Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Beekissed]

Oh yeah it was BAD!!! There are several towns with sections just totally destroyed. That storm front went from Illinois all the way down through TN and I think even further. Yet again, by the grace of God the worst that happened here at my place was a tarp blew off my coop. We have a lot of that sort of weather, HIGH winds and some tornados passing through.

You got that right! We got some hard rain and very high winds...which dropped a few trees down over our rode out to the highway. Which, incidentally, we could use for firewood. In the midst of the storm, God provides!

 

[Triple Willow]

You got that right!  We got some hard rain and very high winds...which dropped a few trees down over our rode out to the highway.  Which, incidentally, we could use for firewood.  In the midst of the storm, God provides! 

I wondered if that front would make it all the way to you and BCMaraniac. It was a doozie!

 

[Triple Willow]

That's more than I pay for 50# of layer mash!!!  What in the world are you guys buying all that expensive supplement for when the fermentation already boosts your nutrients, vitamins and minerals to such a degree? 

I bought it so my birds would peck it instead of each other! LOL
...not for any nutritional value.

 

[Beekissed]

I bought it so my birds would peck it instead of each other! LOL
...not for any nutritional value.

Did it work? Do you use deep litter in your coops and run? It can provide extra nutrition, foraging opportunities and alleviate the boredom of being cooped up in a run.

 

[Triple Willow]

Did it work?  Do you use deep litter in your coops and run?  It can provide extra nutrition, foraging opportunities and alleviate the boredom of being cooped up in a run. 

I haven't got a deep litter built up in the new coop yet and I'm still moving birds around - hoping to put the older flock and the youngsters together. I don't know if the older roo will go for it. I have two Buckeye roos with the younger pullets and they get along great. I don't know if the old roo will coexist with them or not. He thinks he's "the man"! LOL So after I get done playing musical chickens everybody will have the deep litter. I still have a ton of leaves to get up.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Bee... what do you think about horse manure/shavings that's on its way to being compost as deep litter?

 

[Demosthine]

@Bee... what do you think about horse manure/shavings that's on its way to being compost as deep litter?

Hmm, interesting idea, Willow! I have an endless supply from a neighbor. We just picked up three truckloads for my Dad's backyard and barely put a dent in the pile. I don't think it was truly composting, since it isn't turning black, but it is very dry and nothing but crumbles. It's still very light and airy. I put a layer on my yard when I overseeded for winter and the grass is growing in great! And the flock LOVES shuffling it around for me!

 

[Triple Willow]

Hmm, interesting idea, Willow! I have an endless supply from a neighbor. We just picked up three truckloads for my Dad's backyard and barely put a dent in the pile. I don't think it was truly composting, since it isn't turning black, but it is very dry and nothing but crumbles. It's still very light and airy. I put a layer on my yard when I overseeded for winter and the grass is growing in great! And the flock LOVES shuffling it around for me!

I'm sure they would LOVE a big pile to scratch around in but I wonder if it would have too much manure in it to actually put in their run...?

 

[Beekissed]

Wouldn't hurt to use a little of it in the run litter to jump start the litter with some manure but the purpose of the litter is to mix with the feces of the chickens, so if it already has nitrogen in it, you'd have to add more carbonaceous material to balance it out. Now...if you were to build a box for it down on one end of the run and put it in there to start composting, it would make a great place for them to go in there and "hunt". Keeping it bunched up in a mass would encourage more insect life to congregate in it and the chickens could treat it sort of like a forage area. You could dump kitchen scraps in it and cover them over so the worms would rise into the mass and feed on that food, thereby getting more nutrition from your scraps by using them for bait for the bigger fish of worm and bug proteins.

 

[Triple Willow]

Wouldn't hurt to use a little of it in the run litter to jump start the litter with some manure but the purpose of the litter is to mix with the feces of the chickens, so if it already has nitrogen in it, you'd have to add more carbonaceous material to balance it out.  Now...if you were to build a box for it down on one end of the run and put it in there to start composting, it would make a great place for them to go in there and "hunt".   Keeping it bunched up in a mass would encourage more insect life to congregate in it and the chickens could treat it sort of like a forage area.   You could dump kitchen scraps in it and cover them over so the worms would rise into the mass and feed on that food, thereby getting more nutrition from your scraps by using them for bait for the bigger fish of worm and bug proteins. 

That is kinda how I was leaning, might have too much manure already in it. It would also depend on how we'll they were cleaning out the horse stalls, just picking out manure or stripping them completely out. Can't you tell, I'm a pooper scooper of all flavors from waaay back. lol