Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

Bee, some of my birds are looking like that and I have had the rooster out of the pen for at least two months. Some of mine have started looking like that since I took him out. I have about come to the conclusion that they are doing it to each other while on the roost. The same birds were beautiful last year - no feather problems at all.

 

[Triple Willow]

@Rose... I know it is so frustrating!

 

[calliescluckers]

Two gallon container fit perfectly in my spot. Started it last night and this was after one stirring this morning.

thats super nice... mine is in plastic so i can't see the layers!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Rosemarie, if the place is on their backs could you use those saddle things they sell for over-mated hens? There is something called "bitter apple" I think, or something like that, that they sell in pet stores to put on things to keep dogs from eating things. It tastes really bad. Maybe you could spray it on their feathers??? Just thinkin'.......

I thought about something like that to. Thanx!


Someone said to give them ground beef, do I cook it or do I give it to them raw?

 

[Beekissed]

Two gallon container fit perfectly in my spot. Started it last night and this was after one stirring this morning.

Might want to leave the lid off that....you'll have more success at pulling wild yeast from the air and it will allow any consequent gas to escape without causing a minor explosion.

 

[Beekissed]

Might want to leave the lid off that....you'll have more success at pulling wild yeast from the air and it will allow any consequent gas to escape without causing a minor explosion.

Just saw your post from the other thread, so you are aware of the dynamics...just disregard my last if you are satisfied that your arrangement is optimal for this process.

 

[aatx]

Just saw your post from the other thread, so you are aware of the dynamics...just disregard my last if you are satisfied that your arrangement is optimal for this process.

I am for now. (Now, if I get home and find that a cat has nudged the lid or something, I may have to adjust.)

(For anyone that did not see a reply on the other thread - I mentioned that although I trusted this lid as being able to breathe, I did leave the lid ajar this morning before I left for work.)

 

[Beekissed]

Well...processed Fat Cochin today. Never saw a bird take so long to die...ever. It was a good cut and he bled out to the last drop...and was still alive, blinking, breathing, trying. Then, another first, when I removed his breast filets they were still jumping and moving in my hands, like frog legs. I've had or seen slight twitches in the meat before on a fresh kill but not to the degree of this. All I can say is that bird was a fighter....all the way, even until after death, his body was protesting the passing.

Really fooled me, this fancy pants sissy bird, that turned out to be pretty darn tough in the face of a larger, heavier rooster, kept his flock, had learned how to forage and watch for preds, etc. Even died like a champ and a fighter....Rest In Soup, Fat Cochin!

 

[Triple Willow]

God bless Fat Cochin. Ya know Bee, there will be animals in heaven. I wonder if it will be any we knew in this life. I kinda hope so. I've had some great dogs as well as other critters.

 

[Triple Willow]

I have got some athletic CX chicks! Pretty much every day I catch somebody climbing this 8 ft ladder then jumping/flying off. I'm always afraid they are going to try to jump over in the roo pen and get tangled up in the deer netting. LOL