Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

Okay...I've run into another issue.

What do you put your feed in for your baby chicks? I'm using the 2' tray style feeders and they keep filling it with shavings and then of course it soaks up the water and is stuck to the top of the feed.

 

[Beekissed]

I ran into the same problem and only managed to keep it to a minimum but not get rid of it entirely. That's just one of the things that is an irritant but will soon pass when they graduate into a bigger and better feeder. I placed mine up on a platform of blocks so they weren't tracking the shavings as bad into the feed area...but it happens and, when I do chicks again I'm going to find a better feeding method than the tray or trough style feeder.....maybe even go back to mounting a PVC style feeder to the wall so that they can eat out of it but not get into it, though these little boogers can jump up onto and stand, climb, run through any feeder that is low enough to let them eat easily.

If you solve that one, let me know!

 

[shadetech]

I found I was wasting more food with the trough feeder than they were eating, between poo and shavings. I just used the bottom of the round chick feeder without the quart jar on top and it works fine. They waste far less and soil it much less. I'm only feeding 28 and not the large herds you guys are.

I lost one today for no apparent reason. Who knows? Too much of this, too little of that?

henry

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

We just got my granddaughter a little Blue Cochin Bantam that is a day old and luckily the little thing doesn't need too much food right now because she is so tiny and can't even reach the feeder. I'm going to have to figure something out for her.

What kind of feeders do you use for the big ones? I've just been using a horse grain tub to feed my big girls with but they are still getting dry food until I figure out a fermented ration for them.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

I found I was wasting more food with the trough feeder than they were eating, between poo and shavings. I just used the bottom of the round chick feeder without the quart jar on top and it works fine. They waste far less and soil it much less. I'm only feeding 28 and not the large herds you guys are.

I lost one today for no apparent reason. Who knows? Too much of this, too little of that?

henry

Dang, I just hate when that happens!!!

Do you keep the guard on the bottom part too or do you just use the tray?

 

[Beekissed]

I actually devised a tray of my own and put a layer of 1x1 woven wire over it. Bought the tray from a discount store for $.49 and winged it. Worked pretty well, all things considered!

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't have brain power to read this now so I'm posting so I can find it again.

 

[Beekissed]

We just got my granddaughter a little Blue Cochin Bantam that is a day old and luckily the little thing doesn't need too much food right now because she is so tiny and can't even reach the feeder. I'm going to have to figure something out for her.

What kind of feeders do you use for the big ones? I've just been using a horse grain tub to feed my big girls with but they are still getting dry food until I figure out a fermented ration for them.

I built a trough feeder out of rain guttering. Mounted it on 2x4 "feet" and mounted some perches on either side made from old tomato stakes. It is approximately 6 ft. long. When these meaties are out of here, I'll scale it down to suit my layers. It keeps the bedding out of the feed and when they are bigger, I'll remove the side perches altogether. Easy to dump, easy to clean, easy to fill....I like easy.

 

[myhubbycallsmechickeemama]

My hubby has a piece of 4" PVC pipe that is about 5' long, I was thinking I could have him cut it in half and then cap the ends, that would give me 10' of feeder space. Do you think that would be enough room for 36 meaties? Eeh...maybe not, huh? With it being that small around, I don't think they would be able to get inside it when they get bigger.

You should see the little Cochin...OMGosh, she is so stinkin' cute!!! She has to be right in the middle of all the meaties when they are eating and she's cleaning their beaks off for them. She has decided that she is going to stand in the middle of the feeder and let them do all the work and she'll still get to eat by cleaning them up. It is hilarious!!!

 

[Beekissed]

I think it would be okay in length but maybe not be deep enough or wide enough for when they are bigger? Might be....all you can do is try. That is what I am always doing..trying new things to see what sticks, what doesn't.

Your little Cochin is a brave little chick to get near those beaks! They just might eat him!