Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

If you are selling to suburbanites you may sell more BOs and silkies than anything else. In fact, Bob Blosl had started breeding silkies because he was making so much money on them!  To sell to folks wanting eggs, people usually breed and sell RIR and BAs around these parts...not sure how it is where you live. 

Most people don't even know what WR or NH are, let alone a Del.   

Who was he selling the silkies to? Pets or for meat?

I've got a feeling my Delawares are going to be hard to beat as layers.

 

[Beekissed]

Who was he selling the silkies to? Pets or for meat?

I've got a feeling my Delawares are going to be hard to beat as layers.

I don't imagine anyone is buying silkies for their meat quality. I got the impression that it was for the pet market.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Who was he selling the silkies to? Pets or for meat?

I've got a feeling my Delawares are going to be hard to beat as layers.

Went today to see the lady I got my Splash Marans from back before Christmas, and she raises Silkies. We were discussing the fact that they are good broodies..."they'll sit on a rock" were her exact words. Anyway, she said that Silkies are used out in California to incubate Condor eggs.....well one egg actually, It takes 53-60 days to incubate one.....I guess that would be a rock.....one egg weighs about 10 ounces.

 

[LindaB220]

If you are selling to suburbanites you may sell more BOs and silkies than anything else. In fact, Bob Blosl had started breeding silkies because he was making so much money on them! To sell to folks wanting eggs, people usually breed and sell RIR and BAs around these parts...not sure how it is where you live.

Most people don't even know what WR or NH are, let alone a Del.

Actually I was talking about mixing New Hampshire roo and a del hen to make a sex link. Several kinds. I was thinking of people who wanted a lot of eggs. But you're right the silkies and frizzles probably would sell like mad.

 

[Beekissed]

Actually I was talking about mixing New Hampshire roo and a del hen to make a sex link. Several kinds. I was thinking of people who wanted a lot of eggs. But you're right the silkies and frizzles probably would sell like mad.

That would be interesting! You ought to show us some pics when you get that done and let us know how well they lay.

I figure a person could make a good bit of money off of those frizzle bantams...they look like the kind to appeal to the pet crowd. They are kind of cute if you like that sort of thing.

I"ve always wondered about a WR and BA cross bird...how they would look and lay.

 

[Triple Willow]

Went today to see the lady I got my Splash Marans from back before Christmas, and she raises Silkies.  We were discussing the fact that they are good broodies..."they'll sit on a rock" were her exact words.  Anyway, she said that Silkies are used out in California to incubate Condor eggs.....well one egg actually,  It takes 53-60 days to incubate one.....I guess that would be a rock.....one egg weighs about 10 ounces.

I bet that would be a funny sight. I'd like to see the look on the silkie's face when it hatched. lol I bet if anybody was near an Asian population you could sell them for meat.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Everything goes into the crock to be fermented. The fish meal & alfalfa is 1/4 (I think) cup per 4 cups of grains. A fellow BYCer took the ingredients I can get and came up with a formula of how much of each to use dry then when its wet how much fish meal/alfalfa to add to it.

I make it up in 50# batches (the fish meal & alfalfa separate) In October I made up 150# of feed and put in large container I have. I should be set till spring.

 

[Triple Willow]

Everything goes into the crock to be fermented. The fish meal & alfalfa is 1/4 (I think) cup per 4 cups of grains. A fellow BYCer took the ingredients I can get and came up with a formula of how much of each to use dry then when its wet how much fish meal/alfalfa to add to it. 

I make it up in 50# batches (the fish meal & alfalfa separate)   In October I made up 150# of feed and put in large container I have. I should be set till spring. 

Sounds great. I've never checked on fish meal but I'm sure my feel mill has it. I asked about peas but they are too expensive around here. Barley was high too. I'm sure there is plenty of wheat. My birds love the corn. They pick it out first and the oats the love dry when I toss them a few. I don't know why they like dry tasteless oats.

 

[Kassaundra]

Sounds great. I've never checked on fish meal but I'm sure my feel mill has it. I asked about peas but they are too expensive around here. Barley was high too. I'm sure there is plenty of wheat. My birds love the corn. They pick it out first and the oats the love dry when I toss them a few. I don't know why they like dry tasteless oats.

If I have corn in my ferment mine will pick it out first too. Mine won't touch dry oats at all.

 

[WalkingWolf1]

Quote:
Be careful on the fish meal. A friend of mine picks up this stuff in 30 gallon barrels down at the pogey plant and the chickens will go nuts for it. It definitely ups the protein but there is a point you have to stop (and I don't know what it is). If you overfeed the fish meal the meat will definitely taste it. The eggs will also but not as bad as the meat. Not sure if the one you can get at feed stores has been cut down with anything but if it is straight it is quite pungent. FYI