Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[chickachee]

I've got a question. I was just out to the coop about 1:30 this p.m. and noticed the birds' feed trough was empty. Since they are definitely NOT going out in the snow today (their idea, not mine), and hanging out in the coop (not even in their run), do I need to put a few more blobs of ff in their feeder to last them till they hit the sack - in about 2+ hours? About the only exercise they're getting today is digging holes in their DL and kicking dust and bedding into their water container. I want to make sure I'm not overfeeding them. Don't want chubby birds, you know...

 

[Beekissed]

I always place enough in the feeder in the mornings that, when I visit around 3-4 pm there is nothing but crumbs and remnants in the trough, but it isn't licked clean. If I feed at 8 am and I go out at 1 pm, I expect to find around half or a little less than half of what I originally fed still left in the trough.

I've noticed that mine will eat some when first fed but not too much. Around noonish they will take another nip at it and again at around 3ish they will have another and when they go in to roost they clean up the last crumbs. In the morning when I go out there is some juice in the bottom of the feeder and that's about all.

 

[chickachee]

Ok then. I'll go out and plop some in their for their dining pleasure. Got a chuckle out of your comment about having a little "juice" left in the feeder when you go out in the morning. I think mine would be a little "skating rink", lol. I had to bring the trough into the basement yesterday to thaw out what was left so they could eat it without breaking their beaks - HA!. A little on the nippy, windy and snowy side today - about 19F right now - going to 12F tonight with more snow expected. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.....

 

[Beekissed]

Lucky you! We have rain, finally, but we've only had one itty, bitty snow. Unseasonably warm the past few winters....NOT good. We really need those snows.

Even when it dips into the 20s here it doesn't stay, so I've not had any freezing of slop yet. I've placed the feeder in the sun porch of the coop and the sun helps also.

 

[Mountain Momma]

I've got a question. I was just out to the coop about 1:30 this p.m. and noticed the birds' feed trough was empty. Since they are definitely NOT going out in the snow today (their idea, not mine), and hanging out in the coop (not even in their run), do I need to put a few more blobs of ff in their feeder to last them till they hit the sack - in about 2+ hours? About the only exercise they're getting today is digging holes in their DL and kicking dust and bedding into their water container. I want to make sure I'm not overfeeding them. Don't want chubby birds, you know...

Mine too. I left them staring at the white stuff from their doorway for a couple hours, with an apple out on their porch to tempt them. Needless to say they watched the apple but never ventured a foot on the porch. Finally I gave in and opened up the maint area, moved all their feed and water back in and they are curiously happy exploring the shelves and playing with the fake snake. I keep food and water in the coup all the time so this was just their regular run ff food and water. Usually they never hang out in the coop. I even swept the snow away and they still refused to step out. Stubborn chickens. Glad I'm not the only one with snow stopping day to day activities. DH and Henry have been playing Xbox all day and darling girl is making stuffiesfor her stuffies. I guesswe are all cooped up with zero degrees and snow today.
L

 

[Noncentzter]

At least you get a warning....

The Bat and my boys will SBD right next to you in the store aisle and send you running with your shopping cart to get out of the cloud of fumes, all the while praying that no one else in that aisle thought it was you. They then look at you like a deer in the headlights and say, quite innocently, "What? I don't smell anything!" and laugh as you flee in the other direction.

As you pass that aisle later to go to the register, you can see that it is still a deserted and barren wasteland with the labels peeling off the jars and littering the floor, and black skid marks from all the shopping carts that had burned rubber to get away from the toxic area. You'll remember the aisle because on either end will be orange cones with a biohazard logo on them....

Really, words cannot describe the carnage left in the wake of one of these bombs.

OMG, that's what my MIL and I do to each other and my wife gets caught in the middle...so funny!!! (Yes, I'm a sick puppy! LOL)

 

[aoxa]

I've got a question.  I was just out to the coop about 1:30 this p.m. and noticed the birds' feed trough was empty.  Since they are definitely NOT going out in the snow today (their idea, not mine), and hanging out in the coop (not even in their run), do I need to put a few more blobs of ff in their feeder to last them till they hit the sack - in about 2+ hours?   About the only exercise they're getting today is digging holes in their DL and kicking dust and bedding into their water container.   I want to make sure I'm not overfeeding them.  Don't want chubby birds, you know...

Great question, and one I've had. I noticed the feed trough was empty at 2pm. Not necessarily licked clean, but empty. I didn't do feeders this morning, so I can't say how full my fiance filled it. I usually fill it to capacity, and it's completely licked clean by the time I get home from work at 5pm. At which time they mob me for more. I feel bad that they are that hungry when I get home. I wasn't sure when they ran out (because I just installed that feeder on Thursday.

I then put down enough to top them off when I get home - and they attack it. Should I install more feeders?

 

[Beekissed]

Might be wise. You've got an awful lot of birds and of different species, so you have a difficult situation.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm having the same problem, I have geese,ducks and chickens and I have been giving them a gallon bucket of ff a day only been feeding straight ff for 5 days now, but it's completely gone by noon. or before, I don't want to over feed them but I don't know if I should give them more or not, this morning i did an experiment and gave a half gallon of feed divided into 3 trough feeders by the time we got home from Church all gone so I gave them the other half gallon they acted like they hadn't eaten in years. They scarfed it down so fast. Then the rest of the afternoon they had nothing to eat. Maybe i need to in crease to 11/2 gallons and see if they leave any.

 

[chickachee]

OMG, that's what my MIL and I do to each other and my wife gets caught in the middle...so funny!!! (Yes, I'm a sick puppy! LOL)

One more fart story.... Years ago my hubby and I were playing a board game with my in laws. We had been talking about a radio station they liked to listen to. Steve (FIL) got up from the table and walked toward the radio. I followed him, thinking that he was going to show me the radio station so I could listen at home if I wanted to - uh NO!! He had just left the table so he could fart! Of course I walked right through it. I said "STEVE" and he turned to me and in a semi-poker face asked "What?" Don't you know that if you don't fart, you get bad breath??" I told him- "Well, in that case, you must have the FRESHEST MOUTH IN TOWN." Still makes me laugh when I think about it. Of course his son - my hubby- proudly carries on the tradition!!