Managing chickens.smells,flies etc help

[Mysimplewyominglife]

when I switched to fermented feed I noticed a significant improvement in the smell and consistency of the chickens' pooh; only caecal ones attract flies, and the chickens hunt those flies avidly. The birds drink a lot less too, and their pooh is a lot drier, as well as sweeter smelling. So if you gave it a try, it might help with smell and flies, and reduce wetness in the ground in your run to boot.

I don't think fermented feed has really hit over here in the UK. But how would I go about it?

 

[Perris]

there are a variety of different methods, most of them very easy. I just put some feed in a large jar, cover with water, put somewhere warm for a day or two, (stir occasionally during that time), then offer it to the chickens. You can get it going faster by adding a spoonful of natural (live) yogurt (cheap basic type will do), and when you've emptied the feed, refill the container keeping the same liquor; it'll be ready next day. I find using two containers is easy, so that each day one is in use while the other is brewing, and the next day vice versa. Leave some room at the top of the container as the feed will swell as it absorbs the water/liquor. It should smell slightly sweet'n'sour. Good luck!

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

what type of feed? normal layers?

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

12:11am here and I'm still annoyed,hurt and stressed out because of this once nice neighbor turning into a total feckin nut job. Heck I did not even really eat any dinner because of the worry and stress!

 

[dunnmom]

You can ferment pellets, you can ferment whole grains, or even a mix of the two. If your pellets contain probiotic strains, it may end up smelling more like yogurt, than like yeast. That's exactly what happened when I fermented my girls' pellets. Either is fine to feed, but always smell it before you feed, in case it's doesn't smell like either of those things. If it does smell like something else, it may be really "off", and upset their digestives. Also, you should always make sure the water comes over the top of the fermenting feed and there's no mold. I used to ferment a bit, but I've since gone back to dry pellets. I may start it again at some point.

 

[Mysimplewyominglife]

You can ferment pellets, you can ferment whole grains, or even a mix of the two. If your pellets contain probiotic strains, it may end up smelling more like yogurt, than like yeast. That's exactly what happened when I fermented my girls' pellets. Either is fine to feed, but always smell it before you feed, in case it's doesn't smell like either of those things. If it does smell like something else, it may be really "off", and upset their digestives. Also, you should always make sure the water comes over the top of the fermenting feed and there's no mold. I used to ferment a bit, but I've since gone back to dry pellets. I may start it again at some point.

Think I'll give this a try once they eat the rest of the feed in their feeder.. if I still have them by then he'll for all I know crazy lady will by telling huge lies and getting them removed. Hell if that happened I would not doubt CPS getting involved. Why can't ppl be decent have a calm collected conversation about issues instead of acting like hostile loonies!

 

[Art_plus_chickens]

This same crazy lady went after the girl that moved to the house next to hers (there is my house a middle house this newer girls house and then crazy ladies place) she treated her like garbage to specially when the girl asked crazy lady not to block her drive way any more I originally the new girl was just being catty (crazy lady has a mini car I want to burn it) but I'm pretty sure now crazy lady blew it out of proportion and acted a fool towards the new girl. I mean it's so annoying she was more then fine with us and our chickens and had no issue with getting free eggs any time she needed/wanted them. now she is just a total nut job she makes me sick how can you act nice and say nothing is wrong then go nut job like she did GRRRR. and thanks for the old wives tip will see about trying it out if it could help my not right? I kinda want to put horse poo near her house and let her see what having flies really bad is like. It's summer your bound to get flies. Even if I had no chickens she stikes me as someone who would most likely then blame it on my fricken dog!

Well if she is nasty to the other neighbor too then it's not just you. I sure wouldn't have any objection to putting horse manure under her bedroom window! Shame we didn't live across the ocean! ;p
Hang in there!

 

[Art_plus_chickens]

Also the world nowadays is filled with loser loonies...just sayin!

But I agree with dunnmom, maybe she DOES have dead bodies in her backyard!

 

[Pugsabi]

I sprinkle my run with DE. It cuts down on the smell and the flies. I also have a fly trap.

 

[Perris]

sorry for the delay answering your question (I went to bed; I'm in UK like you); as Dunnmom says, you can ferment pellets or grain. I use a premium grain mix.