Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[AletaG]

So, I'm having trouble with a Chocolate Orp Bantam... She appears healthy in every way except that sometimes she sits down to eat, or just sits randomly... like her legs aren't strong enough to hold her. She won't roost, either, had to clear out a nestbox so she can sleep where it was. Been keeping her away from all roos (thought was she'd been overbred by a LF Orp. ) Gave her some tuna carcass to pick at (she loved it) and plan on making her a yolk omelet today. Poor little mite. I was hoping she'd be a good companion for my half grown Orp bantam sport (black with cream bleeding)... but if she doesn't start acting like a chicken soon... I'll report what the yield is!

I love reading this thread... Wish some people out my way had more sense.

 

[waltandlori]

And yet another vote for not keeping the water over the feed.....


Don't put that box away, Walt...you are doing good up there! I agree! Now beating a full grown bird against a table to stun it is a new one on me and for the life of me, I can't imagine who comes up with these complicated ways for animals to die. Just get it done already and quit obsessing about it, people!

Simple is good...it truly is. For most things in life, simple is just the best way and I just cringe when folks complicate a simple thing when life is complex enough...don't add to it with self-inflicted misery like complicating the beautifully simple things.

Life is good when it's simple!

You have just got to come for a visit...we have the same sense of humor! Yes...I was looking at his little Andy Warhol hair-do just this morning and thinking how soft he would be to sit on my lap and stroke his little peasy ol' head. The ol' Bat heard about the black testicles and said she wouldn't want to eat anything that's insides were already rotten before you even kill it!

Gotta love the Ol' Bat...she lays out that bag of snakes in a straight line every time.


Good luck!!! Good decision and a great start for the chicks...you will not regret this step.

Yes life is good when it's simple, I always try to adhere to the old "KISS" principle lol. BTW this thread has taken on a life of it's own, we tend to stray from the original intent, get up on soapboxes, and even wander back to the original thread occasionally lol. You are not too far from me, Bee just over the hill (or 2 or 3). Next spring or early summer if i'm out for a cruise i'll load up the caruck with the goats n wifey n a bag of bees and drop em off lol...... this is hilarious...
Walt

 

[Beekissed]

Goat meat is good, they say...I could help you butcher then little devils right out and we can have a BBQ! I love threads that meander back and forth..it's like sitting on the front porch talking with a group of folks and when that happens the subject rarely, if ever, stays on topic.

 

[Triple Willow]

Anybody want to give me some pointers on getting my dog not to kill chickens? Mine is half Aussie (8 years old) so chasing is in his breeding. It seems to be going pretty good. I take him in the pen to feed and he acts really well. The problem is more while they are out free ranging. I guess he wants to herd them but it turns into chasing and they end up dead. He can't be trusted for a second if I'm not looking. He is a very smart dog but we can't seem to solve this problem. I don't want to but I think I may have to go with the shock collar.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have a doxy w/ a high prey drive. We put up an extra fence and divided the back yard in 1/2 the way back for the chickens and the immediate back for the dogs. He respects the fence and does not attempt to breach it, and is fine w/ the chickens on thier own side, not trying to chase or harrass, but if they do not respect the fence, it is usually fatal.

 

[Triple Willow]

So, I'm having trouble with a Chocolate Orp Bantam... She appears healthy in every way except that sometimes she sits down to eat, or just sits randomly... like her legs aren't strong enough to hold her. She won't roost, either, had to clear out a nestbox so she can sleep where it was. Been keeping her away from all roos (thought was she'd been overbred by a LF Orp. ) Gave her some tuna carcass to pick at (she loved it) and plan on making her a yolk omelet today.  Poor little mite. I was hoping she'd be a good companion for my half grown Orp bantam sport (black with cream bleeding)... but if she doesn't start acting like a chicken soon... I'll report what the yield is!

I love reading this thread... Wish some people out my way had more sense.

As far as the sitting down to eat, my young Buckeyes do that pretty often. Maybe your hen has just got a sore hip or leg that will heal up soon. Maybe some Vitamin D would be good in case the bones in her legs are weak and if it's nerves maybe some Vitamin B6. I don't know but I hope you don't come reporting her yield to us.

 

[Triple Willow]

I have a doxy w/ a high prey drive.  We put up an extra fence and divided the back yard in 1/2 the way back for the chickens and the immediate back for the dogs.  He respects the fence and does not attempt to breach it, and is fine w/ the chickens on thier own side, not trying to chase or harrass, but if they do not respect the fence, it is usually fatal.

Oh yeah, I have to keep mine separate or like you say, it is fatal (if I'm not supervising). I want him to morph into a mellow old dog that just lays around and ignores the chickens and keeps vermin ran off. Wishful thinking! lol He is really a sweet dog though.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Oh yeah, I have to keep mine separate or like you say, it is fatal (if I'm not supervising). I want him to morph into a mellow old dog that just lays around and ignores the chickens and keeps vermin ran off. Wishful thinking! lol He is really a sweet dog though.

yep I'd just keep him locked up when the chickens are out free ranging because this is IN his blood and don't think it will ever get out because of the breed.

 

[waltandlori]

Wow that took a nasty turn for the freeloaders lol.... My dogs hhmmmm..... the yorkie poo just wants to sniff butt, the shih-tzu well he's giving them a wide berth. Glad I got wimps lol. Some dogs will just chase anything that runs away, had a border collie mix and he and a neighbors yellow lab decided it would be fun to terrorize some sheep, well they ran and the dogs tryed to stop them, apparently too rough, Me and the neighbor split the price of that sheep (never did get any meat). Both dogs never got broke of that they had to be penned.

Walt

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh yeah, I have to keep mine separate or like you say, it is fatal (if I'm not supervising). I want him to morph into a mellow old dog that just lays around and ignores the chickens and keeps vermin ran off. Wishful thinking! lol He is really a sweet dog though.

Occasionally I read on here where those w/ lots of time, patience, and dog training skills have trained thier dogs, but since I don't have any of those things, we put up a fence.