Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RoseMarie1]

There is so much ventilation in your run, Rose, I wouldn't worry about the heat from composting. If your coop doesn't have enough of the same, especially where you live, now would be a good time to open it up a little. It takes a long, long time for wood to break down, so the only concern would be the leaves and they will be finely ground...I'd try it and see what happens. Could be that that kind of rough material is what it would take to keep your run from being sopping wet as the birds will be stepping on branches, twigs and larger pieces of wood instead of fine chopped shavings and such.

Yes, the FF gets a much deeper fermentation right now and the smell is a little more strong...no worries though!

the run isn't what I was worried about because they're out most of the day when I can let them out but the roosting area is tin on 2 sides and wire on the other two sides. Just was thinking that would get really hot. It's so hot now out there even at night time with the sand floor. They want to roost on the top roost which isn't far from the tin roof so I bet it IS hot up there close to that tin.
I put some cedar stumps in their run today. Three of them and have one more but had to get back to canning my tomatoes.

 

[Nutcase]

the run isn't what I was worried about because they're out most of the day when I can let them out but the roosting area is tin on 2 sides and wire on the other two sides. Just was thinking that would get really hot. It's so hot now out there even at night time with the sand floor. They want to roost on the top roost which isn't far from the tin roof so I bet it IS hot up there close to that tin.
I put some cedar stumps in their run today. Three of them and have one more but had to get back to canning my tomatoes.

How many roosts do you have? You could remove the one/s closest to the heat source.

 

[Lacy Blues]

the run isn't what I was worried about because they're out most of the day when I can let them out but the roosting area is tin on 2 sides and wire on the other two sides. Just was thinking that would get really hot. It's so hot now out there even at night time with the sand floor. They want to roost on the top roost which isn't far from the tin roof so I bet it IS hot up there close to that tin.
I put some cedar stumps in their run today. Three of them and have one more but had to get back to canning my tomatoes.

You could spray your tin roof down in the evening with a thumb on the end of your water hose.

Or you could mount a sprinkler on your roof and turn it on early evenings. It will cool things down quite a bit.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Yesterday one of my pullets layed the first egg that's been layed on this place in YEARS! I was so excited! lol Today no egg ...feel like somebody stole my candy or something.

lol Not bad though, a BA mix and a little over 19 weeks. The egg was probably a medium size.

you have chickens and they don't lay eggs?

 

[RoseMarie1]

How many roosts do you have? You could remove the one/s closest to the heat source.

you know I might just do that. I have 4 boards for them to roost on but there's 38 chicks but will soon be less since i have too many roos. Thanx! good idea!

 

[Triple Willow]

you have chickens and they don't lay eggs?

LOL The oldest I have are 19-20 weeks old. We haven't had chickens for many years, but do now.

 

[wlhtx]

Sounds like me. DH was ranting just last night about the fact that we have 45 chickens and have only gotten 1 egg a day for the last 4 days. I have 1 post-menopausal hen, 3 2-yr-old hens that SHOULD be laying, 2 pullets that have just started laying (and who have been the source of the eggs the last few days), and the rest are roosters, chicks, or ALMOST POL pullets... In another few weeks, we should have eggs coming out our ears, but for now this 1 egg per day from 45 chickens is - shall we say irritating - my not so patient DH...

 

[Beekissed]

the run isn't what I was worried about because they're out most of the day when I can let them out but the roosting area is tin on 2 sides and wire on the other two sides. Just was thinking that would get really hot. It's so hot now out there even at night time with the sand floor. They want to roost on the top roost which isn't far from the tin roof so I bet it IS hot up there close to that tin.
I put some cedar stumps in their run today. Three of them and have one more but had to get back to canning my tomatoes.

The key to any coop in regards to deep litter and ventilation is the convection..the flow of air up and out the top of the coop. With that much ventilation, you have no worries...just provide plenty of roosting options and let them figure it out. That tin won't hold much heat at night and as it lets off heat, it rises up and out of the coop and it will pull fresh air in and upwards towards the birds from down below.

 

[locoguru]

Yesterday one of my pullets layed the first egg that's been layed on this place in YEARS! I was so excited! lol Today no egg ...feel like somebody stole my candy or something.

lol Not bad though, a BA mix and a little over 19 weeks. The egg was probably a medium size.

you will get more as time goes on. Seems I'm getting 1 every other day the first week of 1 of my RSL laying.

 

[Triple Willow]

Sounds like me. DH was ranting just last night about the fact that we have 45 chickens and have only gotten 1 egg a day for the last 4 days. I have 1 post-menopausal hen, 3 2-yr-old hens that SHOULD be laying, 2 pullets that have just started laying (and who have been the source of the eggs the last few days), and the rest are roosters, chicks, or ALMOST POL pullets... In another few weeks, we should have eggs coming out our ears, but for now this 1 egg per day from 45 chickens is - shall we say irritating - my not so patient DH...

I agree with your DH, I have 9 at POL (well ought to be!), a rooster of the same age and about 25 that are a few weeks old. Ahhhh all this feed going in and no eggs coming out!!! LOL I got another egg today so I was tickled. Yesterday I put a new nest box with shavings on the floor of the coop so they would learn to use it (read that on BYC). The little hussies turned it over and rolled it around and spread the shavings all over! lol I am going to have to find a bungee cord and strap it in place.

I've got some young Delawares that I bought from Meyer. They look pretty dang good so far, meaty! I also have some Buckeyes but the Delawares seem to be out-doing them so far. I am thinking on a breed for meat and eggs and the Delawares look fairly promising. I guess it's a wait and see thing.

I hope you and the DH are rolling in eggs soon. Send me some! lol