Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[RoseMarie1]

Yum.. This guy has a cool accent. and he made me think I might actually try this at some point. It looks like It might be doable and now I know where they get the mini drumsticks that are so popular in the expensive restaurants near here.

that does look yum! Yes we watch him on PBS all the time, he and Julia Childs as well.

 

[Triple Willow]

So just chick start,water,stir and 24 hours? That's it?

The time can depend on the temp and the environment. I cheat and put some buttermilk in it for a quick start. You will love the results.

 

[beverly evans]

Quote:
I am working on getting Cream Legbars. There are a few people I speak with on these forums that have them and are willing to ship eggs.

So how much do they want for the eggs?? THX : )

 

[gameandmore]

The time can depend on the temp and the environment. I cheat and put some buttermilk in it for a quick start. You will love the results.

Thanks! what is the ideal temp?

 

[RoseMarie1]

Rosemarie , You're so right! Something else. Why did you dry pluck him and was it a lot harder than when one plucks the usual way? Or should I even ask since this was your first? Just wondered. His skin was so clean and white! : )

I remember when I was at my grandpa's when we did hogs some times we would leave the hog in the hot water too long and it would set the hair and we COULD NOT get it off hardly. Made things much worse so since this was my first one I just did it dry because of that AND because once they get wet the feathers stick to your fingers and that is VERY annoying to me. As a kid i remember helping dress a chicken or two at my grandpas. Didn't have many chickens though. Only remember one or two that we did. But I can remember how the feathers being wet would not turn loose from your fingers. lol I think it was just easier with him being dry.

The only areas that was hard was the very large feathers and those on the ends of the wings. Which we decided to just cut off anyway because he didn't wanna have to fool with that. On the thing that the main tail feathers are attached to, don't know what that thing is called, maybe his tail? lol anyway those were hard to get off but when you just pulled 1-2 at a time it was easier.

Yeah that part got me to since he was soooo clean on his skin.

 

[Beekissed]

So, I have a flock management question for you, Bee! I have recently discovered why my egg levels are so low... I have some egg eaters in my flock. It's a small flock and only one hen is totally disinterested in the eggs. However, two of them are intent on breaking open ALL the eggs and eating them. I already have ceramic salt shakers and I just tried an egg blown out and filled with mustard and cayenne. The two that have been breaking them open did just that even while I was right there "pecking" them REALLY hard and then all the hens but one ate all the egg and it's contents. So much for THAT.

If I cull all the culprits in the mustard egg incident, I cull all but one bird. It's gotten so bad that they're just hiding in the coop, ignoring their regular feed, and their BOSS and their scratch waiting for an egg. I am not sure how many are willing to break eggs open but two of them are very aggressive with it. I would hate to have to replace my whole flock... I do not live in an area where adult hens are easy for me to just walk down the street and get. Thoughts?

I'll post part of a blurb I posted elsewhere about this bi-annual problem....

Quote:
Now, lets think about your problem. You've had these chickens for some time I expect? Not new flock members? And, suddenly, in the past few weeks or more you've noticed an egg reduction and have discovered these chickens are eating eggs? You'll have to ask yourself this question, "Why all the sudden have these chickens turned into so-called cannibals?" The above post can maybe help you think a little more objectively about the problem and do some thinking about when it started and why it started in a broader sense than "my chickens are eating my eggs and I want those eggs for myself!".

I myself have found broken eggs in my nest of late but they failed to eat the egg contents, just the shells...I wish they had cleaned up the contents as I had to clean out the nest because they did not. I welcome it when they do because 1. it's normal behavior and 2. they are getting a little extra protein and it can't hurt as they are building up to the peak of laying season.

I've never had an egg eater....I've had literally hundreds of them down through my life. All chickens are egg eaters at some time or another when a shell gets damaged near them...it's natural and nothing to worry about. Egg shells will strengthen and this too shall pass. It always does. It has for the past 37 years of my life and I expect it will in the next years of my chicken keeping life as well.

Relax, give it time..this too shall pass. If you'd rather not wait you can devise some roll out nest boxes so you won't have to wait or worry about this natural cycle of life.

 

[rickerra]

Thanks!

what is the ideal temp?

Room temperature works well for my FF. I've been doing the continual batch method... take some out... put some new in... add water as needed... stir... repeat. I'm amazed at how easy it is. And like others said... it swells the food to be more than you put in originally... so seems like it goes further. Plus close to zero waste... can't be flicked out of the feeder.

I've been using it with my chicks since I hatched them out 3 weeks ago (future egg layers). They love it... course it's all they've ever known. Not a single case of pasty butt and they are growing and feathering out great. I've been using non-medicated chick starter in my FF... and will be switching over to layer pellets when they get a little older. Works great for me. So glad I read about it here!

Cheers!

 

[gameandmore]

Room temperature works well for my FF.  I've been doing the continual batch method... take some out... put some new in... add water as needed... stir... repeat.  I'm amazed at how easy it is.  And like others said... it swells the food to be more than you put in originally... so seems like it goes further.  Plus close to zero waste... can't be flicked out of the feeder.

I've been using it with my chicks since I hatched them out 3 weeks ago (future egg layers).  They love it... course it's all they've ever known.  Not a single case of pasty butt and they are growing and feathering out great.  I've been using non-medicated chick starter in my FF... and will be switching over to layer pellets when they get a little older.  Works great for me.  So glad I read about it here!

Cheers!

Thank you so much! I will be setting up my first batch here in a few seconds!

 

[LindaB220]

Wow, I've been reading through the first several pages of this thread and I am going to try fermenting my feed! I take ACV everyday and drink kombucha. We try to eat a lot of fermented foods, I never thought of doing something like this for my animals!

Thanks for all of the information!

Welcome to the thread. I, too, love kombucha. You can ferment with it as a started just like ACV. I've heard that you can mince up your extra scobys and give as treats to your chicks. A little extra goodness. I won't get my chicks until Mar 20 but I plan on day 1 starting with FF. Mortality rates drop for babies.

 

[beverly evans]

Thanks Rosemarie, I guess when the time comes I'll try it both ways. Yours looked so neat, it made me wonder why we stick them in the boiling water if doing it dry gives such excellent results? : )