Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[bobbieschicks]

Someone on the old fashioned broody hatching thread stated a TSC employee told them "ACV makes it hard (or harder) for the chicks to break out of their shell".

I'm about to start fermenting my layers feed again, but then this came into question. I put AVC with mother in their waterers and I gave the girls FF last summer and fall, my broody hatched her own chicks and I didn't see any difficulties going on. So is there any truth to what they said?

 

[Suzierd]

It doesn't appear to be sore just nasty. Her vent opens and closes rapidly sometimes, it that just wanting to be breed? I'll try the yogurt and I guess it wouldn't hurt to put some Nustock on, it's hard because I don't have anyone to help hold her. She's been like this since I bought her and the gal I got her from said she was the roosters favorite I wonder if that has something to do with it, over breed maybe? Thank for the help.

 

[bobbieschicks]

It doesn't appear to be sore just nasty. Her vent opens and closes rapidly sometimes, it that just wanting to be breed? I'll try the yogurt and I guess it wouldn't hurt to put some Nustock on, it's hard because I don't have anyone to help hold her. She's been like this since I bought her and the gal I got her from said she was the roosters favorite I wonder if that has something to do with it, over breed maybe?  Thank for the help.

Put Nustock on it. If she fights you, get her at bedtime off the roost, put a towel over her head to remove her from he roost and treat her. That's what I did with my Snow White who had dirty butt last year. The Nustock cleared it up.

 

[Suzierd]

Ok just put Nustock on her butt and feet, her nails are very over grown and looking at them I noticed her feet looked scaly so I put Nustock on her feet too. I tried trimming her nails but I can't tell we're the quick is and feel they need a better job then what I'm doing. I don't want to hit the quick. I don't know if its scaly leg mites or she's really a old hen or just shedding. I may take her to he vet and have her looked at. So darn expensive.
I also dug a hole and filled it with wood ash but not interested so far.

 

[Suzierd]

Put Nustock on it. If she fights you, get her at bedtime off the roost, put a towel over her head to remove her from he roost and treat her. That's what I did with my Snow White who had dirty butt last year. The Nustock cleared it up.

How often did you put it on? Thanks

 

[Suzierd]

They won't eat the yogurt, tried the Greek plain before and they wouldn't eat it this time I thought I would try blueberry that has the fruit on the bottom, (Greek) still wont eat it. And Snow the one with the problem is a good eater. Loves her greens and veggies. I guess I have weird chickens.

bobbieschicks my problem hen is named Snow White too. I just call her Snow.

 

[Costa Rica Art]

They won't eat the yogurt, tried the Greek plain before and they wouldn't eat it this time I thought I would try blueberry that has the fruit on the bottom, (Greek) still wont eat it. And Snow the one with the problem is a good eater. Loves her greens and veggies. I guess I have weird chickens.

bobbieschicks my problem hen is named Snow White too. I just call her Snow.

I make raw milk yogurt, the flock goes crazy for it. Any yogurt that is natural is what I think the chickens like best. When I pour some yogurt over their feed and put it down, I get away as they have a pile on to get to it. It is funny to see then with yogurt all over their beaks (they wipe it off on the walkway). After it is gone they settle down to loading up on good ol' FF!

 

[Toast n Jelly]

It doesn't appear to be sore just nasty. Her vent opens and closes rapidly sometimes, it that just wanting to be breed? I'll try the yogurt and I guess it wouldn't hurt to put some Nustock on, it's hard because I don't have anyone to help hold her. She's been like this since I bought her and the gal I got her from said she was the roosters favorite I wonder if that has something to do with it, over breed maybe? Thank for the help.

Wrap her in a towel.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Ok just put Nustock on her butt and feet, her nails are very over grown and looking at them I noticed her feet looked scaly so I put Nustock on her feet too. I tried trimming her nails but I can't tell we're the quick is and feel they need a better job then what I'm doing. I don't want to hit the quick. I don't know if its scaly leg mites or she's really a old hen or just shedding. I may take her to he vet and have her looked at. So darn expensive.
I also dug a hole and filled it with wood ash but not interested so far.

Haven't tried this with chicken nails but all other animals: Use a flashlite under her nails and you should see the quick or just clip the tips off.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I think the average depending on temps is between 2& 5 days. Mostly you can tell from the smell. It should smell like its fermenting. A sweetish sour smell that smells like ferment. Even if you give it to them wet its still good for them to eat. Try putting it front of heat, that will help speed of the fermenting process. Whenever my bucket gets low and I add more food to it to ferment I put it next to the wood stove. After a few hours I give it a stir. It will rise like dough so u need to keep stirring it occasionally. And add water to as the grain will absorb it fast. I like mine a thick consistency that doesn't need draining. But there is always water you can see on the sides after it sits for awhile. Because I leave it thick I only see bubbles when I stir it.

Susie if the FF didn't help with the dirty butt maybe trying some plain yogurt for a few days would help. Something is off with their probiotics in there stomach somewhere. Also trying Nustock around her vent if its red or raw

What I was going to say.

They won't eat the yogurt, tried the Greek plain before and they wouldn't eat it this time I thought I would try blueberry that has the fruit on the bottom, (Greek) still wont eat it. And Snow the one with the problem is a good eater. Loves her greens and veggies. I guess I have weird chickens.

bobbieschicks my problem hen is named Snow White too. I just call her Snow.

Try mixing the yogurt into their dry feed. Well, actually this is the ff thread isn't it! Mix it into their wet feed. They'll get hungry.