Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

@Bee... my chickens are always all over my feet and I can't hardly get the dang feed in the feeders for them BUT they don't want me to touch them with my hands at all. About mid-day today I went to check on them because it's so hot. I had my back to the roost and was bent over a little discussing with them how hot it was and one of them hopped on the roost then walked about halfway up my back and just stood there! I figured it was just to take a dump...? I don't know what they're planning! lol

 

[foreverlearning]

@Bee... my chickens are always all over my feet and I can't hardly get the dang feed in the feeders for them BUT they don't want me to touch them with my hands at all. About mid-day today I went to check on them because it's so hot. I had my back to the roost and was bent over a little discussing with them how hot it was and one of them hopped on the roost then walked about halfway up my back and just stood there! I figured it was just to take a dump...? I don't know what they're planning! lol

Slowly stand up and they will ride on your shoulder while you do chores. I have 2 that do that but if I try to touch them they fly off my shoulder.

 

[Triple Willow]

I watched a documentary a year or so ago.  Some fool down that way went to Russia and caught some of the wild Russian boars and brought them back to America and let the things go!  Of course they've crossed with the native populations and have become huge and extremely aggressive.  One person had one come into his house one night and attack him.  So, yeah, the hunt is on!

Maybe you might consider getting some better locks?  I like the  hook locks that have a spring loaded slider on them that keeps them attached to the eye bolt, no amount of fiddling will get it open.  You have to have two hands that know what they're doing.
I know coons are experts at getting into things but I just can't see one getting past one of these locks.

I have some saboteurs in my coops too!  I almost fell this afternoon when I went in there.  I looked around at those silly birds and they just blinked at me!  booowaaa ha hahah haah !   Little devils!

Don't you wonder what your chickens are talking about sometimes? lol Then sometimes one of them will let out that dinosaur sounding roar! It's almost scary! ...but HOW does anybody know what a dinosaur sounds like? Who told them or who recorded it? Duh! LOL

A guy was telling me about one of those wild pigs being behind his house and TWO coyotes were trying to take it down and couldnt!

 

[Triple Willow]

Slowly stand up and they will ride on your shoulder while you do chores. I have 2 that do that but if I try to touch them they fly off my shoulder.

That was the first time one ever did that. But they do jump up on the riding mower and stand on the steering wheel and stare me in the eye and grumble as if to say, "I KNOW you have feed!" I back away from the beak... back awaaaaay from the beak! lol

If somebody hops on my back again I'll try that.

 

[Beekissed]

@Bee... my chickens are always all over my feet and I can't hardly get the dang feed in the feeders for them BUT they don't want me to touch them with my hands at all. About mid-day today I went to check on them because it's so hot. I had my back to the roost and was bent over a little discussing with them how hot it was and one of them hopped on the roost then walked about halfway up my back and just stood there! I figured it was just to take a dump...? I don't know what they're planning! lol

Just don't let them near your eye balls....that's yer weak spot!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Don't you wonder what your chickens are talking about sometimes? lol Then sometimes one of them will let out that dinosaur sounding roar! It's almost scary! ...but HOW does anybody know what a dinosaur sounds like? Who told them or who recorded it? Duh! LOL

A guy was telling me about one of those wild pigs being behind his house and TWO coyotes were trying to take it down and couldnt!

Anything flying will get that scream out of them. One night a few weeks ago, I was out closing up. I have a light on in my coop and when I finish collecting uneaten food/water and ready to close the door, I'll turn the light off. Anyway, one night they all kept screaming over and over again. WHAT?????!!!!????? I looked around and found the cause... a mayfly! Goofy birds!

 

[DaveMorey]

So today is day one of feeding my 2 week old CX chicks the fermented feed. I am not sure that it has really fermented much yet but it was certainly wet. The chicks were not really thrilled with it at first but seem to be warming up to it quite well. I had some issues with my bucket system and the starter mash plugging up the holes so the liquid wouldn't drain. I am not sure I have it right, but some modifications have made it drain better. I am thinking I might try a pair of stockings to put the feed in so I can just lift the whole thing out and let it hang. Additionally, does anyone ferment their scratch grains? I can only assume that there would be some benefit to this even if it was just the soaking effect to soften the grain.

 

[Triple Willow]

Just don't let them near your eye balls....that's yer weak spot!    

Oh yeah, that's why I "back awaaaaay from the beak" when they perch on my lawn mower stirring wheel and stare me in the eye! I have some trust issues with that! LOL

 

[Triple Willow]

Anything flying will get that scream out of them.  One night a few weeks ago, I was out closing up.  I have a light on in my coop and when I finish collecting uneaten food/water and ready to close the door, I'll turn the light off.  Anyway, one night they all kept screaming over and over again.  WHAT?????!!!!?????   I looked around and found the cause... a mayfly!  Goofy birds!

That's funny! lol This roar that somebody does is like a deep guteral growl. I'm prettty sure it's the rooster but I don't know what he is fussing about. It's funny the different "voices" different breeds have. I've got a few white leghorns and anconas in the younger group and you can always tell them from everybody else. I guess it's their Italian accent. I'm use to mainly my BA's Australian accent. LOL The leghorns and anconas sound like somebody stepped on them. lol

I tell ya what! When I go to feed that younger group I can't hardly walk for them! I have to push them out of the way with my foot! There is this one Buckeye rooster that doesn't like it at all. After a good push he will stand back and look at me like "oh nooo you didn't!" in a valley girl voice. I hope we don't develope problems in our relationship! LOL

 

[Triple Willow]

So today is day one of feeding my 2 week old CX chicks the fermented feed. I am not sure that it has really fermented much yet but it was certainly wet. The chicks were not really thrilled with it at first but seem to be warming up to it quite well. I had some issues with my bucket system and the starter mash plugging up the holes so the liquid wouldn't drain. I am not sure I have it right, but some modifications have made it drain better. I am thinking I might try a pair of stockings to put the feed in so I can just lift the whole thing out and let it hang. Additionally, does anyone ferment their scratch grains? I can only assume that there would be some benefit to this even if it was just the soaking effect to soften the grain.

Hi Dave. I can't help you out with any good suggestions on your bucket system because I just use one bucket. But I do throw some scratch into my mix usually - just because they like it mixed in. This winter I'll add more scratch because the corn is a high energy grain and it will help the birds to keep warm by raising their body temperature. Fermenting scratch softens it a little but it's not in the bucket long enough to soften a whole lot. Personally I wouldn't give young chicks much scratch if any because their digestive system isn't quite ready to digest it. It takes a lot for a young one to grind up that corn. I read about one case where young chicks were eating scratch and several died of an impacted crop. Yep I'm paranoid but I prefer to wait until I know they can digest it. Just makes me rest easier about it. lol Good luck with your birds! Once your feed gets real good and fermented your birds will go crazy for it! (I add some buttermilk to mine to speed it up.) I'm sure somebody will be along before long to talk with you about your bucket system. Keep us informed on how it goes.