Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

I started FF 2 days ago and I've had 3 hens die since then...not saying that that is the reason. But I'm going to treat with corid and I was wondering if I should continue the FF or stop? Also one of the dead hens seemed to have sour crop. Could FF cause that?

Hi Deb. I don't have much info for you, just wanted to say that I am sorry you lost the three hens. I know it is a big let down to lose even one or when things go wrong and you're not quite sure what to do. I hope you find an answer. I'm going through a frustrating time myself right now, along with a bum knee. About ready to throw my hands up! Good luck to you.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Rose, from everything I've read, the FF will create an acid environment in the intestines that is hostile to intestinal parasites, so it just may help with this. I wouldn't wonder about all that too much...I've never really seen anything like that in flocks, so it is probably pretty rare.

Just have faith....do the best you can and let God handle the rest! From what I understand, it's nigh impossible to get rid of roaches without covering everything with multiple treatments of poison, boric acid, DE, etc. and even then you simply cannot kill every cockroach...one pregnant one would start the cycle all over again and you'd have to poison again~particularly in an outside setting and in a run as big as yours.

No worries!

lol have faith....oh ye of little faith. ;-) That's JUST what I was wondering there Bee. Just what I though with the hostile intestinal stuff. I was just mainly curious BUT I do have to be honest I HATE those critters and think they are just mega nasty! I don't like even toughing things out in their pen because I KNOW they crawl on it at night time.
I got two good wagon loads of the leaves and pine straw out of the cows path put into the run yesterday evening. I need one more to have it all done and then need some woods chips.
I do have another question for you....... I am seeing something in their pen I have no idea what it is. Haven't seen this until this week.....it's like where water has been poured out in the dirt. Not a whole lot but just a little water poured out. You can tell it's been slung because of the way it is in there, not in a pile in other words. Just wondering what in the world that is? Doesn't look like poop or anything just a wet spot spread out. Do they get too much water at times and sneeze it out or something when they're drinking water? It's not far from their water is why I ask.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Peace and quiet? Isolation? She laying her eggs there, maybe? Usually when a hen wants to go off by themselves they are not in the social structure or they are looking for a quiet place to be.

I have GOT to fix an area for mines trough since I have it in the area I was going to do their nesting area. It's the only area I have that is covered in tin to keep their food from getting fill up with water when it rains. GOT to figure out something else. I thought about putting a little tin cover over the trough but if it came a blowing rain it would still fill up probably.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Well, the girls have their first try of FF today and Lost Their MINDS. You'd have thought I gave them steak bits or something!

LOL yeah mine does the same. They act like they're addicted or something. lol LOVE that they love the stuff since it's soooo good for them! We as humans could take lessons from em! ;-) I bought a bag of 3 way scratch grains yesterday and added to my starter to lower the protein amount and they seemed to really dive into it today!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Yeah, the feed mill is not that close. But, we want all organic feed and our guy does a great job. He makes a non-soy blend for us too. We buy a ton at a time and have it shipped to us on a common carrier freight truck. Shipping runs about $125 per delivery. Adds about $3-4 per 80lb bag of feed.

WOW that's nice they will mix it like you like. I WISH I could get mine without soy or wheat in it.

 

[RoseMarie1]

So are you saying that the water/ferment juice is what is making the feed stretch further through the week?
You have reduced weekly feed by 100 lbs or you now use 100 lbs per week?

hmmmm I might need to get me some pellets and see if this works for me. Am feeding 38 birds here and they're really eating some food now. lol although it IS lower now that it's fermented!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Glad I could help

My dog once ate an entire bundle of rotten asparagus and only threw up once. This asparagus was really, really bad. It was in the wet garbage, and she is a bad poodle who LOVVVES asparagus. It was moldy and nasty.

Bad dog..



See culprit here.. who had just ripped apart a garbage bag FULL of chick litter. To eat their poop. No she wasn't sick this time around. See the shaving stuck to her eye? LOL

LOL I had to chuckle out loud with that one. lol Mine loves the poo to but I try not to allow him to eat it since he is wheat and grain free because of his allergies. I have to keep my eyes on him when he is out there. lol

 

[RoseMarie1]

These are one of the new FF feeders my husband made for me
.4 or 6" pvc pipe cut in half w/the top half 8-12" above (to keep them from standing in their feed) This is working very well for me. He also put a small slit in the bottom of the feeder for moisture to drain out.
I don't remember if I got the suggestion for the feeder from this thread or from the ChickenChick on FB.

GOOD job! GOOD idea to!!!

 

[RoseMarie1]

aoxa, may I please have some popcorn, too?

LOL and me to!

 

[RoseMarie1]

X2 Lacy

thanks

I just bought two lg quart size bags of oregano at the dollar store, score! So excited when I saw it. My ff smells fabulous. Like sourdough dipped in herb infused oil... yup. Or maybe I was just hungry? LOL

now get ya some olive oil and start dipping. lol