Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[armorfirelady]

Quote: I to want to try and find a way to collect the water that runs off the hoop coop. Its tricky with the shape. Though if I build and put my planter boxes on one side that will collect the water. My coop was also in a low spot so I moved it back to higher ground and currently am digging a drainage trench & putting a french well in with the help of a friend. All the sod I dug up is being tossed where I want the coop to go back to & I have bricks I am going to put under the frame to help prevent the wood from rotting. With all the sod we dug up its easily a foot higher than it was originally.

 

[AlmaB]

My chickens and ducks don't seem to like the fermented feed! What am I doing wrong? I ferment their "scratch and peck " all organic feed.

 

[Beekissed]

My chickens and ducks don't seem to like the fermented feed! What am I doing wrong? I ferment their "scratch and peck " all organic feed.

Are you presenting any other kind of feed as an alternative feed? If so, remove it. Then give them time...if they get hungry enough, they'll eat the socks right off yer feet!

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

I start mine out on laying feed at about 2 wks, so I'm not one to ask about switching feeds.  I've never really subscribed to the whole "calcium is bad for young growing birds"...and have the healthy flocks to prove it. 

Thanks for the info !! I could likely switch them at anytime then

 

[mlowen]

My chickens and ducks don't seem to like the fermented feed! What am I doing wrong? I ferment their "scratch and peck " all organic feed.

My pullets were not big fans for the first two weeks. I just left it in the trough a couple of days, dumped it out and added more. This week, they are all over it. Seriously...how do chickens lick a plate? I also have dry pellets in a hanging feeder and they eat that, too. They just seem to be switching preference from the dry to the fermented, now.

 

[Mon27]

Maybe it would help to start them out on just a little bit everyday that has been soaked for a few hours but hasnt actually fermented yet. It may help them transition to the texture and concept before texture and taste. I have just given it to babes that I started on FF so they love it like crazy. Maybe it would also help if you sprinkled something they really loved on top?

 

[Mon27]

Thanks, Bee ! I'll continue feeding them the grower for the next month or so then switch them around laying time to a layer feed. Is it best to switch them to the layer feed just before they are supposed to start laying or should it be switched when they start laying ?

I switched my girls at 12 weeks as that is when they went into the big girl pen. There was really no way to feed them separately anymore. They have done just fine.

 

[Demosthine]

I to want to try and find a way to collect the water that runs off the hoop coop. Its tricky with the shape. Though if I build and put my planter boxes on one side that will collect the water. My coop was also in a low spot so I moved it back to higher ground and currently am digging a drainage trench & putting a french well in with the help of a friend. All the sod I dug up is being tossed where I want the coop to go back to & I have bricks I am going to put under the frame to help prevent the wood from rotting. With all the sod we dug up its easily a foot higher than it was originally.

I'm on my phone, so it's harder to look back at your posts. Did you have the blue tarp over your hoop coop? If so, you could use regular rain gutters and just ensure the tarp lays on top of the gutter enough to drain in to it. At the end of the gutter, use a bulkhead fitting to drain the water in to a barrel. As opposed to a barrel, you could drain it in to a 4" PVC pipe that runs the length of the coop, on each side. Install standard poultry nipples or cups to that pipe. An 8’ section will hold about 21 quarts of water, or 5.22 gallons.

 

[Chickengirl1304]

I've been finding one drawback with the FF, with my ameraucanas. The wet feed gets on their beards, and they end up looking kinda raggedy. It could just be their age; about 7 weeks now. 

Haha I agree with my EEs this happens too and it's funny one fell in the ff tub the other day! Eeww

 

[AletaG]

Anyone think of some off-label uses for their scoby? Some one was using LAB (I figure filtered scoby probably similar) to spray on mildewing plants in the garden... I'm going to try that... Also, what about a 'living' foot bath, vs. using Chlorheximine or bleach water on your 'chicken shoes' for quarantined birds, or any other more natural choices?