Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Some days these birds tick me off all crowding around and not letting me even walk, can't even open the dang door for them all crowded up to it!!! lol But... if I let the dog in they scatter. lol Some days I call him over and send him through the door first and they get out of the way for a second. lol We are working on the killing chickens thing. I don't know if he will ever get it or not. He is usually okay in front of me but I know if I wasn't watching the chasing and killing would be on! The other day they were eating and he was standing in the middle of them looking down at them and he ever so quietly and gently reaches down and puts his mouth on one! Ahhhh, dang it dog! I growled something at him and he acted like, "What??? I didn't do nuthin..."

That's so sweet!!!! Sounds like Jake when he is doing something bad...slowly and ever so gently. Smart dogs.

My chickens don't get in my way because I walk big...which is why the cat gets kicked side winding when he weaves in front of me. I take big strides and clear the path in front of me and whatever and whoever is in that path gets plowed through. One learns to do it that way on a farm or homestead because some of the animals are bigger than a chicken. When they want space they just bull their way through one another and so you learn from the animals and you emulate them. All my animals learn to clear the way before me..and this little junior cat is learning his lessons too.

Even the meat birds learned...the legs don't stop walking just because you are in the way...PUNT! The dogs learn not to prance around in front of me when I am walking, the sheep learn to move it or lose it, etc.

My advice? Walk like you mean it.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I agree with Bee. My dogs like to jump underneath me and lay in the middle of the walkway. I snap at them "MOVE" and just keep walking. I will step on toes, tails and noses if they don't, and if they're not fast enough they may encounter the steel toed work boots I wear everywhere. My dogs snap to attention now when I say "move".

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
My ex roommate was stunned when she saw how my cats stayed away from my feet even at feeding time. Even the Kitties. And she is a cat and horse person. Every time she went out into the living room or kitchen the "kids" would be meowing at her and weaving and generally impeding her progress.

She asked me how I did it.... LOL. When I told her she was aghast. I said anyone who gets in my way gets either stepped on or scooped aside. I showed her I put my foot down with a thump and Everyone skittered out of reach. Now mind you I free feed my dogs and cats dry kibble. No one is really very hungry.... I only feed wet for treats or if someone is a little under the weather. So there is no "dinner time" trigger to deal with.

I feed the horse the same way. One bale of bermuda every three days.... LOL. shes a big girl. But it stopped her banging on the fence or worrying when she was getting fed. In this mild to hot climate any grain for her would just risk founder.

I have a bunch of questions about fermenting but will write it up after I get done today....

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

My one dog knows "move!" or "get out'a tha way!" or "go!!!" and he knows he better listen. LOL The other dog, lawd have mercy ...shaking my head. She doent know anything but how to bark! I've been afraid I would break chicken legs if I step on them to hard. lol But y'all are right, I'm going to have to take charge around here! LOL

 

[Triple Willow]

Lol they love the FF so much that they're acting like a bunch of crazed, starving wild animals... Creeping me through the windows and everything now lol

They are plotting against you! LOL One morning last week I had a little bird (not chicken) trying to get in my bedroom window. He couldn't get in that window so went around the corner and tried his best to get in the other window. Your chickens are liable to start doing that! Beware! lol

 

[Beekissed]

Jake is a dancer and a spinner...he goes into throes of delight when I am coming to feed or just when I go up to do chores. He just has to express his joy. If it gets on my nerves, I just stand still and raise one hand in the air~I don't even look at him...sort of like the old timey western version of an Indian salutation. He will immediately stop and drop...but no roll.

I didn't have to teach him that...I just did it one day and stood still and waited. No food happened while I waited until he could conduct himself with some decorum.

Jake: No food is coming. Fat Woman stopped walking and is standing with a hand up and I don't know why... but I'll try whatever it takes to get her to move toward that food place. Oh! When I lay down and stay there, she proceeds to the food place and gets out food. Cool. Now I know that I cannot eat if I don't stop my Dance of Everloving Joy of Being a Dog and just lay down.

Jake is very food motivated. I could probably teach him open heart surgery with enough time and food. Might take a few months though.

 

[Triple Willow]

Jake is a dancer and a spinner...he goes into throes of delight when I am coming to feed or just when I go up to do chores.  He just has to express his joy.  If it gets on my nerves, I just stand still and raise one hand in the air~I don't even look at him...sort of like the old timey western version of an Indian salutation.  He will immediately stop and drop...but no roll.    I didn't have to teach him that...I just did it one day and stood still and waited.  No food happened while I waited until he could conduct himself with some decorum. 

Jake:  No food is coming.  Fat Woman stopped walking and is standing with a hand up and I don't know why... but I'll try whatever it takes to get her to move toward that food place.  Oh!  When I lay down and stay there, she proceeds to the food place and gets out food.  Cool.  Now I know that I cannot eat if I don't stop my Dance of Everloving Joy of Being a Dog and just lay down.  

Jake is very food motivated.  I could probably teach him open heart surgery with enough time and food.  Might take a few months though. 

Sounds like my Aussie. Sometimes he will just spin in circles going down the hill. Yep, when he gets on my nerves he knows "stop!" too. LOL I had one Aussie that would jump and bounce off my back all the way to the feed the other critters. lol It was funny until you go out in decent clothes and don't want to get dirty. We had to stop that game.

 

[Triple Willow]

Poor baby! That is a real problem with FF. I am afraid of mine trying to drown in the stuff every time I take the lid off. It's like they are telling us "You don't need to bother filling up that feeder, we'll just eat it from here."

I felt bad and would have felt like dirt had she died. I was looking at my youngsters this morning. The girls are starting to redden up a little, their wattles and earlobes. They just turned 15 weeks old yesterday. Hope most of them start laying within the next month or so. Got to get the new coop done and the two flocks intergrated - winter's coming! The only thing I really like about winter is I don't sweat like a dog! lol

 

[waltandlori]

I felt bad and would have felt like dirt had she died. I was looking at my youngsters this morning. The girls are starting to redden up a little, their wattles and earlobes. They just turned 15 weeks old yesterday. Hope most of them start laying within the next month or so. Got to get the new coop done and the two flocks intergrated - winter's coming! The only thing I really like about winter is I don't sweat like a dog! lol

uuhh aahhh, well aahh, dogs don't sweat well not like us anyhow... I hate winter!! harder to get to and from, too many clothes on. Anything south of 70 I start getting a chill. 'course i'm just a stick figure. Didn't used to be that way.

 

[mlowen]

My one dog knows "move!" or "get out'a tha way!" or "go!!!" and he knows he better listen. LOL The other dog, lawd have mercy ...shaking my head. She doent know anything but how to bark! I've been afraid I would break chicken legs if I step on them to hard. lol But y'all are right, I'm going to have to take charge around here! LOLM

My dog knows "excuse me" means "move." Sometimes it is said with more emphsis than others. lol. But I just love the looks on people's faces when say it and he gets outa th' way.