Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I think the question was weather getting certified as NPIP would force you to use Antibiotics and vaccines.

Me personally No one comes on my property without invitation. I was thinking of getting certified to sell shell eggs at farmers markets.... But now... not happening.

deb

 

[Triple Willow]

I think the question was weather getting certified as NPIP would force you to use Antibiotics and vaccines.  

Me personally No one comes on my property without invitation.  I was thinking of getting certified to sell shell eggs at farmers markets....  But now... not happening.

deb

Yes and it might very well be a good program if the governent didn't run it. It has got to where it is as my mom says, "The government thinks they have to have their finger in every pie." I don't trust them and do my best to keep my distance.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Oh brother!!! Well that law needs to be done away with asap. This government is dang scary sometimes.

SOMETIMES????!!!!!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Also, because I did promise...!



B&C Maran chick! The only one so far to make it out of it's shell, although there are more on the way.

I will let you know how the Coq Au Vin goes... Any particular one of those you'd suggest? :3

I love those chickens, and we love the eggs. I think this is the recipe I am going to use when I butcher my two young bluecopper marans roosters in the next week or so:

http://www.cuisine-france.com/recipes/coq_vin.htm

It put that link in another post, but figured repeating it wouldn't hurt.

Good Luck with your chicks. Are they under a broody hen? I have had 3 broods this summer, two from the same hen, and she is my best layer.... When the literature says they are frequent brooders, they aren't kidding.

Sorry for being off topic

 

[Triple Willow]

SOMETIMES????!!!!! 

Yeah let me correct that ALL THE TIME! I'm still scratching my head over this unarmed mom (with a baby in the car) getting killed by the police in D.C. yesterday. I wonder how many times they had to shoot that dangerous unarmed mom.

 

[Triple Willow]

I want a tagine to cook with...

 

[Windy Bay Farm]

If you are free ranging, they are getting most of their calcium needs from the greens they are eating.  If in a coop and run, you can always offer oyster shell free choice if you don't feel your calcium levels are optimal.  I wouldn't add them directly to the feed, though I have done this in the past to try an experiment, I found no difference in shell tensile strength by actually feeding OS in the feeds, but more likely put a strain on kidneys by forcing them to consume excess calcium. 

I would mix that mash with the whole grains at a 50%, as you describe and this will benefit your chickens in the long run.  Come spring and peak laying season, you can mix it 2 parts layer, 1 part whole grain for a slightly more rich feed to support their increased production. 

Thanks, Bee !! I'll be doing just that... Mixing the whole grains with mash 50:50. That's kind of what I have been doing anyway. And they are free ranging so they should be getting some extra calcium that way. During the winter do you think it would be beneficial to feed free oyster shell to make up for a lack of calcium ?

 

[BCMaraniac]

Yeah let me correct that ALL THE TIME! I'm still scratching my head over this unarmed mom (with a baby in the car) getting killed by the police in D.C. yesterday. I wonder how many times they had to shoot that dangerous unarmed mom.

Very sad. So glad the baby wasn't harmed. I have heard a lot of info on the news today, but probably should just share via a PM, since I am WAY off topic.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I want a tagine to cook with...

Aren't those supposed to cook from all sides, yet keep a lot of the moisture in to improve tenderness and moisture??

 

[Beekissed]

Thanks, Bee !! I'll be doing just that... Mixing the whole grains with mash 50:50. That's kind of what I have been doing anyway. And they are free ranging so they should be getting some extra calcium that way. During the winter do you think it would be beneficial to feed free oyster shell to make up for a lack of calcium ?

You can..I don't any longer as the laying ration has enough calcium for good shell production, it seems. I've bought 2 separate bags of OS in my chickening life and that was only after I started here at BYC...I saw absolutely no difference in the flock whether I offered it free choice, fed it in their feed or when I didn't give them any at all, so I stopped buying it. Maybe free ranged birds just get their daily calcium requirements out on the lawn, even in the winter time.