Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

I just try harder not to step in the runny stuff. lol They always seem to deposit it right by the door for me!

I know! Right on the back step every time! Always the runny, splattiest, whitest poop that has to be mopped off and cannot simply dry up and be swept off.

That's the only time I look at chicken poop very much...when I have to clean it up or turn it under bedding, knock it off a roost or feed bucket.

Chicken poop varies so widely in what is normal that one can go crazy looking at chicken poop and trying to figure things out....I always advise to look at the bird instead of the poop, as what is going on inside will usually tell very much on the outside of the bird.

I never look at my dog's poop either unless out of sheer curiosity when he deposits on a walk right in front of me...then I'll sneak a peek to see if there is obvious worms showing. Never is. Other than that, my dog always poops over in one corner of his territory in the woods and so I never really go there and examine poop.

Nor the cat's. Who knows where he poops but I'm sure I'll know he is sick by looking at his appearance and the way he acts.

Sheep? If they have runny poop they are wearing it and so I can still tell what is going on by looking at the animal instead of pawing through poop piles. Same with the cow...all OVER the butt, clear for all to see. The only time I intentionally look for cow poop is so I won't step in it.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Yep! I just mix mine in a big ol' trash can...dumped in a 100 lbs of layer and 50 lbs of barley. As the time grows into fall, I may add some BOSS into it for a little fat...but then as winter gets into gear I usually mix the layer and barley or oats, whatever I think is the grain of the day, at half and half...some BOSS kind of floats into all the mixes and I still find a few seeds of it now and again even a year later in the mix as I continue to change out and mix things. Come early spring I go back to 100% mash again and start that cycle all over again.

I know...crazy. But, that's just how I do...when the eggs slow down, I cut nutrition because they don't need it. When the eggs pick up, I go back to layer because they need it.

Every fall I add a little fats to the lower protein feed so they still get fat~ but not an increase in protein~ so they go into the winter with a little insulation and it helps with their feather regrowth from molt.

Just as wild birds get a little less protein as it gets cold and they turn to eating seeds and nuts for the fats, that's what happens to my birds as well. In the winter the birds in the wild get less proteins, but as bugs increase in the spring and they are in production mode, they consume more proteins for that. So do my birds then also.

I try to keep them on a natural cycle of eating and the free range helps with all of that.

Thanks again for your help on this, Bee. I am heading to the feed store today during my lunch break from work and will look to pick up a lower protein grain to throw into the grower feed I have already fermented. I'm going to do as you said and mix it either 30/70 low protien grain to layer feed or 50/50; I'll keep you posted as to how it all works out

Yep! Gonna give you some OT (old-timer) advice on the FF thread...buckle down....waaaaaaaaiiiiiiittttt for it........."You'll do a lot better in this chicken keeping thingy if ya stop lookin' at poop."

I guess I should stop being on such high poop patrol alert and maybe I won't worry so much everytime I see stool that doesn't look right to me. My birds are probably thinking, "Look at this fool, staring at our poop... what a knuckle head !"

 

[Beekissed]

I think it's a plot to make me fall so they can eat me! LOL

Oh, yeah!!! I always think the same thing...

I'm under no illusions about my pets...they may act like they like me, love me even...but if I were to fall down dead on the ground they'd eat me in a heartbeat.

Jake would wait until I got gamey enough to pull off parts easily but the cat would start right in..right away..and would fight the Delaware chickens for the eye balls and tongue.

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Thanks again for your help on this, Bee.  I am heading to the feed store today during my lunch break from work and will look to pick up a lower protein grain to throw into the grower feed I have already fermented.  I'm going to do as you said and mix it either 30/70 low protien grain to layer feed or 50/50; I'll keep you posted as to how it all works out

Hi Bee,

I dropped by the feed store and they have some different feeds there but no percentages as to how much protein are in them. They have a scratch that consists of barely, wheat and corn or I can buy oats (that should have lower protein?). I can also purchase just the barely, just the wheat or just the corn. Without knowing much about this I'm not sure what to do. Any advice ?

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

Barely should read barley in the previous post ... Dang autocorrect !

 

[Beekissed]

Hi Bee,

I dropped by the feed store and they have some different feeds there but no percentages as to how much protein are in them. They have a scratch that consists of barely, wheat and corn or I can buy oats (that should have lower protein?). I can also purchase just the barely, just the wheat or just the corn. Without knowing much about this I'm not sure what to do. Any advice ?

Sure...just get the barley or oats or both, if it pleases you....they are both low protein grains that add bulk and fiber. I'd lay off the corn because it's likely your feed ration already has a great deal of it in there and they don't need much more.

My flocks will eat the wheat at very last, so it's either less easy to digest or they just plain outright don't like it as much...not sure. I no longer use it for a supplement or additive.

 

[Triple Willow]

I never look at my dog's poop either unless out of sheer curiosity when he deposits on a walk right in front of me...then I'll sneak a peek to see if there is obvious worms showing.  Never is.  Other than that, my dog always poops over in one corner of his territory in the woods and so I never really go there and examine poop. 

I would have a hard time finding my Aussie's poop. He goes way out in the field and finds some grass/weeds high enough to hide in to do his business ....and he doesn't want anybody looking. lol I have to turn him out of his pen twice a day just so he can go poop and pee because if at all possible he won't do it there in his pen. lol I like to let him out to mark his spots anyhow. He's been marking the young chicken's pen so that is real good.

 

[foreverlearning]

Good news. The bird netting on top of the chicken wire worked. The birds all look to be in good shape today, and they are foraging well. So far my meat birds seem to require more than my original flock at this age, but I think (and hope) that the worst is behind us now. This has been quite a learning experience! Thank you Bee and Triple willow for helping me get threw this. Your links and information has been wonderful!

 

[Triple Willow]

    Oh, yeah!!!  I always think the same thing...   I'm under no illusions about my pets...they may act like they like me, love me even...but if I were to fall down dead on the ground they'd eat me in a heartbeat. 

Jake would wait until I got gamey enough to pull off parts easily but the cat would start right in..right away..and would fight the Delaware chickens for the eye balls and tongue. 

Ohh yeah, I was thinking about that this morning. I can see them now... the pullets tell the rooster to stand on my face and hold me down while they chow down! They probably say "Just look at her, there'd be enough there to last clean up til winter!!!" lol My Aussie is so nice he wouldn't want to eat me but after I got real ripe he wouldn't be able to resist. His favorite food is anything rotten. Should have named him possum. Yuck!

 

[Triple Willow]

Good news. The bird netting on top of the chicken wire worked. The birds all look to be in good shape today, and they are foraging well. So far my meat birds seem to require more than my original flock at this age, but I think (and hope) that the worst is behind us now. This has been quite a learning experience! Thank you Bee and Triple willow for helping me get threw this. Your links and information has been wonderful!

Oh you're welcome. You have not had a very good week! I'm glad it has leveled out for you. I know how frustrating it can be when things go wrong with your animals, especially when you don't quite know what to do. And with me, thing hardly ever seem to go as I plan. Best of luck to you!