Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[SilkieSensation]

I was just educated about the greatest invention for those of us without an "easy" way to scald our birds. And it doesn't entail doing it in the tub either (I won't tell who did that. Haha. Teasing!). Model 724G Bucket Heater made by Allied Precision Ind. Tractor Supply carries it in the winter. It is $36.99 according to the website, but out of season, so out of stock. I will have to look for one elsewhere. http://media.tractorsupply.com/s7viewers/dhtml/images/spacer.gif

Hey! It worked just fine, and I didn't hafta spend any money either...lol

Look what I did today Buried the block and put hardware cloth on run. Then I decided to paint my new coop. Them let the chicks out for fresh air

Looking great!! You will be glad later for the peace of mind your extra work now will give you! Those blocks are a lot of work but well worth it!

I will be improving on my run and building a better coop at the end of April..................... I am wondering about the run.............I see signs of diggers trying to get under..............some of these diggers I think are chipmunks ....................or a rodent of some type. they have made tunnels under. I feel my chickens have been safe in the daytime and this intrusion occurs at night. I see you buried the block in your pictures..............will this be sufficient? I imagine if a digger tries to go under the weight of the bllock will impact the tunnel and perhaps a longer distance is needed to go under.......... I see some people put a wire mesh apron on their runs.................. and some people dig their mesh down a distance........... What do you all think is best............buried block, an apron , or a straight down depth of wire? Its a lot of work to do this so I want to pick a good technique and hopefully this years improvements will be durable and last a while.

All will work, though the block is probably the most solid barrier and won't need replaced or repaired, since wire can rust or be chewed through or lifted if an animal really, really works at it. I placed a bunch of heavy, flat sandstone around the back of my run, it extends about 1.5 to 2 feet from the fence and is 3 or 4 rocks deep. The goal is to cause an animal to have to tunnel to get in rather than just dig a shallow hole to duck under the wire. The other thing to consider is the amount of time it would take to breach the barrier... make sure any run area is surrounded by a 'buffer zone' of cleared area, so a visual inspection can be done daily to see if the area is disturbed. If you have shrubs or woods right against the run it provides a good place for a predator to hide and can hide their activity also. You may miss seeing signs of digging and given a few days (or nights) to work on a dig a determined predator may get through eventually. Even if you feel your coop is protected in your private back yard (even if it is a fenced yard)... build your run as if a sneaky neighborhood stray could get in whenever they wanted... because it is amazing just how resourceful a hungry dog or fox or coyote can be... not to mention a raccoon. Make sure latches are well secured and fencing is all able to withstand at least minor stresses.

I have a five gallon bucket. I started with water, unfiltered apple cider (maybe a cup? I just dumped some in), maybe some year of some sort if I have any around. Added some feed and scratch and stirred it around until it looked like thick soup. Cover but didn't seal ( move like it). Every day I scoop out what I need, maybe 2/3 of it, to feed and add more wate, stir it up, add more feed and scratch, repeat every day. I try to get a thick mash, like a loaf so I don't have to drain it. I some the old stuff starts off the new I add every day. I have no idea if this is the right way, but my birds wait for it and they have free choice of dry feed at all times.

Thanks, how many chickens does 2/3 of a bucket feed for you? I have 23 currently.

Interested to hear how folks handle larger flocks also... we currently have 31 adults, 17 chicks (with 2 more hatches due in the next 2 weeks) and 12 meaties, which will be added to also in the next couple of weeks, since we stagger our meaty raising so the butchering is done on multiple dates.

I currently have 3 five gal buckets of fermented feed going. That feeds: 2 geese 6 ancona ducks 6 call ducks 6 turkeys 19 meaties 28 adult chickens 50+ chicks, ducklings & poults in 3 brooders We use about 3/4 of each bucket daily & just add more as we take out to keep the ferment going. I use either yeast or upacv depending on what I have available. I don't even offer dry feed except when weather is so cold the wet feed freezes in the bowls before the birds can eat it.

 

[GR Chicks]

A 50 pound bag of feed (no corn or anything) fermented lasted my gang of 28 a week. Does that help?

I feed about 35 on that. They do get scraps and have a feeder of dry if they want it.
My chickens aren't pets or particularly socialized, but they all gather around waiting for me to fill their bowls (if they don't start eating it out of the feed bucket first!)

I use one of these to mix ferment

not sure of the exact amounts that go in, and it does change according to what I have,,but basically it is 16% grower pellet with added wheat and barley, sometimes I will come across cheap birdfeed or scratch and that goes in there,,,I never figured out how to add the corn, being whole corn it does not mix well...i make mine thick since i do not want to drain it daily, oatmeal consistentcy....mix it all in the bucket and cover with a few inches of water ( I never completely empty this bucket).. it gets stirred and scooped with a ditch shovel.......mix again after feeding then it sits till the next day.....I only feed this once a day, I try to put out enough that they have an evening meal also but not have anything sitting overnight...

before anyone ask, here's a ditch shovel

Thanks for the great info, and Wing your so thorough with your pics...I love it! This gives me somewhere to start. I get my feed from the local mill, and he has his own recipe that is a 16% and has cracked corn in it, its a course ground feed. My gang has always loved it, but if I can increase the nutritional value for them by helping them absorb the nutrients and maybe make it go a little further that's a bonus.

 

[flitter]

Sorry wingstone that was an ambiguous response. Would you rather have it be a sign of spring or be nuts? I'm flexible.

 

[GR Chicks]

The PA BYC facebook page has directions on how to ferment feed. It's a secret group so you have to be invited in. I will copy and paste what is there so you can see. I use organic apple cider vinegar with the mother in it. I make it in a big garbage can. I haven't made it all winter because it has been so cold. If I remember a trash can 50 lb bag of feed lasted a week for all my birds.



i promised to give instructions on how to ferment feed. so here they are. i will explain 2 ways
the first method is called back sloshing or back washing. this method is ideal for small flocks.
materials needed.
1. 5 gallon buckets x 2
2. drill
3. drill bit 3/32, 1/8 or slightly larger ( i reccomend the 1/8 " or so for easier or faster draining)
4. unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
5. scoop
instructions:
making the sieve bucket:
take a 5 gallon bucket drill holes in the bottom and 1/2 way up the sides.
when finished drilling wash and scub the bucket and try to remove the plastic burs left behind by the drilling.
take the sieve bucket place into the other bucket.
fermenting feed instructions:
place feed into the sieve bucket. add water to cover about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch over feed. once the water is at level add a glug or 2 of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar and stir .
you will notice the feed soaks up the water, so just add more water until the consistency is like that of oatmeal.
stir the bucket a couple times a day.
let the bucket and feed sit for 3-4 days to start the ferment process going good.
for feedings lift the sieve bucket with the feed and let drain for a little bit. scoop out feed and feed the birds.
after feeding place the sieve bucket back into the other bucket. add feed, water and a little apple cider vinegar and stir.
the water in the other bucket will be fermented water. no need to wait 3 days . you can feed the next day.
the second method continuous fermenting.
this method is great for larger flocks and is a method where no sieve bucket is required.
you can use this method for small flocks also.
materials needed:
1.a bucket or garbage can plastic or rubbermaid type ( this method can be done in 1 gallon to 55 gallon or larger.( just make sure you can stir and use feed in a short time.)
2. a scoop
3 unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
fermenting the feed:
place feed into container. add water to cover. use a generous amount of unpasteurized cider vinegar. ( the bigger the container the more acv is needed )
stir a couple times a day with a paddle.
let the feed sit for 3-4 days so fermenting action begins.
now scoop out the amount you need to feed your flock.
after feeding add feed, water and a glug of acv to the mix and stir.
special notes:
1. you don't have to use unpasteurized apple cider vinegar. if you add water to the feed, it will ferment on it's own. the apple cider vinegar just helps jump start the
process.
2 when first starting the feed it is best to use warm water. do not use hot water. this will kill the good bacteria needed.
3. if you end up with a wet wet mix do not worry if won't hurt the birds.
4. if you want use a cat litter scoop with holes in it. helps to drain the mix.
5. never use metal feed containers. the fermenting feed will produce toxins in the metal. stainless is fine but no galvanized or metal containers

AWESOME!!! Thank you so much I really appreciate it

 

[GR Chicks]

Here's a link to Sally's youtube how to video....

Thanks! I'm definitely a visual learner.... lol. This is great.

 

[GR Chicks]

NO STRAIN Hot water EASY Fermented Feed Method w/video

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By: Sally Sunshine​

Posted 5/6/13 • Last updated a minute ago • 1,461 views • 14 comments​

NO STRAIN Hot water EASY Fermented Feed Method

HOT WATER NO STRAIN FF VIDEO

I will add that DH wasn't happy about helping me to video and I also grabbed the first audio on the youtube list!
And DH made me take out the comment about why I don't use whole grains,
you know that whole ever eat corn and see what comes back out? LMAO!


WHAT YOU NEED:
5 Gal bucket
Hot water
Feed (mash, crumbles or pellets)
ACV with Mother 1 cup est per 5 gal bucket
something to stir with
Cheesecloth, towel or nylons to cover bucket with


REMEMBER this is the HOT WATER, NO STRAIN method! Instead of all that water on top, it settles at the bottom because of the "loaf" on top! So the bottom of the feed will always be wetter than the top and hold some of the brewing juices needed for next batch! Always leave about 3-4" in the pot after you pull your feed to use to make your next batch!

Video above was taken 12 hrs before these photos....... see how it cracks sorta like a loaf? Pretty cool Eh?





Yes it needs AIR do not cover, only cover with cheese cloth, towel or pair of nylons! MUST HAVE AIR!
But cover so bugs don't get in it!

For many enzymes, the optimal temperature range is what we would perceive as warm, pretty much the same as human body temperature. I don’t know about you, but I have my hot water heater set around 100-110 degrees. I suggest hot tap water and NOT boiling if you have your hot water set hot, then use "warm water". By using warm water, enzymes are within their optimal temperature range, and they catalyze chemical reactions more quickly, therefore the fermentation proceeds more quickly. At least this is what I am aware of.

METABOLISM AND NUTRITION http://ps.fass.org/content/88/2/309.full.pdf+html
Effects of Bacillus subtilis var. natto and Saccharomyces cerevisiae mixed
fermented feed on the enhanced growth performance of broilers.

http://www.ajas.info/Editor/manuscript/upload/23-70.pdf
Evaluation of Multi-microbial Probiotics Produced by
Submerged Liquid and Solid Substrate
Fermentation Methods in Broilers
the results of this study suggest the multi-microbe probiotic product prepared by a solid substrate fermentation method to be superior to the probiotic product prepared by submerged liquid fermentation

Not sure why its not showing in my signature anymore, I forgot I put the info in there! I had to search for the page!

Fabulous! You all are such great resources!!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

I use one of these to mix ferment

not sure of the exact  amounts that go in, and it does change according to what I have,,but basically it is 16% grower pellet with added wheat and barley, sometimes I will come across cheap birdfeed or scratch and that goes in there,,,I never figured out how to add the corn, being whole corn it does not mix well...i make mine thick since i do not want to drain it daily, oatmeal consistentcy....mix it all in the bucket and cover with a few inches of water ( I never completely empty this bucket).. it gets stirred and scooped with a ditch shovel.......mix again after feeding then it sits till the next day.....I only feed this once a day, I try to put out enough that they have an evening meal also but not have anything sitting overnight...

before anyone ask, here's a ditch shovel

I have 2 of these. I use one as a laundry basket and the other holds outside toys in the garage. I need to get a few more of them. The dog likes to sleep in them, they make good step stools, and are perfect for putting chicks in while cleaning or the brooder lol so multipurpose!

 

[wingstone]

Quote: guess that makes us the fools

not sure about you but I may get used to working these hours but I will never like them,, get home late and still need to unwind, then in order to get anything done you must get up and go without sleep..


come to think of it, when I was laid off I was often the only one here at 5 am, it is a normal waking time for me when not working..

 

[wingstone]

just so you all know, that shovel that I use to stir the ferment is metal, you are not suppose to use metal with ferment, but I kept breaking everything else or just could not get it stirred up good, went with this shovel and it works perfect....it does not stay in the bucket, it is only used for stirring...

I also keep a small bucket beside the ferment going, it is a very strong bucket,,,has a ice cream size pail of feed in it then covered with water and stirred daily,,,,if my main bucket looks like it is losing it's ferment I will put a cup or 2 of this strong stuff in with it..

on the plus size, when you stir up as much as I do of this stuff, it makes for a good arm workout

 

[wingstone]

Hubby has lots of straw available this year,,,not sure what he was thinking when he put so much of it up....

$three dollars a bale,,,, these are the larger size bales...