Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[ChocolateMouse]

TW, we have been considering that for Nukka The Killer Husky for a bit now too. She has attacked our animals 4-5 times, seriously injured without killing both a rabbit and a chicken (meat chicken), and killed both a rabbit and a chicken now.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I'm going to try to start my FF this week for the adults. I've been fermenting the chick feed for about a week now. I love how it doesn't go to waste! I have some oats, layer mash, boss, and scratch. Are all of these good to ferment together? And can you get food grade buckets at Walmart? I thought I saw that on here somewhere.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

I'm going to try to start my FF this week for the adults. I've been fermenting the chick feed for about a week now.  I love how it doesn't go to waste!  I have some oats, layer mash, boss, and scratch.  Are all of these good to ferment together? And can you get food grade buckets at Walmart?  I thought I saw that on here somewhere.

I get all my food grade buckets at the local grocery stores for free ! I'd check their deli and bakery departments, they usually have some buckets kicking around that they want to get rid of.

 

[OHhappychicks]

I get all my food grade buckets at the local grocery stores for free ! I'd check their deli and bakery departments, they usually have some buckets kicking around that they want to get rid of.

Ahh! Thanks! Good idea! I will try that tomorrow.

 

[Triple Willow]

What I did was get me a bigger bucket! Yep my nephew works for Pepsi and you can get the drums and this one is about the size of a 5 gallon bucket but much taller which is perfect. So I got hubby to cut the lid off for me and I just put a towel over it and rest the lid kind of off to the side on top. Haven't ran this one over yet!   

I believe I am going to have to start making two buckets. It's running out too fast, about 3-4 days I think. I don't cover mine. I'll have to when I move it out to the coop. I guess I'll have to put a lid (with holes) on it then.

 

[Triple Willow]

thank goodness she made it! UGHHHH that dog! IF he gets another one I think I'd smear it all over his face and head to see IF that would make him not do it again. ????

If he gets another one he is going to wear it until it rots!!! Whether that works or not I don't know but that is one thing I haven't tried.

 

[maryhysong]

I believe I am going to have to start making two buckets. It's running out too fast, about 3-4 days I think. I don't cover mine. I'll have to when I move it out to the coop. I guess I'll have to put a lid (with holes) on it then.

I feed most of a five gallon bucket out every day. About 6-7 scoops of dry feed and about 3.5 gal of water. I just make more after I feed every morning. I've been feeding from this bucket for about a year now so have a strong culture in there. Also sometimes when the girls are laying softshells I'll make a gallon of buttermilk and use that for part of the liquid. The extra calcium seems to help with the eggshells and of course the culture helps ferment it faster. Even with just a couple of cups of feed and a little liquid left in the bottom of the bucket the new batch ferments just fine overnight.

 

[Triple Willow]

@ OHhappychicks & ChocolateMouse... If I take my dog in the pen with me he is fine, calm and doesn't bother the chickens. But outside the pen he can be unpredictable. Usually he is fine but this is twice he has went after pullets with me trying to stop him and him refusing to listen. They both made it, thank goodness. Early on I had a coop malfunction and about seven of them got out. He caught FIVE and killed them! He doesn't tear them up, just chases them then gets them in his mouth and leaves little puncture holes in their ribs. They probably die of a heart attack because he scares the crap out of them. He is in for a rude awakening!

 

[Triple Willow]

I feed most of a five gallon bucket out every day. About 6-7 scoops of dry feed and about 3.5 gal of water. I just make more after I feed every morning. I've been feeding from this bucket for about a year now so have a strong culture in there. Also sometimes when the girls are laying softshells I'll make a gallon of buttermilk and use that for part of the liquid. The extra calcium seems to help with the eggshells and of course the culture helps ferment it faster. Even with just a couple of cups of feed and a little liquid left in the bottom of the bucket the new batch ferments just fine overnight.

Yes I use buttermilk too. I love how it ferments so quick! I have been lazy about putting feed back in as I use it. I usually wait until there is about a 1/4 of the bucket left. Really it is easier for me to figure my ration mix that way. But I'm sure it would ferment fast enough to add feed back every day.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Bee... Now I don't want to hear any I told you so but... I think I need a shep. LOL I love feta cheese and the real stuff is made from sheep milk. Whoda thunk it! Now what breed of sheep would they use for milking? Well ...I want the shep milk, not the shep. lol Have you ever made feta from your sheep's milk? Love that stuff!