Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[beverly evans]

Quote: TW and anyone else out there that may have an idea for me.... Speaking of smells....I have a big problem. I have been a year waiting to find someone to do some digging for me to put 4x4's into the ground to fence off a garden area and a compost corner. My son kepps promising. You know how that goes. Anyway the poop and shavings have been collecting . I have 4 large garbage cans full! Two have lids on them, two do not. It rained a lot one day and the ones without lids obviously got really wet. The other day I swear something dead was in my yaard. I looked everywhere; got down on my knees and looked under the storage shed even. Couldn't find anything, even asked a neighbor if something was dead in her yard. She smelled it too. Well people can brag about it not stinking in the coops but OMG, just let it get wet!!! Now, what to do?? If I put the compost where I planned the neighbors will smell it and complain. I plan to make it a permanent spot, cement the posts and all. So, even with new poop and shavings that are dry, when it rains will this happen again? Yuk, if you could smell it, you would die. And it's not going away! Someone is going to call the city on me! For now I am going to have to pay some one to carry it off and they will have to keep my expensive, large cans. What to do?? : (

 

[Triple Willow]

@Bev... First off here is a link to the page the pickled egg recipes are on: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/11580
I am on a cell phone but I found it by clicking on the thing at the top right of my page and doing a "search" for pickled.
Yes I have about as many birds as you do. I sell the biggest part of my eggs, about eight dozen a week. But a had one die a couple months ago (liver problem) and now three are broody. I'm wondering how many eggs I will have for a while. But I can't complain at all. Right now it is still at least a dozen a day.

About the old poop. I am having a similar problem - water has got in one of my containers. Soo I understand! Yuck! I've got about three big containers stored up too. I was thinking about taking the liquid which is great fertilizer and spreading it on the flowerbeds and around the yard. (Probably have to water it down to keep from burning the plants.) My container that got water in it is big! I am thinking about either dipping the water out or maybe even poking a small hole in the container and letting it drain that way. I haven't composted with any of it yet so I don't know for sure if you can do it without a smell or not. Surely you can...? Anybody know...??? If you decide it has to go I'm sure some local gardeners would be glad to take it or even buy it. Sometimes I store mine in empty feed sacks. You could transfer yours to feed sacks and sell it. I know what you mean about getting somebody to do something.

 

[Latestarter]

@Bev... First off here is a link to the page the pickled egg recipes are on: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/11580
I am on a cell phone but I found it by clicking on the thing at the top right of my page and doing a "search" for pickled.
Yes I have about as many birds as you do. I sell the biggest part of my eggs, about eight dozen a week. But a had one die a couple months ago (liver problem) and now three are broody. I'm wondering how many eggs I will have for a while. But I can't complain at all. Right now it is still at least a dozen a day.

About the old poop. I am having a similar problem - water has got in one of my containers. Soo I understand! Yuck! I've got about three big containers stored up too. I was thinking about taking the liquid which is great fertilizer and spreading it on the flowerbeds and around the yard. (Probably have to water it down to keep from burning the plants.) My container that got water in it is big! I am thinking about either dipping the water out or maybe even poking a small hole in the container and letting it drain that way. I haven't composted with any of it yet so I don't know for sure if you can do it without a smell or not. Surely you can...? Anybody know...??? If you decide it has to go I'm sure some local gardeners would be glad to take it or even buy it. Sometimes I store mine in empty feed sacks. You could transfer yours to feed sacks and sell it. I know what you mean about getting somebody to do something.

Hey Bev & TW,

Not sure where either of you are located... I'm on the front range of Colorado, north/northeast of Denver. If you're within a couple of hours drive, I would be willing to come and help you "fix" your problem in whatever way I could (short of loading it into my truck and "taking it off your hands").

If you have a garden plot, why couldn't you just spread it there and then till it in? I know it may be a little late for that now and you may have already planted if you do have a garden., but you could always add a row next to what you have and till it in there... Once you get it mixed into some soil, any stink should dissipate very quickly... like within a couple of days, as the water leaches out and into the ground. In addition, it shouldn't hurt or "burn" any plants you plant afterwards as it will be quite "diluted" once mixed in with the soil.

If all this poop has been sitting in a trash can full of water, I would hesitate to "drain" it or scoop out the liquid and pour it directly on (or under/beside/around/etc.) any plant I didn't want to kill... I'm pretty sure the nitrogen content would be lethal. Of course, conversely, any plant you might WANT dead... like weeds... would probably thrive on it... Doesn't that seem to be the way these things work?

 

[LindaB220]

I'm certain Triple Willow meant no harm and I certainly didn't take it that way. I don't mind someone suggesting helping the less fortunate/elderly but I was hoping there might have been just a little effort to shed some light on my question in the post.

I really hate to begin giving eggs to people because they learn to expect them and when the time comes that I'm don't have them, I feel bad for the people and I don't like to feel bad. As I said, we give a lot of resources to help the elderly and other unfortunate people. In fact, If I posted what we do, It wouldn't be believed. That's it.

Turk

Nice to see a face behind the name.

 

[LindaB220]

Please excuse my ignorance but I am very new to this process. What is ACV? I am really interested in fermenting feed, also is it possable to start fermentation with a bread yeast or similar?

thanks

Just water, grain and cover lightly so air can get in but not flies etc. Four days stirring daily. Ready to feed. No additives needed.

 

[LindaB220]

So i can just keep reusing the bottom water over and over right? Do you use the two bucket system

A quick trip to easy faqs about fermented feed


http://www.tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[beverly evans]

@Bev... First off here is a link to the page the pickled egg recipes are on: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/11580
I am on a cell phone but I found it by clicking on the thing at the top right of my page and doing a "search" for pickled.
Yes I have about as many birds as you do. I sell the biggest part of my eggs, about eight dozen a week. But a had one die a couple months ago (liver problem) and now three are broody. I'm wondering how many eggs I will have for a while. But I can't complain at all. Right now it is still at least a dozen a day.

About the old poop. I am having a similar problem - water has got in one of my containers. Soo I understand! Yuck! I've got about three big containers stored up too. I was thinking about taking the liquid which is great fertilizer and spreading it on the flowerbeds and around the yard. (Probably have to water it down to keep from burning the plants.) My container that got water in it is big! I am thinking about either dipping the water out or maybe even poking a small hole in the container and letting it drain that way. I haven't composted with any of it yet so I don't know for sure if you can do it without a smell or not. Surely you can...? Anybody know...??? If you decide it has to go I'm sure some local gardeners would be glad to take it or even buy it. Sometimes I store mine in empty feed sacks. You could transfer yours to feed sacks and sell it. I know what you mean about getting somebody to do something.

Hi TW, You stay up late! Being wet, these huge garbage cans are impossible for me to handle. Sure, I can get a dolly and with help move them to another part of the yard. All I can think of is to cover them and hope the bacteria that's there will work and do some breaking down that lessens the smell. Mine have holes in the bottom and this disgusting black stuff that leaks out has stained my sidewalk. I'm guessing that one must keep a tarp handy to cover a compost pile so this doesn't happens. I'd planned on putting my compost in the side corner next to my neighbors fence. Wouldn't they love the smell in their back yard? It doesn't smell when it's dry at all. I like your idea. I'm going to put it on craig's list right now, and say they must bring their containers. I need my garbage cans. I'll have to make it free. But when they smell it they might change their minds! I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, any other ideas are welcome. Thanks TW. : )

 

[LindaB220]

Day 3? 4? I have forgotten how long I have been feeding FF. Anyhow, they LOVE it. The thing I need to figure out is just how much to give them. I had crumble out free choice. My flock consists of 15 layers and 1 Roo. They free range on 11+ acres of open grass/yard, woods, apple/peach orchard as well as the adjacent field from sun up to sun down. I can fill two loaf pans to the brim and they finish it in about 5 minutes. I fed them first thing this morning and it seemed like they were quite lazy today because of it. They stayed within 25 feet of the coop, chased me down begging for food each time I stepped outside all the while with full bulging crops (hard to miss as they run at me like a herd of wildebeest). I feel like it would be best to feed them once in the evening to fill them up before they go to roost. That will hopefully force them to feed themselves all day. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on this?

Also, fizzing, bubbling, moving-- does this sound like a good ferment? It is kinda crazy watching it move and bubble after I stir it! It smells OK, better than it did immediately after I first added water.

That's what BeeKissed does. Forces them to range and fill up on bugs, seed, etc

 

[LindaB220]

TW and anyone else out there that may have an idea for me.... Speaking of smells....I have a big problem. I have been a year waiting to find someone to do some digging for me to put 4x4's into the ground to fence off a garden area and a compost corner. My son kepps promising. You know how that goes. Anyway the poop and shavings have been collecting . I have 4 large garbage cans full! Two have lids on them, two do not. It rained a lot one day and the ones without lids obviously got really wet. The other day I swear something dead was in my yaard. I looked everywhere; got down on my knees and looked under the storage shed even. Couldn't find anything, even asked a neighbor if something was dead in her yard. She smelled it too. Well people can brag about it not stinking in the coops but OMG, just let it get wet!!! Now, what to do?? If I put the compost where I planned the neighbors will smell it and complain. I plan to make it a permanent spot, cement the posts and all. So, even with new poop and shavings that are dry, when it rains will this happen again? Yuk, if you could smell it, you would die. And it's not going away! Someone is going to call the city on me! For now I am going to have to pay some one to carry it off and they will have to keep my expensive, large cans. What to do?? : (

Spread it out and water it down. When it dries, the smell will leave. Next time cover your pile with a tarp if its going to rain. Easy. Don't give it away. It'll only be a day or two.

 

[Triple Willow]

Hi TW,  You stay up late!   Being wet, these huge garbage cans are impossible for me to handle.  Sure, I can get a dolly and with help move them to another  part of the yard.  All I can think of is to cover them and hope the bacteria that's there will work and do some breaking down that lessens the smell.  Mine have holes in the bottom and this disgusting black stuff that leaks out has stained my sidewalk.  I'm guessing that one must keep a tarp handy to cover a compost pile so this doesn't happens.  I'd planned on putting my compost in the side corner next to my neighbors fence.  Wouldn't they love the smell in their back yard?  It doesn't smell when it's dry at all.  I like your idea.  I'm going to put it on craig's list right now, and say they must bring their containers.  I need my garbage cans. I'll have to make it free.  But when they smell it they might change their minds!  I'll let you know how it goes.  In the meantime, any other ideas are welcome.  Thanks TW.    : )

Hi Bev. Yep I was up late. Went to bed at a reasonable hour then started coughing so sleep was over. I fooled around and got a cold a few days ago from sleeping with a fan blowing on me. I go to bed coughing and wake up early coughing. Ahhh! Yep I knew better. lol

If I was going to get rid of that poop I'd sell it unless you have a good friend or family that wants it. True, if you spread it out it will dry out and not stink. As far as composting it, I'd have to read up on that and see how it's done without a bad smell. I guess the best composting method is using deep litter. Black Soldier Flies are attracted to it!