neutralizing quail poop

[Ozarkhomesteader]

lime helps kill smells and help keep bugs (maggots, flies, etc) from laying eggs and living in the bedding. Its pretty handy stuff. Where i live, you actually have to lime any animal housing every couple months.

 

[islandgirl82]

Fermenting is a very simple process...equal parts feed + water + time. That's it. Mix it in a bucket and give it 3-4 days to get the initial fermentation going. You can add a splash of ACV which will speed up the process but it's not necessary. The feed expands during this time and the birds (I keep chickens) LOVE it! When you get low on it, you only have to add more water and feed but you don't have to wait the few days because the yeast cultures are already there; when it's time for me to add more, I feed out that day's rations and then add more to the bucket so it can soak for about 24hrs. The process adds pre and probiotics and essential amino acids that they wouldn't otherwise get and it supports gut health.

This is a great reference giving more detail on the benefits and how to do it.
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

Fermenting is a very simple process...equal parts feed + water + time. That's it. Mix it in a bucket and give it 3-4 days to get the initial fermentation going. You can add a splash of ACV which will speed up the process but it's not necessary. The feed expands during this time and the birds (I keep chickens) LOVE it! When you get low on it, you only have to add more water and feed but you don't have to wait the few days because the yeast cultures are already there; when it's time for me to add more, I feed out that day's rations and then add more to the bucket so it can soak for about 24hrs. The process adds pre and probiotics and essential amino acids that they wouldn't otherwise get and it supports gut health.

This is a great reference giving more detail on the benefits and how to do it.
http://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

So you can use layer pellets for the chickens and game bird crumbles for the quail? can you ferment things like corn, wheat, oats etc? Thanks for the info.

 

[islandgirl82]

So you can use layer pellets for the chickens and game bird crumbles for the quail? can you ferment things like corn, wheat, oats etc? Thanks for the info.

I'm not familiar with quail but fermented food in general is highly beneficial to animals and people alike. I also haven't gotten into fermenting whole grains but there are a few threads on here about FF where people do talk about fermenting all kinds of things and sprouting their own seeds to give their birds fresh greens during the winter months. Some even get the spent barley grains for free from local breweries that they would otherwise just toss out.

I have a mixed age flock so I ferment starter crumbles and offer calcium supplement on the side but you can use layer pellets, all flock...whatever you have.

 

[Ozarkhomesteader]

cool! that sounds pretty good...i may give it a try Thanks for answering my questions.

 

[GrandmaBird]

cant eating wet food cause impacted crop in quail? swore I say that more then one place...

 

[islandgirl82]

cant eating wet food cause impacted crop in quail? swore I say that more then one place...

I don't know much about quail but there's a thread on here about feeding them fermented feed. You'd think that because they eat various types of vegetation including berries as well as eating insects, moist foods wouldn't bother them but maybe it does. Here're a thread that touches on the subject of feeding FF to quail. People there say it's fine.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rations-to-quail-a-complete-diet-is-needed/10

 

[quailmann]

Thanks everyone. Will try fermenting. Just cleaned out about 20 kg of poop that is 2 days worth
They also drink a Lot of water so that adds to the smell
I once used polypropylene fertilizer bags and it seemed that the poop was less watery. Maybe the polypropylene releases some heat whereby the water evaporated?

 

[Sill]

Really cleaning more often is your best option for smell and to reduce bugs. I do feed my quail fermented/soaked feed but I have not noticed a big difference in smell in the cages I feed fermented and the cages I feed dry. Maybe a slight difference. It does make feed go farther, and gives a nutrient boost plus adds probiotics so I feed it.

If you can at all swing it get/make another unit like you have (or even two more) and split the number of quail in half. This will reduce the manure load by half and allow the droppings more time to dry. Wet poop smells worse and attracts bugs. Dry poop smells way less and is less attractive to bugs. With too many quail in a cage the poop just builds up too quickly.

 

[quailmann]

Thanks Sill

My next cage is in the making. Planning on another one as well. Your correct about reducing numbers but I'm low on space so I dont know if its possible. Was speaking to a local breeder yesterday. He says take poop tray out, place atop a heater and dry the poop.

What is the method you use to ferment?