Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RoseMarie1]

Thanks all for your comments, much appreciated.

I'm sitting in the chicken run as I type this. Been doing some work around the coop/run today in preparation for winter. Trying to get a window installed that previously was a square hole with hardware cloth over it for the summer. Also prepping to cover my run with a roof before winter strikes as well.

There's just something so peaceful about sitting here watching these guys peck around and the antics and carrying on they do

. I could sit here all day if time would allow !

Yes I agree with ya it is so nice and peaceful watching them. Folks say it lowers your blood pressure to watch fish in an aquarium but I think watching chickens can also lower it.

 

[Lacy Blues]

We're just talking regular old ground cayenne pepper found in the spice isle, right?

Yep.

 

[TexasLisa]

Good Morning Fellow Fermenters!

My young flock is 20 weeks old!! (2 roos and 5 hens) My old flock is around 4 years old. (7 hens) So far I do not have eggs from the youngsters...waiting....waiting... My two roos are perfecting their crowing. I am loving every moment of it. Yesterday I saw one of the roos do a little dance around one of the young'uns (reminded me of a Mexican Hat Dance) The next thing I heard was a squawking and the other roo looked like it was being thrown. I started to go over when I saw 3 of the older girls chasing him. He had mounted one of them twice. The other two were pecking at him like crazy. I was dying laughing. Probably hurt his ego! So that was my day on the farm.

If this isn't normal behavior, let me know. Also my husband came in last night and said Tuco's (roo) legs were red. I believe I told him that was due to hormones. Right?

Lisa

 

[waltandlori]

You can set a lid on the bucket but don't seal it, leave it loose. I leave mine uncovered right now. The only thing that bothers it is gnats!

I disagree, THE FLYS LOVE THIS STUFF! LOL. I have never seen so many flys, they are in it, on it, over it, sheesh. The hens love it, the meatys are just plain food driven. Oh yeah, I finally got the grey-tannish "mother" on the top today, now lets see if it will continue fermenting with new feed and water. I think I had forgotten how much manure these chickens produce, I've quit using pine shavings and started using hay, at 4 something for flake and 3 bucks for hay it was a no brainer. Which is to say it took me long enough lol. I had the "invisable fence" once, the german short haired pointer respected it, but the setter didn't. He would tear out of the yard with afterburners at 100%, usually just before I had to leave for work. I pretty much cured him of that ( I said pretty much) by catching him and walking VERYslowly back into the yard, needless to say he didn't care for the longer shock and I think the fence pulses so when he "shot" out of the yard chances are he didn't get much. Ok so now I'm long winded too!

Walt

 

[Triple Willow]

@Walt... I'm glad your ff is working well for you. I guess flies don't have a way to get in my garage, but those dang gnats do!

Oh yeah, don't you love it how animals tend to pull some stunt just before you have to leave for work? lol

 

[Triple Willow]

@TexasLisa... To me waiting on one to start laying is just as exciting as waiting on one to hatch out. Yours must be getting close! There are 8 roosters in my young bunch and they have just now started to act out. Well actually it is just two of them causing problems - the white leghorn and the ancona. They are bullies let me tell ya! And what gets me, they are the scrawniest of the whole group. Now they have ganged up on a Delaware roo and keep him hid out in a nest! I have a feeling the little thugs will have to have living quarters to themselves. I don't know what happened in the past couple days to turn them on the Delaware roo but I think he stood up to one of them which none of the rest do. The leghorn has always tried to start fights. It crossed my mind to let the big roo give them an attitude adjustment. lol I tell you, the Buckeye roos are sweethearts and I'm liking their looks.

 

[KelsiNS]

Thanks guys, i mixed it in a large coffee container for the day and the chickens are NUTS for it. My crossbeak dunked her whole head in it and came up very happy (if a chicken could grin.....)

 

[Triple Willow]

Thanks guys, i mixed it in a large coffee container for the day and the chickens are NUTS for it. My crossbeak dunked her whole head in it and came up very happy (if a chicken could grin.....)

Good! Keep us informed, especially on the crossbeak. How about some before and after pictures? Btw, your coffee container isn't metal is it? FF needs to be in something other than metal. Good luck!

 

[KelsiNS]

Oh, no-its a plastic folgers. Can you even still get metal coffee cans?! I need onefor leftover bacon grease!

Absolutely-here's Chewi two weeks ago (shes usually a multicolored blur)

And here's Black Thunder, who is 1/2 the size of the rest and her feathers look shabby. Hoping to see her grow.

 

[bbdal]

Not a ff question but a meat bird question...
Also, I posted this in a couple of other places and some people thought I was asking about the fact he had eaten. My question is about the fact he was apparently impacted. Thanks!

Hi everyone! My husband has now processed chickens twice- one earlier this week and two yesterday (all were 8.5 months old). He had one yesterday who had a full crop, gizzard, and intestines and also a crusty butt. The rooster had been penned and withheld food but got loose this morning. He wasn't out long enough to get that full before slaughter. Any reason we should be worried about eating him with apparently some sort of blockage? Hubby said his meat looked slightly different than the other two (but that may be normal from chicken to chicken). I am still trying to figure out reasons to cull and not eat vs cull/eat or raise/slaughter. Thanks!