Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[leenie]

Back to bucket drilling. . .

I had one day where I added too much water and got a spillover from bucket #1.

SOoooo this weekend I emptied the top bucket and noticed I had my drilled holes only about halfway up. Decided to drill holes almost to the top of the ridged lip section. Man what a difference in fermenting! It was just fine before but now it is exceptional.

Just wanted to pass along.

The more holes the better and the higher up the fuller the ferment IMHO.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I was very very pleased last night when I went to close up. As I've said before, I clean up all the food and dump all the waters. I REFUSE to sustain mice!

Anyway... my girls' feeders were all practically licked clean! I had even given them extra. This is what happened...

Regular ff with barley sprouts mixed through as well as a big spoonful of yogurt. I was so happy that they ate it all! I don't like my birds going to bed hungry either... the nights are just way too long and cold for that!

I think I may put yogurt in their ferment bucket for the night feed.

 

[cutechick2010]

Has any one else seen an increase in egg production when switching to the FF? I sure have, with the weather getting colder and the days shorter I was only getting about one egg every other day. Now I am getting between five and eight EVERY day! This is from a dozen hens, a couple of which are a few years older, like five-ish. I am impressed, for sure.

 

[Miss Lydia]

If I could get my top bucket out of my bottom bucket I'd drill more holes, I may have to use dynamite. No kidding they are stuck tight even with my dh trying to help we could not get them apart. Any suggestions?

 

[Beekissed]

Many have reported increased egg yield and also a sharp decrease when they temporarily went back to dry feeds. I think it's a significant note in the FF chronicles.

Take note of the size of your yolks also and see if they haven't gotten extraordinarily large lately.

 

[Beekissed]

If I could get my top bucket out of my bottom bucket I'd drill more holes, I may have to use dynamite. No kidding they are stuck tight even with my dh trying to help we could not get them apart. Any suggestions?

Yep...stand with your feet on either side of the buckets and pressed tightly into the bottom bucket and pull slowly but firmly upward...should break suction well. I've not had a time that this didn't work easily but you have to pull straight up.

 

[aoxa]

If I could get my top bucket out of my bottom bucket I'd drill more holes, I may have to use dynamite.  No kidding they are stuck tight  even with my dh trying to help we could not get them apart. Any suggestions?  

Yep...stand with your feet on either side of the buckets and pressed tightly into the bottom bucket and pull slowly but firmly upward...should break suction well.  I've not had a time that this didn't work easily but you have to pull straight up. 

I have had some serious trouble with this as well. I do end up getting them unstuck, but there is a lot of cursing involved. I've even hurt myself doing it

I built my room to keep FF warm in the barn! It worked very well last night

Still have to take that video! I think I may get a couple more systems going eventually. We do go through 1.5 buckets and not just one like I said previously.

Snow today. Everyone is upset about it.

 

[Beekissed]

I have had some serious trouble with this as well. I do end up getting them unstuck, but there is a lot of cursing involved. I've even hurt myself doing it

I built my room to keep FF warm in the barn! It worked very well last night

Still have to take that video! I think I may get a couple more systems going eventually. We do go through 1.5 buckets and not just one like I said previously.
Snow today. Everyone is upset about it.

Were they carrying signs like this?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have tried what you said and even had dh try pulling straight up while I stood on either side, so I guess I'll have to feed till the bucket is empty then take it outside and see what we can do, I just don't want to lose the good fermented water.

 

[AlivianAcres]

Many have reported increased egg yield and also a sharp decrease when they temporarily went back to dry feeds.  I think it's a significant note in the FF chronicles. 

Take note of the size of your yolks also and see if they haven't gotten extraordinarily large lately. 

 

all the talk of more eggs makes me giggle...hubby and I just discussed that this weekend...we have been feeding FF for about 2 weeks and I have gotten an egg from every chicken everyday...I usually get 3 in a row and then they take a day or two off....and they are bigger eggs! We weighed them and there was a .4oz increase in just one day! Crazy...why haven't I. Been doing this all along