Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I read somewhere that beekissed is doing a workshop on processing meaties on June 2 , now I can't find where I read that, but since I injured my foot, doesn't look like I can attend anyway..darn. I would guess she is getting ready for all that - plus holiday weekend folks, may have had a BBQ...

Dang, sure wish I lived close to her so I could go!!

 

[kelpieschick]

My guys will be a week old tomorrow and they are growing like weeds!! So far (knock on wood) everyone looks great. Some of them have their little tail feathers in already.. they are so cute! Using the FF and having the backup dry food is working really well for us. That way they are never hungry and I don't have to feel guilty working 10 hour days.

Tonight my FF had a thick skin on it that bubbled and hissed when I stirred it! That was a first. It smelled slightly different from this morning but not bad at all. I added some more ACV just in case when I added the new batch of scratch. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

The only thing that these guys are missing is a mom ha ha. They love to see me when I arrive, some come when they are called already, but I can't stay long enough to really give them what their mom would. I know that the heat lamp gives them warmth but I'm wondering if anyone ever uses anything that goes over top of them (under the lamp maybe?) like a tea cosy or a tent like structure but with exit holes that they can go IN to like they huddle under their moms feathers? I know, I know. It sounds crazy ha ha. But I know that hiding under mom is hardwired into them and it would be nice to meet that need if possible. I was thinking of a low profile silicone tent (fire proof) that could go near the light and that they could duck under when they felt the need to have quiet time.

Just throwing that out there to see if anyone has seen something similar.

 

[griffinkid02]

If I have learned anything about chickens since starting out last summer it is this: If the feed supply thinks someone will buy it. It exists out there somewhere. LoL. I'm sure that you could find some kind of "momma blanket" out there with all kinds of features and specialness to jack the price up. I has only raised one batch so far, so I haven't not worried about using anything like what you're talking about, though, so I can't offer any practical advice.

 

[Zootopia]

I was just wondering that myself. It looks like she hasn't been on for over a week. Hope everything is OK.

On another note. Can the fermentation process be speeded along by adding yeast?

I started adding yeast to mine last week, cause the chicks had started to get ahead of me and it is working fine. I did worry that it would cause it to go bad faster if I didn't use it but that hasn't happened. I have just kept addin to it as I go.

 

[wyoDreamer]

The Brinsea EcoGlow is as close to the "mama replacement snuggly" that I can think of. You don't use a heat lamp with this, the yellow platform gives off heat and the height is adjustable. The chicks can go under the heat and out to roam as they want.

I think I will get one when I buy chicks. They are alot less likely to start a fire than the traditional heat lamps.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

[IMG]http://www.brinsea.com/images/ecoglow with chicks web.jpg[/IMG] The Brinsea EcoGlow is as close to the "mama replacement snuggly" that I can think of. You don't use a heat lamp with this, the yellow platform gives off heat and the height is adjustable. The chicks can go under the heat and out to roam as they want. I think I will get one when I buy chicks. They are alot less likely to start a fire than the traditional heat lamps.

I actually have the 20 and the 50. They did love it but it sure didn't take them long to outgrow it!!

 

[jrsckn]

Alright, I got my meaties yesterday so the experiment begins

. The feed store messed up my order or gave my 5 EE and 5 JG to someone else so I came home with all 25 meaties instead of 15. I separated them into 2 groups; I had 8 getting dry starter and 17 getting ff but most of the chicks wouldn't touch the ff so today I gave in and gave them some dry food too. I figure I will give them a week of both feeds to get them off to a good start and try just ff again.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Alright, I got my meaties yesterday so the experiment begins .  The feed store messed up my order or gave my 5 EE and 5 JG to someone else so I came home with all 25 meaties instead of 15.  I separated them into 2 groups; I had 8 getting dry starter and 17 getting ff but most of the chicks wouldn't touch the ff so today I gave in and gave them some dry food too.  I figure I will give them a week of both feeds to get them off to a good start and try just ff again.

I wouldn't give them anything but the FF. When they get hungry enough they will eat it, guaranteed!!! Mine were a little leery about it right at first too but the next day....it was gone.

That sucks that they gave your birds to someone else!

BTW...good luck and look forward to updates!

 

[jrsckn]

I wouldn't give them anything but the FF. When they get hungry enough they will eat it, guaranteed!!!

Mine were a little leery about it right at first too but the next day....it was gone.
That sucks that they gave your birds to someone else!
BTW...good luck and look forward to updates!

When I saw them fighting over who got to eat the poo this morning, I got weak and gave them the crumbles. I'll try to be stronger and stick with ff

. These are my first day old chicks so I'm just scared and don't want to lose any.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

LOL...they are actually good for 3 days with no food as they are still feeding off of the yolk that they absorbed. Momma hens don't take them to food for a few days, they will be just fine!! I sprinkled the paper with a handful of crumbles just to get them pecking.