***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Ironsights]

Caught a snake in an empty nest box tonight. I hope it was the one that killed my Orpington chick and that there are no others. I grabbed it with some loppers but 5" from the head and didn't get ahold of it enough to cut it in two. I ran with it to the house and called DH. He came out with the overkill, a shot gun. If I was calmer I would have grabbed a shovel or the other pair of lopper and we could have saved the ammo. Two different neighbors came out to see what the shots were for. One said she just knew we were killing a snake because she had seen 4 in her yard just this week!

i like to see pictures of dead snakes! They make me feel warm and fuzzy! I don't care if they kill rodents as long as they kill them somewhere else.

 

[Loriemarler]

My wrists have been killing me lately so I decided to give them a good workout I finished this last night just need to weave in the ends. My wrists feel tons better too

 

[Ironsights]

I've seen that some of ya'll give your birds fermented feed. I read the threads but really had some questions. So.....

How do you make it?

Is there an advantage other than the birds apparently love it?

We fermented the feed for pigs when I was a boy till the alcohol content (not distilled) was through the roof. It was really unintended (disclaimer for the ATF). We just took a 55 gallon barrel added grain, (whatever was handy) then anything that at some point been edible, extra milk from milking, table scraps, etc. and water. It smelled like rotgut whiskey. The result was drunk pigs which we kids thought was hilarious. Is this along the same line?

 

[ashtree]

I've seen that some of ya'll give your birds fermented feed. I read the threads but really had some questions. So.....

How do you make it?

Is there an advantage other than the birds apparently love it?

We fermented the feed for pigs when I was a boy till the alcohol content (not distilled) was through the roof. It was really unintended (disclaimer for the ATF). We just took a 55 gallon barrel added grain, (whatever was handy) then anything that at some point been edible, extra milk from milking, table scraps, etc. and water. It smelled like rotgut whiskey. The result was drunk pigs which we kids thought was hilarious. Is this along the same line?

I think without a culture (acv or yoghurt or whatever) you won't get alcohol. But I've only been fermenting feed for a few months. I just buy organic feed from the store, soak it in water and use it as I need it. Once every two weeks or so (depending on smell mostly) I'll use the entire batch, clean the bowl, and start over. It has saved me sooo much money because there is no waste! And stinky chicken poops are a thing of the past. That smell I always associated with chickens is no more. At this point I'm hooked.

I think it's way simpler than it sounds. I know I was intimidated by the thought of trying but it's been a breeze.

 

[Kassaundra]

My wrists have been killing me lately so I decided to give them a good workout I finished this last night just need to weave in the ends. My wrists feel tons better too

Very cute!

 

[jrjoplin]

I've seen that some of ya'll give your birds fermented feed. I read the threads but really had some questions. So.....

How do you make it?

Is there an advantage other than the birds apparently love it?

We fermented the feed for pigs when I was a boy till the alcohol content (not distilled) was through the roof. It was really unintended (disclaimer for the ATF). We just took a 55 gallon barrel added grain, (whatever was handy) then anything that at some point been edible, extra milk from milking, table scraps, etc. and water. It smelled like rotgut whiskey. The result was drunk pigs which we kids thought was hilarious. Is this along the same line?

Your chicken feed fermentation is done with lactic acid producing bacteria. Fermentation done with yeast is what produces alcohol. I've only researched it and haven't made any but I wouldn't think you would end up with drunk chickens if done properly.

I had pigs growing up and their feed was pretty much a catch all for what we wouldn't give the chickens. There are some very informative articles online but I'm still on the fence with fermented feed for the chickens.

Jerry

 

[Kassaundra]

I've seen that some of ya'll give your birds fermented feed. I read the threads but really had some questions. So.....

How do you make it?

Is there an advantage other than the birds apparently love it?

We fermented the feed for pigs when I was a boy till the alcohol content (not distilled) was through the roof. It was really unintended (disclaimer for the ATF). We just took a 55 gallon barrel added grain, (whatever was handy) then anything that at some point been edible, extra milk from milking, table scraps, etc. and water. It smelled like rotgut whiskey. The result was drunk pigs which we kids thought was hilarious. Is this along the same line?

I have been fermenting grains for over 3 years. I have never had a batch go bad, still using my same ferment I started with. We do it in 30 gallon trash cans (plastic). It has never turned to etoh. Grains + water + time = ferment, you don't need additives. I keep mine purely grain or grain based (pellets / food) I never put meat, milk, veggies, or anything else in the ferment. It's like buying a fancy car the more doo dads you have the more opportunity for repair bills. The thing about fermented grains besides the chickens liking them so much is that grains have anti-nutrients to protect the viability of the seeds, these "lock" some of the nutritional value of the seeds away from monogastic animals so the nutrition just gets pooped out, fermenting the grain unlocks these nutrients so your birds get more of the nutrients already in the grain instead of pooping it out. It also helps w/ hydration in the summer.

 

[NanaKat]

These pictures don't show up very well, but are of the marauder in the fully covered Wyandotte pen this morning. I noticed a bloody chick on the ground and went in to investigate. The owl swooped down on me as I bent to pick up the chick. I darted for the gate and the owl landed on the chicken coop. Granny got the gun! I think this is the one that has been circling the pens at 9 pm the past few months. A neighbor said maybe now she won't be missing any chickens. The talons were 3 inches long and the wing span was over 5 feet!


These girls are broody in the same pen where the owl got in...their babies are hatching today....I slipped about 6 more under them. Two of them have started molting. And the Delaware Bantams have 4 new babies that hatched this week.



Today was hotter than I expected. I was able to get the roofing on the two coops that needed it and then painted 5 of the coops, finishing at 4 pm.. I still have two left to paint, but may wait until after this 100 degree streak.
My replacement freezer arrived this afternoon too. AND it is freezing!
Guess the processing of freezer camp birds will begin this weekend.

 

[Matt in Okla]

$6 a dozen!?! Folks already paying $4!?! Crazy

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/6-dozen-eggs-prices-may-continue-rise-if-bird-flu-n404011

 

[BetsyOK]

NanaKat, there's never a dull moment at your house, and nothing slows you down! What excitement with a full-grown, predatory owl!!

I've been working 3-3 1/2 hours each day with very heavy cleaning out of flower-beds-to-be. The saplings, poke, poison ivy, etc. was much higher than my head and required a LOT of work. Finally got it all done, except for adding composted chicken poop to the newest part, and am working on cleaning out chicken pens. I use the "deep litter method" and had gotten very behind. I'm digging out 6 - 8" of partially composted chicken litter, then putting down a layer of Diatomaceous Earth and then pine chips. Am also reconstructing the dividers between four of my pens in the larger compound. I can't work longer than that--and that's splitting the time up with a rest and cool-of period, because I just get too hot. But, I'm making progress and losing some weight.

I've cleaned out part of the bottom part of an extensive rock garden, so that's my next project. 7 - 8 years makes for a LOT of catch-up work.

Doctor visit and blood work yesterday showed improvement in all areas, so I think this hard work is paying off in many ways.

My silkies are finally hatching chicks, fortunately only a few at a time. They are so steadfast! Am planning to be at the Norman show in early October, and should have a nice selection of half-grown silkies, including several paints and paint showgirls. Hope to see some of you there!