Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

[COLOR=0000CD]When the field mice moved into the coop I put up a live trap for them. One morning there were 4 mice the trap, I took the trap outside were the hens were, shook the trap to stun them then dumped them out to the waiting hens, gone in a few seconds, those hens had them and gone. It wasn't the first time I gave them mice but the first time with so many, it was funny. [/COLOR] :cd

[COLOR=0000CD]Oh, now that the cats have figured out about the mice they patrol the coop and the area all around, no more mice for the hens! [/COLOR] :/

Hey Art! Good to see you!

 

[Triple Willow]

My 8 broilers are about 1.5 weeks old now. They had their first day in the sun yesterday. I have a 4x4' garden bed that I'm about to prep from fall veggies, and they seemed to love it. The tiniest of lip on the bed kept most of them contained all day. A couple jumped out and would alert with me with his/her peeps. I spent the day outside working on their enclosure. All done and ready for occupancy! They are ready for outside during the day (high 80s) and in the garage at night. These suckers stink. Well, I think all chicks start stinking in the brooder after the 1st week, no matter how clean I keep it, but since they poop more, they stink more, even on the fermented feed. In another week, I can't imagine them being inside, even the garage. Wish I had a barn, even a shed with outlets, because a no livestock in the house rule seems practical right now.

Cute chicks! They do stink though don't they? Blahh!

 

[Triple Willow]

The thought of RATS has got me thinking about something that happened to me... I am not really scared of mice but I just don't want them ON me. Well I use a couple of those little bait boxes that you put the bar bait in. I brought them in to put a new bar of poison in them, had one held over the trash can trying to get it open when out crawled this big juicy drunk (poisoned) mouse out of the box I AM HOLDING! Ohhh my gosh! I'm not a screamer, it is usually more like a holler followed by a not so nice word... then everybody around asking, "What's going on!?!" I have to say, that skeerd me! lol I slammed that sucker in the trash can then about as quick picked it back up and threw it out the door. Ahhh!

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

They look like hens to me...and very pretty birds, at that. 

Thanks, Bee ! I attribute most of their good looks to the FF.. Seems to make those feathers have a wonderful sheen ! Your opinion seems to be like most others, all girls. These were straight run from the hatchery so I'm surprised I don't have at least one roo !

 

[Beekissed]

What kind of rooster are you looking for? Dual purpose or laying genetics? Other?

 

[OHhappychicks]

I've been feeding ff to my 6 wk old eo's. They are residing in the chicken tractor the last couple of weeks, so I haven't had any physical contact with them. This evening one had escaped, (bent chicken wire on the door), when we shut them up. It was sitting on top of the tractor. My DH picked it up and I petted it. It was so soft! Now, I'm not sure if the ff has anything to do with that or not, but I was very impressed.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

What kind of rooster are you looking for?  Dual purpose or laying genetics?  Other? 

Dual purpose more than anything. Any suggestions on what I should be looking at for a breed ?

 

[ChocolateMouse]

TW; The problem I am facing is the chicks try to eat with their mom who tries to eat with the flock. I am not sure they'd learn to run to a special spot to eat... But I can try strapping some deer netting on some sticks with some twine and see what happens.

I definitely might end up cooking up some cat for my hens or my dog. D< I do not have a live trap... Yet. I'm going to get one though! Better believe it!

 

[Beekissed]

Dual purpose more than anything. Any suggestions on what I should be looking at for a breed ?

I'm not sure where you are located or what you want to accomplish with your rooster, but if you want him for breeding replacement stock you have a few options, depending on your goals for your flock. If you have any good breeders of heritage stock in your area, picking up a good cull..meaning, one not proper for SOP but still having good traits for a simple, DP flock of layers that need to replace their numbers effectively and cheaply.

If you cannot find a proper, reputable breeder in your area and you'd like to just stick with hatchery quality roosters, then just look for birds between 6 mo. to a year old and I'd look for breeds you can get in your area easily....BA, WR, NH, RIR are all breeds I'd consider for my own flock for good laying and also a meaty carcass.

If you can get heritage stock...much better..but I'd go with RIR or NH for the rooster if you can get it from that source.

 

[Triple Willow]

TW; The problem I am facing is the chicks try to eat with their mom who tries to eat with the flock. I am not sure they'd learn to run to a special spot to eat... But I can try strapping some deer netting on some sticks with some twine and see what happens.

I definitely might end up cooking up some cat for my hens or my dog. D< I do not have a live trap... Yet. I'm going to get one though! Better believe it!

I don't know that a safe place would have done mine much good either. They didn't seem to know to get out of the way. Bee has got me thinking a rat might have ate the head off my chick. I put a couple live traps out tonight but I doubt that will do any good. I'll have to get some poison. When they start combining the soybeans that will run all kinds of mice and possibly rats up toward the house. Oh boy! I need a couple good cats but the dogs won't allow that and cats would probably kill the chickens anyhow. Ahhh critters!