INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Chaneys Ranch]

6 quail have hatched so far. Can't wait to see if anymore hatch while at work

sooo exciting! good luck

cant wait to see more pics!

 

[bradselig]

Here are some pics from tonight of the quail. They are Coturnix quail of assorted varieties/colors. I plan on butchering these and if I like them, I will start raising the jumbo coturnix.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

OHHH My soo tiny!

 

[christybmom9802]

I agree sooooo tiny!

 

[danand]

Brad- they are sooo cute and that's why I couldn't eat them!!!

Jchny2000 - I'm on my 3rd batch of ferment. Nothing as large as you do. I did strait grain the first time and some of my birds liked it and some DIDNT. So the next batch I added the pellets and I didn't like it. Too mushy and smelled different. The birds weren't as crazy about it either. So I started a new batch today again strain scratch g
rain. I do mine in the kitchen and my husband thinks I've lost my mind! Maybe I have.

And Rural King in Greensburg had baby guinnys last year. On and off thru the chick season. But I bought 2 at the Milton Ky swap that were a little bigger and they were 15$ ea! I'll be buying babies next time. And the ones I got went to live with the neighbors who also has some. But they do come visit.

On another note, I have a sick chicken. She's been sick for a month now. I'm doing Terramycin, duramycin, Vet RX , oranges. Anybody got any more ideas. Oh and I've done a vapor mist thing too. One day I think she sounds better and the next she is coughing again. Eyes and nose are clear, eats and poo's good.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Brad- they are sooo cute and that's why I couldn't eat them!!! Jchny2000 - I'm on my 3rd batch of ferment. Nothing as large as you do. I did strait grain the first time and some of my birds liked it and some DIDNT. So the next batch I added the pellets and I didn't like it. Too mushy and smelled different. The birds weren't as crazy about it either. So I started a new batch today again strain scratch g rain. I do mine in the kitchen and my husband thinks I've lost my mind! Maybe I have. And Rural King in Greensburg had baby guinnys last year. On and off thru the chick season. But I bought 2 at the Milton Ky swap that were a little bigger and they were 15$ ea! I'll be buying babies next time. And the ones I got went to live with the neighbors who also has some. But they do come visit. On another note, I have a sick chicken. She's been sick for a month now. I'm doing Terramycin, duramycin, Vet RX , oranges. Anybody got any more ideas. Oh and I've done a vapor mist thing too. One day I think she sounds better and the next she is coughing again. Eyes and nose are clear, eats and poo's good.

I remember reading on one of the threads about fungal infections. I will check some of the early ones i read, see if i can find the name of the guy thats really good at diagnosing a problem.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/19157/dawg53
OK this guy is the go-to guy! he is very knowledgeable on sick chickens. message him and explain whats happening.
I see his name often in the forums, and he always seems to have the answers or suggestions to help. Good luck

 

[danand]

Thanks Jchny, I've been trying anything anybody tells me. And reading the forums too.

 

[bradselig]

OK as promised, my "short version" Hope it makes sense... Fermenting Feed This is my short version of how I ferment feeds for my different animals. Supplies you will need: Plastic NOT METAL Buckets with lids Heavyweight strong slotted plastic spoon UNpasturized Apple Cider Vinegar, with "mother" Grain (cracked corn, wheat etc.) Regular feeds (What you normally feed your animal) plastic or rubber feed bowls/troughs Buckets & lids, You can get FREE ones from your grocery, deli or bakery. Meijer, Kroger, IGA, Marsh etc. Just ask at the counter. This way, you get "food grade" plastic. The number of animals you feed will decide how big your buckets need to be. I feed around 40 birds. Its taking about 4 gallons of ferment, but i do have large fowl, such as geese. I feed pigs, currently about 4 gallons of ferment a day. I only have 1 dog, so its just a little 1 gallon bucket for her, and stray barn cats, i use a 2 gallon bucket. Start with 1 bucket for grain. Mine is a 5 gallon bucket, but I have a lot of critters. Fill it 1/2 full of grain. Add water with 1/8th cup of ACV per gallon. This will be the last time you need the ACV in it, unless it starts to smell "off". mix well, stir up a few times a day. If you have a spot by your furnace, or a warmer room, it will work better. The grain ferment serves 2 purposes. The birds will enjoy it just like scratch. The liquid ferment juices it makes, the "mother" will ferment your other foods. Its your "starter", just like sourdough. 3 to 4 days, it gets bubbly when you stir and kind of greyish or milky on top. It will have a sourdough smell. I do mix 1 part fermented grain to 3-4 part allflock feed for all my birds also. So the grain is helpful for me. Label each bucket and lid! I have gotten feeds mixed up before i did. Just write on them while still dry with a sharpie type permanent marker. OK, now we are ready to ferment. Take a bucket large enough to give you a 2 DAY supply of food. you need enough room for it to swell, expand and breathe. The bucket should only be 1/2 full with the dry feed in it. add a cup of ferment juice on the feed. add lukewarm water and stir. you want it moistened, think mashed potato or thicker. If it gets too dry, add a little more water. Too moist, add a handful dry food. You will eventually get a "feel for it", my critters seem to like it thicker, and its less messy that way. The other animals such as chickens, pigs, dogs, cats etc. Each different animal feed gets its own bucket. I pull out that days food, add dry to replace it, top with water. You always have some left in the bucket so its always fermenting. Fermentation on pig and fowl feed is fast, usually 2 days. The dog and cat food seems to take longer. Once the smell and the bubble is there when you stir, its all ready. I use rubber bowls for the livestock, and dog/cats. I have PVC pipe troughs for the fowl. Never use metal, the chemical reaction may cause chemicals to leach from the metal to the food. I did try FF on my alpaca. They were mildly interested in the beginning. They since prefer the dry pellet, and i do feed that to them. Have not tried goats yet or cows... hmm. Please post or email me if you have any questions. Be happy to help!

Thanks for the info. I will likely give this a try this spring.

 

[bradselig]

Brad- they are sooo cute and that's why I couldn't eat them!!!

yea. My intentions are to butcher and if. Like ill start raising jumbos for meat. Didnt expect them t be that cute. Thankfully I don't think they are cute as adults.