Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[LadyBehir]

Egg #2 around 2:30 this afternoon.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Egg #2 around 2:30 this afternoon. 
:yiipchick

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[troyer]

My fermented whole grain experiment continues,

I have a few hen's that being rooster favorite's seem to always have bald spots, they are growing feathers at a fast rate all of a sudden.
Egg production has picked back up
I am finding that they will pick in a different order at times, one day they may pick the wheat out first and other days they barely touch it? Same with other grains.

I noticed that the poop piles are not as watery also, looks like a very small doggy pile of poop.

Am gonna stick to the grains since it is going well..

This experiment overflows into the meat section also, the current batch of meat birds have been fed nothing but grains ( fermented and sprouted ).

I feed a mix of wheat, milo, millet, sunflower seeds and sunflower meats, this is all fermented. I can testify to very similar experiences as wingstone. My walk-in coops also don't smell nearly as badly (acid smell) as they did before feeding fermented feed.

Egg #2 around 2:30 this afternoon.

 

[emorems0]

So, how does one go about fermenting feed? I think I need a quick how-to

My chickies are spending their first night in the coop tonight. DH wanted them out of the house - bedding in the brooder really needed to be changed, but I was so close to having the coop finished, etc. etc. Anyway, the living room was getting stinky and DH was starting to really dislike them (ironic since HE was the one who said yes to our daughter about hatching chicks this summer, despite also having a baby on the way!!!). *I* would not have put them out yet, the coop still needs some finishing... but it should be reasonably predator-proof for a night or two until I can get it finished up properly. They are about 6 weeks old now and fully feathered, so they should be fine out there. I think I'll go out and check on them before I head to bed.

 

[Teila]

So, how does one go about fermenting feed? I think I need a quick how-to

My chickies are spending their first night in the coop tonight. DH wanted them out of the house - bedding in the brooder really needed to be changed, but I was so close to having the coop finished, etc. etc. Anyway, the living room was getting stinky and DH was starting to really dislike them (ironic since HE was the one who said yes to our daughter about hatching chicks this summer, despite also having a baby on the way!!!). *I* would not have put them out yet, the coop still needs some finishing... but it should be reasonably predator-proof for a night or two until I can get it finished up properly. They are about 6 weeks old now and fully feathered, so they should be fine out there. I think I'll go out and check on them before I head to bed.

There is a thread on Fermenting Feed (maybe more than one) but if you need a quick how-to .. I may be able to help; depending on the size of your flock.

I only have a small number of chickens, 5 x bantams and I find the 'bucket' method overkill for such small eaters and I use the 3 days x 3 jars method. It is nice and easy.

I do not add any ACV, just feed and water which has been boiled to get rid of the chlorine and then added when cold. Even without any 'starters' or reusing the 'juice' the ferment is ready by the third day.

So, get 3 jars lined up, on Day 1, pop in the feed, cover with two fingers depth of water; set aside. On Day 2, same again in the second jar. Day 3, same again. Then, each day feed them the oldest jar, fill up with feed and water and place at the end of the line....repeat each day.

Do not put a tightened lid on the jar as the gasses need to escape, I simply rest the mason jar lid on top to keep stuff out.

This method is great for a small flock

 

[barbiegirl]

Copied from the PA BYC page on facebook on fermenting feed:

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

 

[emorems0]

I have 9 six-week old chicks (large fowl, mostly black australorps and RIRs)... they are still eating their chick starter/grower feed. They are down to the bottom 1/3 of the 50lb bag and I'm not sure what type of food I want to get for them next so this topic is great timing. The chick crumbles seem like they would just turn to mush if fermented, does fermented food work best with whole/cracked grain-type food rather than crumbles? I'm only familiar with fermenting grains for human consumption... chicken food is a whole new area for me. And what type of container do you use to actually feed the chickens since the fermented food is wet? I was planning on making one of those bucket feeders with the PVC elbow but that probably wouldn't work well with wet/fermented feed.

 

[Teila]

I have 9 six-week old chicks (large fowl, mostly black australorps and RIRs)... they are still eating their chick starter/grower feed. They are down to the bottom 1/3 of the 50lb bag and I'm not sure what type of food I want to get for them next so this topic is great timing. The chick crumbles seem like they would just turn to mush if fermented, does fermented food work best with whole/cracked grain-type food rather than crumbles? I'm only familiar with fermenting grains for human consumption... chicken food is a whole new area for me. And what type of container do you use to actually feed the chickens since the fermented food is wet? I was planning on making one of those bucket feeders with the PVC elbow but that probably wouldn't work well with wet/fermented feed.

Note: I am just sharing my thoughts and what I do; others will do things differently.

My girls were not particularly taken with dry crumbles and when I fermented them they did, as you mention, turn into mush. I know that some chickens like the mush but not my fussy little munchkins.

I ferment coarse grain for them and they love it.

They get the FF served up in an open plastic container at breakfast and then any leftovers at the afternoon free range are scattered for some fun scratching and pecking.

I believe the FF can clog up any type of gravity fed automatic feeder.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Why are all you people taking about winter! I feel like we haven't even had a summer! It's been nothing but rain and cold (for me anyway but I'm always cold lol). I've been depressed lately. I've noticed that the leaves are already beginning to change and I'm just not ready for it. I do agree winter is peaceful and There's nothing like watching the fresh snow fall but for someone like me who's always cold, I get cabin fever from being stuck inside wrapped in blankets all day every day lol

welcome to the new people!

Anyone have any thoughts or opinions on this? I was thinking about getting it but couldn't find any info or reviews on it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/161355847603?redirect=mobile

 

[LadyBehir]

Can anyone ID this tree for me? It is in a neighbor's yard and is loaded with fruit.