"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[NOLA Chicks]

Oh my word. A girl takes a couple of days off and it's real work to catch up! LOL

I'm glad the ff information was so helpful. I'm also the type that needs detail and pictures or diagrams are the cherry on top.

The wine recipe is awesome and the disclaimer is priceless!!!

I'm glad Bear made it home. That was a scary experience for you I'm sure.

 

[NOLA Chicks]

I saw some of you talking about incubators and thought you might like this. I ran across is in another BYC forum. It was posted a couple of hours ago.

Brinsea has their incubators on sale. I placed my order last week and was able to use the coupon code "ADozenGirlz" to get 10% more off!!!

 

[Ron Skekel]

Hello crazed chicken people. Went to Covington yesterday and picked up 4ee', 2 black astrops,and one lonely buff sexlink. Now I have to fix up the chicken yard . I think there is a swap somewhere in Covington this weekend, not sure . If so is anybody going to bring some silkies and gold laced Wyandottes,anyway any info would be nice. I would like to check it out thanks ron

 

[JohnnyxRex]

Here's the information I've been offered on one of the other BYC forums when I first began researching ff. I found it very helpful.
The following is a compilation of comments I extracted from a few different posts:

Originally Posted by Mumsy
Start with a small bucket. Add some all-purpose crumble. Add a glug of Unpasteurized Apple cider vinegar with the mother (found in the health food isle of grocery store). Stir in enough water to make it soupy. Leave it to sit for a couple days. Scoop, drain, feed. Chickens thrive on it. Sometimes I stir in plain yogurt. Sometimes I crush a fresh clove or two of garlic and add it. I keep my bucket in a corner in the kitchen with a cotton tea towel over the top of it. I scoop out my flocks needs into a strainer and take it out to the barn once a day. My chickens are healthy, worm free, in good weight, laying, breeding, and fertile. What more could we want?

I usually feed my birds in the morning. They don't get more feed of any kind until that morning FF in their dish is gone. If you have feed left over in their dish, you are giving them too much. Once chickens get used to eating this, they eat less than what you would feed them dry. That's one of the beauties of feeding FF. It takes less feed and allows your birds more nutrition from what they do eat. Sometimes it seems like they aren't eating enough but they won't starve themselves. They are getting a nice full crop with the FF and you use less feed in the process.

The idea for me is this. I want my money to go as far towards feeding my layers, breeders, chicks, and show birds as it will go. Giving my birds the best chance at health, fertility, and good nutrition. A benefit to that is the gorgeous lush feathers they grow and the vitality they have in the breeding pens. I scooped dry crumble out of a bag and fed chickens with it for decades as is. And for decades I had just so so results. The way I'm feeding them now is giving me spectacular results.

My basic recipe is:


Two to Four cups of
For chicks: non-medicated chick starter crumble (depends on how many chicks your feeding)
Otherwise: All-purpose crumble
1/2 cup ground pumpkin seed (prevents worms)
Tablespoon to teaspoon of dried organic Cayenne (prevents cocci and worms)
Tablespoon to teaspoon of powdered organic Garlic (many health benefits and prevents worms)
Tablespoon of organic flake Oregano (many health benefits. Mostly a heart benefit.
A splash or glug (Tablespoon or more) of Un-pasteurized Apple Cider vinegar from the health food isle. I started with a bottle of Braggs. Now I make my own.

Sometimes I stir in plain yogurt. Fresh crushed garlic cloves. Corn and wheat scratch. Alfalfa cubes. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds and fresh Oregano or Basil from the garden for the adult birds. These additives will put on weight and fat so I'm careful how much and when I add. Enough water to make it soupy. Cover with a tea towel and let it sit at room temperature for a couple days. It will swell up. Stir it once or twice a day. On the second day it will start to ferment and bubble. It will smell pickle-y or yeast-y. It is fine to dip out, strain, and feed at this point for most health benefits. If it isn't bubbling, it is still ok to feed. Some chicks and chickens will be slow to take to it. Especially if they have only been eating dry crumble. I start mine on it first feed of the morning while they are hungry. Once they get used to the wet mash texture they go crazy for it. My chicks and chickens scramble over the tops of each other to get to the feed dish each morning. I keep the dish full for the chicks. My adult flocks get as much as they will finish in an hour or so and then I feed again before the lights are out for the night. There is a lot of information on FF here on BYC. My favorite thread about it is https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/4720#post_10583885

The more hours the mash sits undisturbed, the thicker that bloom gets. I added fresh feed to my chick bowl and the larger flock’s bucket last night before I went to bed. After twelve hours over night you can just barely see the bloom started on them both. If I let them sit another twelve hours it would be really pronounced. I stir with a big wooden spoon or spatula before scooping out what I need to strain. While it strains, I get dressed and have a cup of coffee. Then out to the barn I go.

Originally posted by howfunkyisurchicken



So, since I've never fermented anything in my life, I thought I'd check to see if this is looking right? Its very actively bubbling- which I read is a good thing. Its also got this white film over the top? You can sort of see it in the picture. I had to ditch the extra container because it wasn't keeping my mix wet enough, but that's ok bc I have another way to strain out the liquid. How often should I add new feed to the mix? Its still bubbling, I think today is the second day it'll have been sitting. Also, it smells really good! I was surprised bc I put a little gamebird feed in it, and everyone who used gamebird crumbs said theirs stunk


Originally posted by TurtlePowerTrav

Looking good. Whatever I scoop out is about what I mix new into it and add more water and stir.


Originally posted by Mumsy

Bubbling is great. That's fermentation in progress. I add if I'm taking out. Probably add every other day if you’re just using about a cup or so at a feed.

I agree with the others. This is amazing. Thank you! You guys don't forget to click the thumbs up "ovation" button.

The little roo that roosted on the feeder now roosts on the big new waterer. I would post a picture but he gets off whenever I get close! He thinks I'm going to take that one away too!

Glad to hear that Bear made it home.

Ok question time. Has anyone heard of Blue Star farms? I think my eggs came from New Jersey so thats where they would be.

 

[chickenbelle]

Wow! I've missed a lot today!

I am so glad Bear made it home. That naughty rascal!

Sorry your little chick died PSJ. It's always sad to lose one.


And I have dealt with a rooster with an impacted crop. It did not end well despite my efforts. If you research the problem, suggestions were to give castor oil(I think) or to do surgery. I didn't have the correct oil that night, so I used olive oil. No progess. I tried massaging the crop and turning him upside down to see if it would drain. No progress. I finally decided he was either going to die or I could at least try the surgery and if he died after that, I at least did something. Not an easy decision. By the time I opened him up the crop contents had already backed up into his lungs and he wouldn't have made it.

I'm certainly no expert on all chicken medical emergencies, but we only have one large animal vet here that would take a chicken. This was a Friday night so I was stuck without help.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Bear is home!!! We don't know where he was, but after an extensive search, we took a short break and was sitting on the sofa, having a cup of coffee and planning our next move, when Hubby heard crying on the porch. I can't hear very well any more, and he was afraid to let me open the door to find a badly hurt or dying dog, that I helped his mother birth, when she was having trouble getting him born,. so he said nothing, excused himself and went outside to investigate. A minute later, here comes Bear, with his head very low and hurried to his bed, without saying anything, or greeting anyone, not even his sister. He knew he had done wrong and went to give himself a time out in his bed. Of course, I went immediately to see if he was injured. He was fine, but won't utter a word as to where he went!

He stayed in bed a long while, in dog time, and then came into the kitchen, saw I was still upset and went back to bed. He will not have doggie door privileges for the rest of the day! I told him if it ever happens again, he will have his collar taken away for a day! He is very proud of his dog collar. I think he feels like it is his membership to our family. When he gets his bath, we take his collar off , while he is in the tub and if it doesn't go back on as soon as he gets out he gets up[set, looks for it and will bring it to us with a whimper, until it goes back on! Well, just wanted to let everyone know he is safely back home again.

 

[Chris Herzog]

Hello crazed chicken people. Went to Covington yesterday and picked up 4ee', 2 black astrops,and one lonely buff sexlink. Now I have to fix up the chicken yard . I think there is a swap somewhere in Covington this weekend, not sure . If so is anybody going to bring some silkies and gold laced Wyandottes,anyway any info would be nice. I would like to check it out thanks ron

Yes there is a swap Sunday at O'Keefe Feed and Seed that starts at 10am. Here is the Face Book page for that group. You can get all the dates for their sales here.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/294697733934637/

Gracie on here told me that she was going to drive over for the sale and was going to be bringing Silkies.

Chris

 

[1MrsMagoo]

Hello crazed chicken people. Went to Covington yesterday and picked up 4ee', 2 black astrops,and one lonely buff sexlink. Now I have to fix up the chicken yard . I think there is a swap somewhere in Covington this weekend, not sure . If so is anybody going to bring some silkies and gold laced Wyandottes,anyway any info would be nice. I would like to check it out thanks ron

x2 What Chris said! Come see us if we don't get rained out!

 

[mzstre]

Bear is home!!! We don't know where he was, but after an extensive search, we took a short break and was sitting on the sofa, having a cup of coffee and planning our next move, when Hubby heard crying on the porch. I can't hear very well any more, and he was afraid to let me open the door to find a badly hurt or dying dog, that I helped his mother birth, when she was having trouble getting him born,. so he said nothing, excused himself and went outside to investigate. A minute later, here comes Bear, with his head very  low and hurried to his bed, without saying anything, or greeting anyone, not even his sister.  He knew he had done wrong and went to give himself a time out in his bed. Of course, I went immediately to see if he was injured. He was fine, but won't utter a word as to where he went! He stayed in bed a long while, in dog time, and then came into the kitchen, saw I was still upset and went back to bed. He will not have doggie door privileges for the rest of the day! I told him if it ever happens again, he will have his collar taken away for a day! He is very proud of his dog collar. I think he feels like it is his membership to our family. When he gets his bath, we take his collar off , while he is in the tub and if it doesn't go back on as soon as he gets out he gets up[set, looks for it and will bring it to us with a whimper, until it goes back on! Well, just wanted to let everyone know he is safely back home again.

Awesome news! I'm so happy he made it home!

So, my bad day got worse when I got home. I have a blue Wyandotte hen that's been laying on some eggs and apparently one hatched today (a few days early) and I found it dead in the water when I got home. Poor little thing drowned. I feel terrible. It was cute too... All black but with a yellow stomach.

Awww, I'm very sorry you lost the chick.

 

[grambysfarm]

Bear is home!!! We don't know where he was, but after an extensive search, we took a short break and was sitting on the sofa, having a cup of coffee and planning our next move, when Hubby heard crying on the porch. I can't hear very well any more, and he was afraid to let me open the door to find a badly hurt or dying dog, that I helped his mother birth, when she was having trouble getting him born,. so he said nothing, excused himself and went outside to investigate. A minute later, here comes Bear, with his head very low and hurried to his bed, without saying anything, or greeting anyone, not even his sister. He knew he had done wrong and went to give himself a time out in his bed. Of course, I went immediately to see if he was injured. He was fine, but won't utter a word as to where he went!

He stayed in bed a long while, in dog time, and then came into the kitchen, saw I was still upset and went back to bed. He will not have doggie door privileges for the rest of the day! I told him if it ever happens again, he will have his collar taken away for a day! He is very proud of his dog collar. I think he feels like it is his membership to our family. When he gets his bath, we take his collar off , while he is in the tub and if it doesn't go back on as soon as he gets out he gets up[set, looks for it and will bring it to us with a whimper, until it goes back on! Well, just wanted to let everyone know he is safely back home again.

Yay!!! I know you're happy!