Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[BCMaraniac]

Well cared for, they may live to be 30 or 35 years old. Well cared for means good food but not over fed, especially too much grain because they founder easily. Semi-good pasture, worming and good hay, water and hoof trimming should stand them in good stead for a very long time.

So, he would outlive me

.

 

[hellbender]

So, he would outlive me

.

That could explain why there are so many feral donkeys out west...prospectors 'crossed over'
before their beasts of burden, leaving the hard-scrabble animals to fend for themselves.

Edited to say...many have been to live much longer than my original numbers but 30 to 35
years is a pretty good average.

 

[BCMaraniac]

That could explain why there are so many feral donkeys out west...prospectors 'crossed over'
before their beasts of burden, leaving the hard-scrabble animals to fend for themselves.

Edited to say...many have been to live much longer than my original numbers but 30 to 35
years is a pretty good average.

Are they as prone to laminitis as ponies?? I sure hope not.

 

[TexasLisa]

Well cared for, they may live to be 30 or 35 years old. Well cared for means good food but not over fed, especially too much grain because they founder easily. Semi-good pasture, worming and good hay, water and hoof trimming should stand them in good stead for a very long time.

I was brought up to the idea that horses foundered and that donkeys/mules wouldn't. Mules were smarter than horses in that respect. Is that false?

Lisa

 

[AletaG]

Just want to say, I love this thread... people are always willing to help newbies to FF, and at the same time, it doesn't die out 'between times' 'cause everyone is so happy to chat up just about any (literal) bunny trail! You guys rock!

 

[hellbender]

Are they as prone to laminitis as ponies?? I sure hope not.

Donkeys are far more liable to be affected by founder than horses and I suspect even more so than ponies. The best way to deal with them is simply to let them graze marginal pastures (no succulents) and feed them good hay...just enough grain to get them to follow you or come to you...no more than a hand full.

 

[hellbender]

I was brought up to the idea that horses foundered and that donkeys/mules wouldn't. Mules were smarter than horses in that respect. Is that false?

Lisa

Totally and absolutely!!!!!!!! lol

 

[hogster160]

Ugh 100 pages behind.....well took my meaties down Monday. They were 12 weeks old. Feed ff and free ranged the whole time. The largest was 8 1/2 lbs live weight. The smallest was a runt at barely 5 lbs. dh picked them up Tuesday. I'm not sure what the cleaned weight is as I'm not home, I'm in michigan with my mom.

For this being the first time doing meaties, it was a wonderful experience. They would roam all over our 2 acres, into the neighbors yard, the corn field behind my property. So so friendly. They would come meet us at the door, follow us to the cars. Scratch on the front door, sit by the window watching us lol. None died of heart problems, and we had no leg issues. In fact the only issue we had with them was they waited by the door and followed us to the cars. So we always kept some ff by the door to distract them lol. It was so much fun watching them come running to us from afar.

We opted to have them processed. My mom is having health issues and I am needed here with her. Dh was willing to do it before I left, but I was too emotional with moms problems to even try. Dh thought I would cry when we dropped them off. I felt like I let them down, as I didn't finish through with them. I'm sure these people were fast and efficient, the chickens were handled with love and care when we dropped them off. But I still feel like I let them down. Very sad. Next time I may be better prepared to finish what I started. I am proud to say I didn't cry, but...I was very sad. And thankful so I told them so. I will be sure to let everyone know how well they taste once I get home and find out for myself.

We will be growing out our own meat chicken from now on. Thanks to all of you and your experiences. Really didn't know what to expect, and it was really wonderful! Thanks!

Deb

 

[Angelicisi]

Ditto, A lot of good advice and real experience here, its good to get info from people doing it, even if 50 pages zoom by and I have to read awhile lol

Just want to say, I love this thread... people are always willing to help newbies to FF, and at the same time, it doesn't die out 'between times' 'cause everyone is so happy to chat up just about any (literal) bunny trail! You guys rock!

 

[BCMaraniac]

Donkeys are far more liable to be affected by founder than horses and I suspect even more so than ponies. The best way to deal with them is simply to let them graze marginal pastures (no succulents) and feed them good hay...just enough grain to get them to follow you or come to you...no more than a hand full.

I think ponies would give 'em a run for their money....they are pretty much like that too: hay, minimal grasses, and 6 kernels of corn per day.....LOL.