If the items on the first shelve don't work, I use the item on the second shelf. Not pictured on the shelf is my FF, Free range, and wood ash for lice and mites. All things necessary for my healthy flock. I do not wish to come across as a snarky or opinionated individual but for over fifty years I have had to fight the feed stores and big chicken industry to do it natural. I will no longer sit by quietly. That's why I spoke up. I do wish to keep the peace and do not wish to be seen as testy. Just doing what Grannies often do. Speaking up and loudly.