INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

I tried Craigslist for awhile but the folks that were selling wanted way more than I thought they were worth.

There was a road widening going on in our area and we noticed that about 5 of the houses slated for tear-down had garden sheds in the back yard. Through the road dept., we found out that the houses would eventually be turned over to Habit for Humanity Re-Store for gleaning so we contacted them. Got the shed for $250 and we had a friend that got it on a trailer and moved it to our property.

Then...I had a plan. here's a few photos of the inside work:

This was the first phase...All materials used were items my husband already had (he's a saver and re-purposer) with the exception of the vinyl on the floor and the hardware cloth. I use deep litter over that vinyl. I painted everything because I wanted it to be easy to clean and not have stuff seeping into the wood.












In the second phase, added more area for the chickens but it was also set so that it could be totally shut off from the other side for brooding. It stays open when no brooding is going on so they have the whole area. There is still a walk-in "people area" with a shelf for storage and enough room to have the food can, rakes, etc.





Broody is currently using that side!

Wonderful! Please, don't hesitate anytime you "get bored" to share, this was a ton of great info. Love your colors too! I really like how you've laid out the shed. Love the nesting boxes the most. Several awesome posts, great job

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Greeting hoosiers. In Hobart, with chickens.

Rural rensselaer! Is where our farm is.

anybody near us? Love it to be part of the indiana byc page

Welcome to you both!!! and

We are happy you have joined us!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Found this for 480 including tax, has 4 nesting boxes. Way better than the pre fab coop i was looking at that costs 500$. Do you think this would make a happy home? Or should I keep looking

That is very nice and looks sturdy. Think you will be happier with it.

 

[CluckAcres]

You can really feed from it right away because just soaking the food helps make the nutrients more bio-available (body can absorb more nutrients).

But, if you are waiting for a bit of fermenting to begin, it usually starts to get that slightly sour smell in about 3 - 5 days. It all depends on how warm the area your fermenting container is in. When you take out the feed you are going to feed, stir dry feed back in and enough water to keep the feed under the water line. This kind of Fermenting is an anaerobic process so keeping the water line above helps facilitate that.

If you get a chance, stir it now and then during those early days especially. Pretty soon you'll notice the little carbon dioxide bubbles rising when you stir it. The LABs produce the carbon dioxide...just like in pickle or sauerkraut making!

Oh...if I had a larger flock I'd use the buckets but since I don't...the small container suffices for now!

I read some where to let my first batch sit for 3 days to get it started and I think thats why i was getting the sour smell, but it was fine.

 

[CluckAcres]

Lovely Coop!!!! That's some handy work!!!!

I tried Craigslist for awhile but the folks that were selling wanted way more than I thought they were worth.

There was a road widening going on in our area and we noticed that about 5 of the houses slated for tear-down had garden sheds in the back yard. Through the road dept., we found out that the houses would eventually be turned over to Habit for Humanity Re-Store for gleaning so we contacted them. Got the shed for $250 and we had a friend that got it on a trailer and moved it to our property.

Then...I had a plan. here's a few photos of the inside work:

This was the first phase...All materials used were items my husband already had (he's a saver and re-purposer) with the exception of the vinyl on the floor and the hardware cloth. I use deep litter over that vinyl. I painted everything because I wanted it to be easy to clean and not have stuff seeping into the wood.












In the second phase, added more area for the chickens but it was also set so that it could be totally shut off from the other side for brooding. It stays open when no brooding is going on so they have the whole area. There is still a walk-in "people area" with a shelf for storage and enough room to have the food can, rakes, etc.





Broody is currently using that side!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I read some where to let my first batch sit for 3 days to get it started and I think thats why i was getting the sour smell, but it was fine.

Its a kind of sweet/sour smell, mine has a sweet pickle kind of smell, but really yummy (I like pickles lol) If the smell starts to be "off" i add in a few spoons of ACV and it gets it right back to where it was. I am still on my first bottle (32oz) and i have a teaspoon in a big glass of juice myself every so often. I have had it smell odd once, but the ACV fixed it.My birds go totally crazy on it, they act like the CX's on a feeding frenzy! They get as silly with it as they do the mealies.

 

[CluckAcres]

Well I fed my fermented feed to the chickens for the first time yesterday and they loved it. I also cleaned out their nesting boxes. And guess what they gave me as a gift for doing those things for them yesterday? They laid me 6 eggs today!! Some of you might be thinking "oh thats not much or what is so good about that" well let me tell you this.... they haven't laid any eggs in over a month except for a few ducks eggs this week. So 6 hens laying today all of a sudden was shocking. I went from 0 eggs to 6 in just one single day. So i have been brain storming why all of a sudden 6 hens laid today when i didn't even get 1 chicken egg in over a month. Could the fermented feed helped them that much already? Cleaning nest boxes help? Im sure it wouldnt be the nest boxes because hens dont choose when they want to lay. So was it the act of god or the fermented feed or both. LOL I know I know there was lots of questions in that paragraph but wasnt expecting anyone to answer all those questions. HAHA. All those questions is what was going threw my head all day. Whats your thoughts? ( You can answer that question. HAHA)

 

[CluckAcres]

Its a kind of sweet/sour smell, mine has a sweet pickle kind of smell, but really yummy (I like pickles lol) If the smell starts to be "off" i add in a few spoons of ACV and it gets it right back to where it was. I am still on my first bottle (32oz) and i have a teaspoon in a big glass of juice myself every so often. I have had it smell odd once, but the ACV fixed it.My birds go totally crazy on it, they act like the CX's on a feeding frenzy! They get as silly with it as they do the mealies.

Well I started my second batch today but instead of using layer feed I used cracked corn and it dont smell as bad today.

 

[CluckAcres]

WELCOME ALL NEW MEMBERS!!!!! GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH US!!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Well I started my second batch today but instead of using layer feed I used cracked corn and it dont smell as bad today.

OH yep, I ferment the grains, usually cracked corn or scratch. I use some of that liquid and a little grain to start my new batches. Pretty soon, i will be using a whole lot more, my little australorps and almost 5 weeks old already!

I will be getting my meat turkeys ordered in another week or so can't wait! Going to get a few mini whites and blue slate too I think.