Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RoseMarie1]

@RoseMarie... They are also called "osage orange.

WOW that is weird. Never seen those I don't think.

 

[TexasLisa]

I don't know about your chickens, but I just tired persimmons this year for the first time in my life, and you can just send me whatever you don't want. They ROCK!

I LOVE persimmons! On the farm in Indiana we had lots of persimmons. We had to beat the possums to get them. Mom made a wonderful Persimmon pudding.

@RoseMarie... They are also called "osage orange.

Also known as horse apples. I loved the trees. We had at least a dozen in our front yard in Indiana. They grow tall and gnarly--beautiful. My husband called the front yard the 'hard hat' area because these hedge apples can be as big as a softball or bigger. You don't want to get hit with one!! The trees also have big thorns on them. Hurts like the dickens when you step on them. (Which I did often, because I went bare-footed) You should see the wood. Absolutely beautiful. My husband made me a cane from one.

Triple Willow you actually tasted one? I looked online for ways to use them but all I could find was that people would cut them in half and put them in their basements to deter spiders. You can actually buy them on ebay!!! That cracked me up, because every fall I would be outside throwing them into a pile. The squirrels and deer loved them after they became fermented!

Lisa

 

[Triple Willow]

WOW that is weird. Never seen those I don't think. 

They are weird. They are hard and pretty heavy and when you touch them they are really sticky! ...and it does not wash off very well. I read somewhere that the "sap" was used in the past by some to patch boats. They smell a little bit like oranges, that's why they got the name osage orange is guess. Last year I picked up about ...a bunch, two huge garbage bags. The smell in the car about got to me! lol Each of those little bumps leads to a seed. They are really pretty but don't last long enough. Wildlife and livestock love them. "They" use to say that they were poisonous because some animals that ate them would die. WELL that was because they ate one whole and suffocated!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Quote:
Oh man, the hawk that got one of my chickens is still about too. I'm scared to let the ladies out of their safe tree-covered spots-to-hide pen during the day right now. These hawks scare me. Every time they scream every animal in the area falls silent and I'm immediately scanning the trees and sky. Scary birds. Big ones too. I keep having dreams about them showing up in my yard too.

 

[Triple Willow]

Also known as horse apples.  I loved the trees.  We had at least a dozen in our front yard in Indiana.  They grow tall and gnarly--beautiful.  My husband called the front yard the 'hard hat' area because these hedge apples can be as big as a softball or bigger.  You don't want to get hit with one!!  The trees also have big thorns on them.  Hurts like the dickens when you step on them.  (Which I did often, because I went bare-footed)  You should see the wood.  Absolutely beautiful.  My husband made me a cane from one.

Triple Willow you actually tasted one?  I looked online for ways to use them but all I could find was that people would cut them in half and put them in their basements to deter spiders.  You can actually buy them on ebay!!!  That cracked me up, because every fall I would be outside throwing them into a pile.  The squirrels and deer loved them after they became fermented!

Lisa

Yep, also known as horse apples. Yeah those thorns are bad. I'd like to plant a couple in the yard but I'm not so sure I want to do that because of the thorns. I can see flat tires on the lawn mower. LOL I took a couple apart and picked the seeds out of them last year and boy were my hands sticky when I got done! lol yes I did taste one. They're really not bad, kind of sweet, just a little funky. I have read online that some are taking the seads out and toasting them. They say they are really good but that would be A LOT of work just for some seeds! Those seeds are not easy to get out, time consuming. Several people are eating them regularly. They are buying them and keeping them frozen then shaving off about a tablespoon/day and eating it as a treatment for cancer. Whether that is legit or not I don't know but from what I have read people are doing it with amazing results. Who knows? They are even freeze drying it or dehydrating it or something and selling it in capsules. I am a firm believer that God has give us the cure for most diseases right outside in nature free for the taking. We are just so stupid that we try to spray Roundup on most all of it and kill it so we can plant some GMO grain or keep our lawn looking like our living room carpet! lol

Here is a link about those people using it for cancer: http://mullinslogcabin.net/hedgeapples__cancer

 

[Triple Willow]

Oh man, the hawk that got one of my chickens is still about too. I'm scared to let the ladies out of their safe tree-covered spots-to-hide pen during the day right now. These hawks scare me. Every time they scream every animal in the area falls silent and I'm immediately scanning the trees and sky. Scary birds. Big ones too. I keep having dreams about them showing up in my yard too.

ChocolateMouse, check your state laws but I believe you can either scare it off or get a permit and shoot it. I really wouldn't want to shoot one even with a permit but I'd sure let him get a good close up look at some bottle rockets.

 

[Demosthine]

I wouldn't do maggots in that manner either....I heard a well known author(Harvey Ussery(sp?) killed his whole flock by trying to do the whole soldier fly maggot thing..gave them all botulism.

According to Harvey Ussery's website, The Modern Homestead, it was not the black soldier flies that were the problem and he did not lose his entire flock. He was attempting to utilize road kill or decomposing meat to attract regular flies. The warning on his website notes that his first problem arose from using dead chickens that a friend had given him. Their crops were very full, and are likely the cause of the botulism outbreak in that case. They appeared to have sour crop, which was quite likely the cause of their initial demise. The second instance occurred when he used several older groundhog carcasses that he admits probably sat around too long and had already started the problem. Properly done, taking care to ensure unadulterated meat sources are provided, a great many people continue to use this method for extra protein. The botulism problem arises from anaerobic conditions. A properly vented bucket, with properly prepared meat sources should not cause undue illnesses. As with anything of this nature, you have to know what the condition of your feed is before you give it out. Using "road kill," as he mentioned in the article, is never my idea of a good source for anything, including a compost pile.

I would agree with Harvey, however, that Black Soldier Flies would seem to be a much better option. They will completely devour everything you give them in a matter of a day or two with an amazing efficiency. I attempted to get a BSF composter started last fall, but the temperatures weren't warm enough. This summer, I just didn't have enough food waste to start it. My feed went directly to the chickens. Next spring, I plan on getting my neighbors involved, if I can, and maybe a restaurant or two in the area. There is a Chinese restaurant across the street that would probably work.

 

[TexasLisa]

Triple Willow: I have found the best way to get the hedge apple sap off of your hands is to rub your hands in dirt. It worked for me!

Lisa

 

[Beekissed]

According to Harvey Ussery's website, The Modern Homestead, it was not the black soldier flies that were the problem and he did not lose his entire flock. He was attempting to utilize road kill or decomposing meat to attract regular flies. The warning on his website notes that his first problem arose from using dead chickens that a friend had given him. Their crops were very full, and are likely the cause of the botulism outbreak in that case. They appeared to have sour crop, which was quite likely the cause of their initial demise. The second instance occurred when he used several older groundhog carcasses that he admits probably sat around too long and had already started the problem. Properly done, taking care to ensure unadulterated meat sources are provided, a great many people continue to use this method for extra protein. The botulism problem arises from anaerobic conditions. A properly vented bucket, with properly prepared meat sources should not cause undue illnesses. As with anything of this nature, you have to know what the condition of your feed is before you give it out. Using "road kill," as he mentioned in the article, is never my idea of a good source for anything, including a compost pile.

I would agree with Harvey, however, that Black Soldier Flies would seem to be a much better option. They will completely devour everything you give them in a matter of a day or two with an amazing efficiency. I attempted to get a BSF composter started last fall, but the temperatures weren't warm enough. This summer, I just didn't have enough food waste to start it. My feed went directly to the chickens. Next spring, I plan on getting my neighbors involved, if I can, and maybe a restaurant or two in the area. There is a Chinese restaurant across the street that would probably work.

Well, THAT clears up that rumor!

Good to know! How many birds did he actually lose in his experiments with dead things?

 

[Demosthine]

Well, THAT clears up that rumor!

Good to know! How many birds did he actually lose in his experiments with dead things?

He never specified an actual number, but states he lost "several chickens" to limberneck.

It's also important to note than an increasing number of holistic farmers and pasturing their chickens with their other livestock, such as cattle and llamas. There is a noticeable trend of the chickens pecking through the patties to eat the maggots and worms that are in them. It also is more beneficial to the pasture, since the patties are broken up and strewn around, rather than sitting in a clump to dry out and stick around. The most notable advocates for this is Joel Salatin, although several popular farms in Australia are taking up the same idea. The llamas work well for keeping the predators away, too.