Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[BCMaraniac]

Chickens are strange creatures huh? I don't know why they would do that either unless they were trying to hide...? Mine was doing it in the nest box. Oh yeah, I'm pretty sure my Aussie would eat eggs until he couldn't eat any more! I gave my pullet 6 eggs to set on - two disappeared and when I checked earlier she has three babies and one egg still there. Tomorrow is day 21 so maybe it will hatch.

Well, I watched her pick up an egg that I left laying on a table in the barn. She was SO very careful, and carried it to a grassy area. She put it from her mouth to the ground and held it between her paws. She then turned her head, and carefully cracked the shell with her teeth. She licked to see is any of the goodies from inside were leaking out. She did this a couple more times, and finally, she broke the shell enough for the yolk to come out, which she promptly ate. Then, as if to cover her tracks, she ate the shell.....no evidence that she had ever stolen an egg.

If there was no evidence that the eggs was broken.....your Aussie probably ate it, shell and all.

 

[RoseMarie1]

Just a heads up...... Week before last I didn't want to make the 20 plus trip to the other town I usually buy my feed from. The local one in town doesn't carry the brand I usually use. So I bought Layena brand or something like that. It was the layer crumbles I bought. Anyway I added some of it to my ff which I wasn't all the way out of so I could get a batch going for the next week. The next day that mess was mush I mean like nothing no consistency whatsoever. It even stuck to my scoop like it had molasses or something in it. Some of you may use this brand but this was the first time I have used it AND the LAST time. I told hubby the chickens were going to need a straw to even be able to eat it. What was really weird was this, the top part would be a little thick but once I scooped out my scoops to feed for the day and stirred it, it was just soup. Yucky mess and I can tell the chickens aren't fond of it either. I mixed up a little more of it the other day to try and not add much water at all but it just wouldn't do right for some reason....... I still have a bunch of the stuff left over but went today and bought the good stuff. Hoping MAYBE I can finish using this up by mixing a little at a time in the other feed. If you want to use that brand the pellets might ferment better but the crumbles turn to nothing! They didn't eat all their food yesterday nor today when I fed it. I mixed some of the good stuff in there tonight so hoping it will be much better and they can eat it better.

 

[Beekissed]

Ick...not good. Sounds like bread dough...could be it had extra molasses in it, causing it to separate and rise like that. I always stir before I feed, so that might help with the consistency. Lot of people out there using Layena, so wondering if that is why they have so much trouble with their FF and finally give up?

 

[Triple Willow]

Well, I watched her pick up an egg that I left laying on a table in the barn.  She was SO very careful, and carried it to a grassy area.  She put it from her mouth to the ground and held it between her paws.  She then turned her head, and carefully cracked the shell with her teeth.  She licked to see is any of the goodies from inside were leaking out.  She did this a couple more times, and finally, she broke the shell enough for the yolk to come out, which she promptly ate.  Then, as if to cover her tracks, she ate the shell.....no evidence that she had ever stolen an egg.

If there was no evidence that the eggs was broken.....your Aussie probably ate it, shell and all.

That's funny. My dog would probably eat his fill then hide them all over creation. I watched him one day with a big ham bone in his mouth walking all over the back yard looking here then looking there trying to figure out the best place to hide it.

Well the dog couldn't get to the two eggs that disappeared out of the coop, not unless they handed them to him out the fence on the door. lol I am going to do a really thorough search tomorrow but I couldn't find shell or anything today. I first thought some of the other pullets had stole them because they were sitting on a nest. They're so dang cute now I wish I had let her have more eggs. I know the pullets will be great! I was looking at the roo today, what a tank he is and probably not even full grown! He is at least twice as big as the pullets, poor girls. I was wondering just how big an Aussie capon would get!?! Next time I kill roos I am going to see how difficult caponizing would be - after I kill them.

 

[Kassaundra]

That's funny. My dog would probably eat his fill then hide them all over creation. I watched him one day with a big ham bone in his mouth walking all over the back yard looking here then looking there trying to figure out the best place to hide it.

Well the dog couldn't get to the two eggs that disappeared out of the coop, not unless they handed them to him out the fence on the door. lol I am going to do a really thorough search tomorrow but I couldn't find shell or anything today. I first thought some of the other pullets had stole them because they were sitting on a nest. They're so dang cute now I wish I had let her have more eggs. I know the pullets will be great! I was looking at the roo today, what a tank he is and probably not even full grown! He is at least twice as big as the pullets, poor girls. I was wondering just how big an Aussie capon would get!?! Next time I kill roos I am going to see how difficult caponizing would be - after I kill them.

Mine are not Aussie, however mine have been outgrowing their parents, and non caponized siblings.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: My blue heeler was stealing the eggs off the kitchen counter that were in egg cartons. Even with the carton closed she would open it and grab an egg get off the counter & take it into the living room to eat. She also brought eggs in for her brother.

The only evidence was yolk on my rug. And once in awhile some shells. I caught her at it one day................how she got off the counter with a raw egg and didn't break it is beyond me. Now the eggs are kept in the cupboard and I know when I am collecting they have to stay in my pocket till I get in the house.

 

[Triple Willow]

My blue heeler was stealing the eggs off the kitchen counter that were in egg cartons. Even with the carton closed she would open it and grab an egg get off the counter & take it into the living room to eat. She also brought eggs in for her brother.    The only evidence was yolk on my rug. And once in awhile some shells. I caught her at it one day................how she got off the counter with a raw egg and didn't break it is beyond me.  Now the eggs are kept in the cupboard and I know when I am collecting they have to stay in my pocket till I get in the house. 

That's funny. It was nice of her to bring her brother some! LOL I like Blue Heelers but I've never had one. Are either of yours trustworthy with your chickens? I have heard that they can be.

 

[Triple Willow]

Mine are not Aussie, however mine have been outgrowing their parents, and non caponized siblings.

Y'all have got me interested in possibly trying it. I would like to get some of those little roos that are being done away with at the hatchery and grow them out.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Mine are not Aussie, however mine have been outgrowing their parents, and non caponized siblings.

My capons are bigger than any of the hens, but not yet bigger than my roo (a big Lavender Orpington), and are bigger than their siblings too.

I have ready that Aussies make good capons, though.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Perhaps if when she was a pup she would be. She is very loyal and trains easy. But the prey drive in her is strong and I have never tried to break that from her. I don't want squirrle's in my house or bunnies eating my veggie garden.She is one of the best dogs I have ever had.

Funny story tho. The PRs had gotten out on occasion and she has chased them. Her and her brother (aussie/lab mix) would spend hours at the fence staring & drooling at the hens. I have no doubt they would kill them if they could. I have no squirrels or rabbits in my yard. Lily has brought me baby bunnies every spring

If the chipmunks and mice were not so fast they would also be dead.

Enter my electric netting....after 3 days of it being electrified and countless yelps by the dogs as they touched it to get closer to hens (I had it up not electrified for almost a month. They were used to sticking their nose through it) & me cowering in the house because it broke my heart every time they shocked themselves

Neither now get within a 100 ft of the fence. It doesn't matter if I am standing next to it or not. Even if I move it they stay away.
And Lily will sit outside the veggie garden (not electrified) and I can leave the gate open and she doesn't try to come in. The veggie garden is the hens winter pasture. So they are all connected. She could walk up to the coop entering thru this way but doesn't. I have even left it open and gone into the house and neither have passed the open gate.

I guess this winter I will find out if they have a renewed interest in the hens. They know the metal fencing is safe. They love to sniff the perimeter to see where the rabbits and chipmunks have been. The best part is both could easily clear either fence but they don't. Thank goodness for small favors