Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Ok so would changing to the FF give the chickens diarrhea for a time or is it probably something else I need to be looking for? ( They have only been on it for a few days) I'm not even sure which one has the diarrhea because I have only seen good poops from both of them so far. Here is a pic (sorry in advance..it's kind nasty lol)

I looked but didn't see any worms in it but...

Thanks for any info!

Give it time...and in the mean time, some classic advice: Stop staring at poop!

TW, you might try pinless peepers...I've heard they work and they don't cost much. I'd still invest in the electric fencing so you can free range because that will be better all the way around for the flock, but the pinless peepers would be a better solution than clipping beaks.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pinless_peepers.html

 

[armorfirelady]

What the heck are those suppose to do Bee?

 

[Beekissed]

What the heck are those suppose to do Bee?

Supposed to work like blinders on a horse...but for chickens. If they cannot see the bird in front of them, they cannot peck the bird in front of them. They can see straight down at food, to the sides but not straight in front, so they cannot confront one another. At least, that's the idea...I've never tried them but they are worth a shot, as many say they work.

 

[Angelicisi]

Haha love it.
*hero bucket!

This stuff is wonderful. I've got about 130 adults to feed in different yards and pens. I went around this morning and gave the same amount of scoops to everyone that I used to do with the dry layer pellets. And that amount would actually be far *less than usual if it were dry. I can tell you right now it was way way too much & I know they can't finish it all. So I get to feed LESS food, more variety, a ton healthier.....and I get to walk around like a dang hero with a bucket of feed *they think is strictly treats.....amazing.
I asked them, "Who's your mama now??"

 

[Darkangael]

Love the hero bucket =).

 

[Triple Willow]

@Bee... I don't know why I didn't think of that. I was just looking at the McMurray website a day or so ago and even looked at those things. I will definitely be placing an order for those! Oh that will so pee the Leghorn roo off if he can't be mean to the rest. I'm gonna love it. lol I got tickled yesterday, the Dominique roo was trying to sneak up on one of the Delaware pullets so he could have his way with her. She saw him coming and stepped toward him real quick like, "Boy! I will kick your butt!" and he ran. LOL
Thank you!

 

[JesNflock]

Give it time...and in the mean time, some classic advice: Stop staring at poop!

TW, you might try pinless peepers...I've heard they work and they don't cost much. I'd still invest in the electric fencing so you can free range because that will be better all the way around for the flock, but the pinless peepers would be a better solution than clipping beaks.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pinless_peepers.htm

Yeah, I think I'm so worried that because I don't know much about them that something is gonna be wrong and I'm not going to recognize the signs *sigh* I feel like a brand new parent...When you have your first you worry about every tiny hiccup, but after the second you learn what is ok and what is a crisis (Doesn't help that they are pooping everywhere)

lol

 

[Triple Willow]

Do any of you ever trim the beaks of your birds, especially roosters kept for breeding? I know they can't be completely "dubbed" if they are going to be used for breeding, at least I don't think they can be...? And I am sure that a complete "dubbing" would interfere with foraging. I'm wondering if just taking the tip off would prevent them from doing so much damage to other birds. I believe I am going to check into this, especial
ly for birds (roosters mainly) kept for slaughter.

Correction... I was thinking the extreme beak trimming was called dubbing. I remembered dubbing is to remove the comb and wattles, the extrema beak removal is just called de-beaking. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes. If it's different somebody please correct me on that.

 

[Triple Willow]

If anyone is interested here is an article about beak trimming, management practices, instruments etc for feather picking, cannibalism, bullying, etc. Pretty good write up. I believe this will really help when raising roosters for slaughter. Hopefully the reduced stress would help on weight gain. And it might help our nerves from having to deal with roosters! lol

http://www.poultryhub.org/health/health-management/beak-trimming/

 

[Kassaundra]

If anyone is interested here is an article about beak trimming, management practices, instruments etc for feather picking, cannibalism, bullying, etc. Pretty good write up. I believe this will really help when raising roosters for slaughter. Hopefully the reduced stress would help on weight gain. And it might help our nerves from having to deal with roosters! lol

http://www.poultryhub.org/health/health-management/beak-trimming/

I do not debeak or dub, I caponize males being raised for meat. That takes care of aggression and sex drive, eliminates testerone effect on meat and does not interfere w/ foraging ability.