***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

I put on a pot of chili in the slow cooker early this morning and let it cook all day. We had a nice bowl with cheese and crackers for dinner...yummy.
The birds all cooperated this evening and were already back in their pens. All I had to do was top off their feeders and screen the coops and make sure all gates were secure. Sure makes it easier when they are ready for bed when I go out. And I so enjoy the bedtime cooing and purring the birds do at night.

Robyn...one of the cockerels Shelbydog picked up today to butcher is a nice Blue Birchen cockerel. She said she would probably keep it for a flock rooster. I have you both on the list for some with the next breed season. How is Sasha doing?

True5... Cute chicks out dusting.

 

[shelbydog]

I have included oats from the beginning, it is what I started w/ and the chickens do eat it last, but they always eat it, since I mostly feed grains either fermented or sprouted, I want the variety oats add.  The prefer it w/ the longer ferment (week or more)

I was wondering if that was the issue too, that its not fermented long enough. I either need more buckets or a trash can to do this in to get my fermented grains to a week old. I think I'm having a 2-3 day turnover. I did start a second bucket this morning.

 

[Kassaundra]

I was wondering if that was the issue too, that its not fermented long enough. I either need more buckets or a trash can to do this in to get my fermented grains to a week old. I think I'm having a 2-3 day turnover. I did start a second bucket this morning.

Yes, if your feeding out 2 or 3 day soaked oats they will really scoff at eating them, you can force the issue by not feeding more until it is cleaned up. But they will prefer the oats a "little more done"

 

[shelbydog]

Yes, if your feeding out 2 or 3 day soaked oats they will really scoff at eating them, you can force the issue by not feeding more until it is cleaned up.  But they will prefer the oats a "little more done"

I could ferment the oats separately. Once it's aged I could add into the serving feed bucket.

Thanks for the info about the oats needing to be 'cooked' longer.

 

[artsyrobin]

I put on a pot of chili in the slow cooker early this morning and let it cook all day. We had a nice bowl with cheese and crackers for dinner...yummy.
The birds all cooperated this evening and were already back in their pens. All I had to do was top off their feeders and screen the coops and make sure all gates were secure. Sure makes it easier when they are ready for bed when I go out. And I so enjoy the bedtime cooing and purring the birds do at night.

Robyn...one of the cockerels Shelbydog picked up today to butcher is a nice Blue Birchen cockerel. She said she would probably keep it for a flock rooster. I have you both on the list for some with the next breed season. How is Sasha doing?

True5... Cute chicks out dusting.

Shasta is doing good, she is apparently head hen in the bantams right now- until bed time, then there is a bit of a power struggle going on... she is one gorgeous girl with a sweet temperment

 

[Kyzmette]

@Shelbydog I picked up some more buckets today. I can set a couple more aside for you.

 

[shelbydog]

Robyn...one of the cockerels Shelbydog picked up today to butcher is a nice Blue Birchen cockerel. She said she would probably keep it for a flock rooster.
.

He's a looker for sure. I keep eyeing that flashy blue columbian but trying to remember 'build barn before paint'. I think the blue birchen has better type.

 

[bardies]

Kyzmette,

How is your hatch day going (or post hatch day)? I now have one external pip from the eggs that I can see and some tapping noises from the hatcher with no windows (who ever could think that that was a good idea?!).

Hey, seeing all of the turkeys sell last night (and the school busses...woulda thunk?) DH is now fascinated by the idea of raising turkeys...any of you guys do that?

 

[muesky]

@katie1500, I'm so sad to hear of your loss. I'm about ready to go manhandle a dog on my neighbor's property in broad daylight, they have me so twisted about how they're letting it maul my chookies, so I definitely sympathize.

Somebody mentioned good poducts to stop bloodloss. I have one that was mauled two days ago, and I just found a hole she's been bleeding from, fresh blood on her thigh. I just put her on duramycin and am hand watering her. She was eating but today she seems very listless. I hope I didn't find it too late. What are good blood staunching items?

Hopefully the new dachsund-proof pen will be done this weekend.

For stanching blood I keep goldenseal on hand at all times. Not only is it a coagulant it is also a natural antibiotic. I have had wounds that I probably should have gotten stitched up that I healed with goldenseal.. You can find it at Walmart and most places that sells natural herbs...

One of my colleagues was wearing earrings with blue telephone boxes one day last week and the Friday before I heard another mumble something about "Dr. Who time" on her way out the door.

My daughter has a belt buckle that says "Calm Down the Doctor is Here" it is very cute...

Must be rough having more than one addiction.... Chickens and Dr. Who.

Try chickens, Dr. Who and motorcycles...

Need advice on fermenting grains......

Doing oats, wheat, and corn. I will be adding barley if its in stock on my next trip to feed store. But the oats is last to go. The cockerels I have separated leave oats behind. The pullets/hens and ducks seem to do 100% clean up but noticing this morning traces of oats being left behind but they still got all day to pick it up.

I can reduce the oats ratio or I can eliminate it all together. Is there a bean/legume or another grain I could use in place of the oats?

Mung beans are what beansprouts come from. They should ferment quite well.

Yes, if your feeding out 2 or 3 day soaked oats they will really scoff at eating them, you can force the issue by not feeding more until it is cleaned up. But they will prefer the oats a "little more done"

How much does the winter slow down the fermenting??? How do you keep it from freezing???

 

[shelbydog]

@Shelbydog I picked up some more buckets today. I can set a couple more aside for you.

Whoohoo