Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Thank you again Bee. Got another question for you. Going to start them on the layer feed and will probably go get it tomorrow. http://www.waremilling.net/POULTRY_FEED_s/53.htm This is the brand I am using because I do not like Purina brand. I noticed all they have in the layer is pellets and the crumbles so I will just get the crumbles. It's 16% protein so is that enough protein? I guess I will just ferment this and not add anything to it or do you have some suggestions? Would probably be easier just to do the crumbles and let that be it huh?

16% is what I use as well. It's enough for layers. The pellets and crumbles are all the same except the shape, so no worries.

 

[RoseMarie1]

16% is what I use as well. It's enough for layers. The pellets and crumbles are all the same except the shape, so no worries.

Alrighty then! Good cuz I have 2 bags of crumbles and 1 bag scratch I just bought just in case. I still have some of my starter left that I needed some scratch for and I knew they'd eat the rest. In fact I was out of the scratch and only had just a little in the ff this morning and they all but turned their noses up to it since it didn't have much scratch in it. lol they did eat it but not like they had been doing. spoiled chickens.

ALSO been meaning to ask you another question, not that I haven't asked enough.

Would it be ok to put some sweet PDZ in my sand in the roosting area before I do the DLM? Haven't gotten started on it yet and I have the PDZ because I'd bought it for the poop board and hubby threw my receipt away. It's the granular and they said they could even eat the stuff for grit so it must be ok. Was wondering because I wouldn't want it to kill my bugs in the DLM when I get that going in there. Right now the ammonia smell is pretty strong in the sand, standing you can't smell it much but when you get closer to it, it's strong. So I thought this might help with that until I can get started on the DLM.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/405427/drying-agents-in-coop-a-comparison

I see on that link it DOES have DE in it though. So maybe they will take it back without a receipt. ????

 

[Lacy Blues]

DE will only dry the manure as it is remarkably absorbent.

 

[Beekissed]

Alrighty then! Good cuz I have 2 bags of crumbles and 1 bag scratch I just bought just in case. I still have some of my starter left that I needed some scratch for and I knew they'd eat the rest. In fact I was out of the scratch and only had just a little in the ff this morning and they all but turned their noses up to it since it didn't have much scratch in it. lol they did eat it but not like they had been doing. spoiled chickens.

ALSO been meaning to ask you another question, not that I haven't asked enough.

Would it be ok to put some sweet PDZ in my sand in the roosting area before I do the DLM? Haven't gotten started on it yet and I have the PDZ because I'd bought it for the poop board and hubby threw my receipt away. It's the granular and they said they could even eat the stuff for grit so it must be ok. Was wondering because I wouldn't want it to kill my bugs in the DLM when I get that going in there. Right now the ammonia smell is pretty strong in the sand, standing you can't smell it much but when you get closer to it, it's strong. So I thought this might help with that until I can get started on the DLM.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/405427/drying-agents-in-coop-a-comparison

I see on that link it DOES have DE in it though. So maybe they will take it back without a receipt. ????

I'd just open up more ventilation at the floor level and start the DL. I wouldn't place any PDZ or DE or any other acronyms in it just yet.

If you are having to add agents to dry out the litter, either more litter needs added or more ventilation,either one. Since you are going to start your litter and it's the sand that's the problem, just add your litter and let it take care of that excess ammonia and moisture...but it really does sound like you need more ventilation at the floor level. That's an easy fix if you have a sawsall or jig saw.

 

[RoseMarie1]

I'd just open up more ventilation at the floor level and start the DL. I wouldn't place any PDZ or DE or any other acronyms in it just yet.

If you are having to add agents to dry out the litter, either more litter needs added or more ventilation,either one. Since you are going to start your litter and it's the sand that's the problem, just add your litter and let it take care of that excess ammonia and moisture...but it really does sound like you need more ventilation at the floor level. That's an easy fix if you have a sawsall or jig saw.

LOL love your acronyms comment. lol I wet it yesterday and they were in there sitting all in it awhile ago when I went out to take their jug of ice to put in their water. I have metal flashing up around the side of it on one side and then it has tin on 2 sides. Hmmmm that metal flashing is sandwiched in there. We put up poultry wire several years ago and I added some more over it before I got these chicks because that wire was so old. THEN we found out the poultry wire wasn't preditor secure so we put up welded wire over that. The flashing is on the first layer. lol I guess I could drill large holes in the flashing? I did it to keep out snakes or that was my thinking anyway, one did find its way in but I think it came in from the back side of the pen which wasn't covered in the flashing.
That's what I thought on the PDZ when I saw it had the DE in it. Sure wish I could take that back as well but BEFORE I knew better I had used that twice but it should be gone by now since that was when I first started with the chicks. I hope so anyway! Have wet it twice already.


the metal flashing is just at the bottom about 1 1/2 foot up not all the way up. I also put it to keep baby ducks inside the pen because they fit through the holes in the poultry cloth but I don't have ducks anymore.

I NEED to get some pix of my chicken pen and put it on my profile.

 

[armorfirelady]

You could by ridge vents for the sides. Just cut the hole big enough to fit the ventilation holes on the vent. I have a hoop coop and wanted more ventilation at the bottom. I learned from bee more is better.
(Coop pic under my name if you need a visual) I even put roof vents on it. Stays cooler in the summer and I have no fear of fist bite come winter.

 

[Beekissed]

Wow! You did it! Good build! How do you like it? Nice to have a coop you can walk into, isn't it?

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks. Took me a few months but I love it!! So much more room ESP once winter comes. But I tweaked it a little to make sure it has more ventilation. Might even add a couple more side vents for winter. Going to put shaving bales on the prevailing wind sides (they already wrapped in plastic but will put in another couple bags so they don't get ripped up) so I will lose that ventilation. And it moves pretty easily with 3 or 4 people. Other than having to move it because it wouldn't dry out because it was in a low spot its worked wonderfully. I'm working on solving the drainage problem because I want the coop back in that spot. It gives them access to the yard for summer and garden for winter.
So much room in there, I now have 8 hens and could easily fit more but I am limited by the town. There def shouldn't be as many problems come winter if they stay in this year during storms. Tho I hope the big girls show the tots its ok being out in the snow. Best part is I picked a lot of stuff up from big trash days in the town, had on hand or from my own roof. The old doll house coop is now a storage area .

 

[TexasLisa]

You could by ridge vents for the sides. Just cut the hole big enough to fit the ventilation holes on the vent. I have a hoop coop and wanted more ventilation at the bottom. I learned from bee more is better.
(Coop pic under my name if you need a visual) I even put roof vents on it. Stays cooler in the summer and I have no fear of fist bite come winter.

I just looked at your coop! WOW!!! I really liked that and it is neat to think you did it all by yourself. I think I need to look at my coop again.

Lisa

 

[armorfirelady]

Thanks, I had some help because I wouldn't of been able to frame out door myself or attach the base 2x4s alone. But other than a couple things the rest was solo