Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RoseMarie1]

I need some advice from all you experienced fermenters. I love reading this thread for the wealth of information (Beekissed, I want to be like you when I grow up!) I made the switch to FF about 6 weeks ago and the colors that are coming out in my BCM roo are AMAZING! I will try to get pics within a few days.

Right now, I would like to pick your brains. I belong to a produce co-op that happens to share space with a central food pantry. I usually take home several boxes of free past prime produce whenever I go. The best goes to the chickens, then to the worms, and anything left after that goes into the compost pile. They are quite happy to have me remove as much of the old stuff as I can.

Well, today's load was

. I filled the back end of my pick-up (luckily it is a short bed). Apparently, there was some kind of a banquet and the leftover food was donated to the pantry and they didn't have any takers. I came home with probably 100-150 lb. of veggies, some already prepared, but many still raw. There was a mix of carrots, squash, broccoli, onions, and peppers, lightly spiced. There is a 5 lb. bag of shredded red cabbage, several trays of sliced eggplant, several boxes of leaf lettuce, three large boxes of tomatoes on the vine, about 10 pounds of spinach salad with mandarin oranges and cranberries, and the list goes on....

Anyway, most of this is going to end up in the compost pile because I don't have time to deal with it until tomorrow afternoon. Most of it is sitting beside my driveway for the night and I hope we don't have too many critters find it before I can take care of it. I need some advice on perhaps fermenting a windfall like this so next time I can make the best use of this.

I did take the bag of red cabbage into the house. I am planning to add some whole grains, some feed, a half gallon of raw milk that is starting to turn, and some kefir and some alfalfa. I'll let it set overnight and feed it to the chickens tomorrow. What do you all think about that plan?

I have an extra 5-gallon bucket. Do you think I could fill it with some of the other veggies, add some ACV and water to cover and let that sit for a couple of days until I can feed out to the birds a little at a time. Should I take the onions out? I have about 100 chickens, but even they can't make too much of a dent in what I brought home before it starts to mold.

I don't have a lot of room in the freezer, but I may freeze a few bags of the veggies. Since they are already cooked al dente, I don't have to blanch them or anything.

Any other ideas?

WOW good job on all of that. Pity you don't have a neighbor with chickens you could share some with to so it doesn't go to waste, what you're not going to be able to tend to.

I haven't ever fermented anything but the packaged foods for my chickens but maybe Bee or someone can help you here.

 

[RoseMarie1]

I love Australorps! I have 3 of the black beauties! My dh named one Stretch because she is so tall. She lays eggs that are larger than a jumbo size. They are double-yolked. I would love to get my hands on some more!

Lisa

WOW

I sure hope some of mine give me double yokers! I have 7 of them.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Mine is a Black Australorp too. She has been playing this broody thing off and on for close to a month but now she has got serious about it. I have made her get off the nest several times. She is right at 27 weeks old. I really like Black Australorp layers!

someone said to put them in a wire bottom cage so air can get all around her with no food for 3-4 days but make sure she has water to stop the broody. I worry about not feeding one for that long though.

Then said if she is still broody you have to put her back in there for a few more days and try it again. ??? I have no clue if it works since mines not laying yet.

 

[Triple Willow]

I love Australorps!  I have 3 of the black beauties!  My dh named one Stretch because she is so tall.  She lays eggs that are larger than a jumbo size.  They are double-yolked.  I would love to get my hands on some more!

Lisa

One of my girls was laying big double yolkers but they have stopped coming now so I think it is the girl that is broody that lays them. So far mine are all laying large eggs, hope they get bigger.
Here's a pic from a few weeks ago. lol

 

[Triple Willow]

Okay, thank you. Black Australorps will definitely be on my order list for next year.

You won't regret it!

 

[Triple Willow]

I have discovered a great many things this time with chickens. Many things that I would do differently. I wish I had known about FF from the beginning with my laying flock. I just don't have the space to that many types of feed. I am fermenting their scratch grains and they love them. Once my batch of CX are done maybe I will use the troughs to feed FF to the layers. I also wish I had bought more fencing for the run. Perhaps during the winter Santa will bring me some electric moveable poultry fencing. But I find some relaxation in raising poultry. I enjoy the challenges and the rewards. And there is always something to learn. I thank all of you for you knowledge, insights, and opinions. It is a great experience to share here.

I agree! I also still have a lot to do. I've still got to get the main coop and run built before winter. I jumped in before I was prepared. lol What mine are in now works real well but I want them in something better before cold rainy weather. I hope Santa drops me off some of that fencing too!

 

[Demosthine]

someone said to put them in a wire bottom cage so air can get all around her with no food for 3-4 days but make sure she has water to stop the broody. I worry about not feeding one for that long though.

Then said if she is still broody you have to put her back in there for a few more days and try it again. ??? I have no clue if it works since mines not laying yet.

I would never leave them in a cage without food for more than a day, and that would only be on their way to Camp Freezer for the night immediately preceding deployment. Remember, they barely leave the nesting box to eat as it is, so you are further depriving an already malnourished hen if you didn't take immediate action on day one of her broodiness. Otherwise, I would consider it animal cruelty and that's coming from someone who is willing to kill and eat almost any creature that God has gracefully provided. The only PETA club I'm apart of...

​

Having broken a hen twice using the cage method, I can say for sure that restricting access to food is completely unnecessary. We put her in a dog kennel that was placed atop another dog kennel, and provided no bedding at all. Due to the summer heat, we kept a box fan blowing up at an angle from the bottom at all times and kept her in the shade the entire time. She had constant access to food and water, as she had already been sitting in the nest for a week prior to breaking her using this method. It only took three or four days for her to break, anyway.

The key to this is apparently keeping her vent cool. If you have a particularly special fuzzy butt, I would recommend shaving or trimming the excess to remove any insulation. That should give better results. Others have simulated cooler temperatures by placing them in a more enclosed kennel with large frozen water bottles and such to keep the temperature lower.

 

[DaveMorey]

I agree! I also still have a lot to do. I've still got to get the main coop and run built before winter. I jumped in before I was prepared. lol What mine are in now works real well but I want them in something better before cold rainy weather. I hope Santa drops me off some of that fencing too!

My next task isnto ask the adjoining landowner if I can run fence on an unused portion of his property. It was originally cleared but now is somewhat overgrown. I think my birds would love it. He is a farmer so I don't think I will get any resistance there. Next year I will make some frames to grow greens under so the birds can get greenery besides when I mow the lawn.

 

[hogster160]

Okay, thank you. Black Australorps will definitely be on my order list for next year.

I think you will be very happy with the BA's. I am really enjoying mine. Such personalities they have.

I have discovered a great many things this time with chickens. Many things that I would do differently. I wish I had known about FF from the beginning with my laying flock. I just don't have the space to that many types of feed. I am fermenting their scratch grains and they love them. Once my batch of CX are done maybe I will use the troughs to feed FF to the layers. I also wish I had bought more fencing for the run. Perhaps during the winter Santa will bring me some electric moveable poultry fencing. But I find some relaxation in raising poultry. I enjoy the challenges and the rewards. And there is always something to learn. I thank all of you for you knowledge, insights, and opinions. It is a great experience to share here.

One thing at a time lol. As long as you are starting to do those things now I think you are good. I am doing ff for my layers and turkeys in one bucket, and for my meaties and new chicks non medicated chick starter in another bucket. I have 3 buckets going at a time. 2 for the big girls and 1 for the chicks. My feed in stored inside the original bags inside a metal trash can with lid, all in the garage. I use 3 5 gallon frosting buckets. It really takes up a little amount of space.

I suppose if you ask Santa nicely, you will get your electric fence, always worth asking!

I do believe my blood pressure has fallen into safer ranges since I have gotten chickens. Such joy, no way high blood pressure could stay high for long.

WOW

I sure hope some of mine give me double yokers! I have 7 of them.

Mine are crazy lol. I have a swing in the side yard that we sit on. We always have at least one come to us to jump up on our lap for us to pet, then the other 3 bomb us from behind and jump up on the back of the swing. Once there, they proceed to get comfy on our shoulders, peck an ear. And just talk and tell us about their day. The have some strong opinions on the turkeys, we hear lots of stuff they do day in and day out. We have gotten several double yolkers from them. They still lay closer to a large egg than and extra large, but they are only 8 months so still kind of new to laying.

Deb

 

[DaveMorey]

I would never leave them in a cage without food for more than a day, and that would only be on their way to Camp Freezer for the night immediately preceding deployment. Remember, they barely leave the nesting box to eat as it is, so you are further depriving an already malnourished hen if you didn't take immediate action on day one of her broodiness. Otherwise, I would consider it animal cruelty and that's coming from someone who is willing to kill and eat almost any creature that God has gracefully provided. The only PETA club I'm apart of...

​

Having broken a hen twice using the cage method, I can say for sure that restricting access to food is completely unnecessary. We put her in a dog kennel that was placed atop another dog kennel, and provided no bedding at all. Due to the summer heat, we kept a box fan blowing up at an angle from the bottom at all times and kept her in the shade the entire time. She had constant access to food and water, as she had already been sitting in the nest for a week prior to breaking her using this method. It only took three or four days for her to break, anyway. The key to this is apparently keeping her vent cool. If you have a particularly special fuzzy butt, I would recommend shaving or trimming the excess to remove any insulation. That should give better results. Others have simulated cooler temperatures by placing them in a more enclosed kennel with large frozen water bottles and such to keep the temperature lower.

I used ice cubes in the nest box after I took the eggs out. It took two days to stop the broodiness. But then again my birds are not supposed to be inclined toward broodiness anyway.