Hey from Southeastern North Carolina!

[Grubly]

I didn't start raising chickens until I was 70, and I've only had them for 2 years, so there is much to learn. When we moved here there was already a chicken coop so I bought some baby chicks. I got an assortment of black Astrolorps, buff Orphingtons, something listed as RIR (but I can't member what that stood for.) One of my black ones turned out to be the kind that has a black comb and is supposed to be a rare breed. Most of them lay every day and have even layed well in the winter.
I have been feeding them layer pellets but no matter how I dispense them, they mostly end up on the ground. This has been frustrating so I am thinking of trying fermenting their food. Anyone here have a good system for doing that?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

RIR = Rhode Island Red

For fermenting, I do it in quart jars. I don't do their feed, but you can. Just fill a jar half full of your pellets. You can put some scratch in there too if you have some. We use Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve as scratch, and ferment mostly that.

Fill your jar with water (not chlorinated) and cover with cheesecloth or something like that so no bugs find a way in. Stir it each day at least once or twice. Make sure it stays covered with water. On the third day it's ready to be served. It may smell yeasty. That's perfect!

The other idea is if there's food on the ground, don't feed them anything else until they clean it up, and they will.

We're glad you're here!

 

[fldiver97]

Nice to have you here!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

 

[N F C]

Hi, it's nice to have you here with us!

 

[muddy75]

 

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!

 

[Jenbirdee]

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.

 

[BoundlessLove]