Texas

[henless]

Good Morning Fellow Texans!

Here is the thread for Fermented Feed: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

Beekissed is the lady to go to for questions on this stuff. She is from West Virginia and believes in keeping everything simple. Either go to the forum or PM her. She will answer. (We made her an honorary Texan a while back)

Fermented Feed should smell sourdough or yeasty. 8iesenuff if you are putting a lid on your jar, DON'T. It needs to breathe--put a coffee filter over it or a lid with a crack showing. It should be stirred twice a day. Fermented feed is for chicks and the adults. It is good for the chicks because it keeps them from getting 'pasty butts'. It will make the chickens' feathers shinier, healthier, eggshells are harder, AND it is cheaper to ferment the feed. They don't eat as much. My feed bill is way down because I switched over. All I use in mine is layer pellets and scratch. I also add (from time to time) garlic, red pepper, and oregano.

Ya'll have a great day!

Lisa

Thanks Lisa. Something to look into.



The weather here is still crappy. Foggy, cool and very damp. Not very good painting weather.

 

[Ms Jellybean]

Waterers seem to be this mornings topic.

I've decided not to do nipples and am looking into other options. There is the chicken fountain cup I posted a few posts back, the 'old fashioned' chicken waterer, and mounted waterers of various sizes. Right now I am leaning towards the mounted waterer. I would keep them in the shade so they don't heat up. Is there any reason I shouldn't use these? I was thinking a larger one and then also an old fashioned one.

And on to another topic... What are some good minerals to add to the feed. I found some good omega oils to add - Kicken' Chicken. You can add it to the feed while it ferments. I will also feed yogurt and add ACV to the water a couple times a week.

I think I am starting to get things down. Yeah! I can't wait for my heat plate to come so I can get my chicks.

 

[ClovisMan]

Waterers seem to be this mornings topic.

I've decided not to do nipples and am looking into other options. There is the chicken fountain cup I posted a few posts back, the 'old fashioned' chicken waterer, and mounted waterers of various sizes. Right now I am leaning towards the mounted waterer. I would keep them in the shade so they don't heat up. Is there any reason I shouldn't use these? I was thinking a larger one and then also an old fashioned one.

And on to another topic... What are some good minerals to add to the feed. I found some good omega oils to add - Kicken' Chicken. You can add it to the feed while it ferments. I will also feed yogurt and add ACV to the water a couple times a week.

I think I am starting to get things down. Yeah! I can't wait for my heat plate to come so I can get my chicks.

My father-in-law used cage mounted waterers similar to those for his game roosters. They work fine, but you will have to refill it...alot depending on how many chickens you have. He watered twice a day and each rooster had its own waterer.

 

[SlipsWife]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/harris-farms-easy-fill-drinker-5-gal-capacity

This by far has been my favorite water container. We haven't tried a nipple system or cups but after finding this we probably won't. You simply take the lid off of the top, fill it, and you're done. We use big open containers for our hens but this is perfect for younger chicks and if you have smaller chickens in with the bigger ones. If we weren't already using open containers for the older ones I would use this across the board!

We've tried http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/farm-tuff-top-fill-poultry-waterer-5-gal and http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/harris-farms-poultry-drinker-35-gal-capacity

The first one is extremely hard to screw/unscrew the top and the second one is just nasty because you have to flip it upside down.

 

[bnjrob]

.

 

[hensfortherapy]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/harris-farms-easy-fill-drinker-5-gal-capacity

This by far has been my favorite water container.  We haven't tried a nipple system or cups but after finding this we probably won't.  You simply take the lid off of the top, fill it, and you're done.  We use big open containers for our hens but this is perfect for younger chicks and if you have smaller chickens in with the bigger ones.  If we weren't already using open containers for the older ones I would use this across the board!

We've tried http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/farm-tuff-top-fill-poultry-waterer-5-gal and http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/harris-farms-poultry-drinker-35-gal-capacity

The first one is extremely hard to screw/unscrew the top and the second one is just nasty because you have to flip it upside down.

Oh pooh, it says the site is not available. I'll check it later.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I was looking for a pic of my chicken fount, but can't find one. It works great and no worries if chicks are around. I had a chick drown in an open container last summer. My fault. Broke my heart.
I guess I should have a chicken in this picture, but I did not take it. I came upon in looking through pics and it pretty much symbolizes my way of thinking.

 

[hensfortherapy]

This is what Blondie looks like when she goes broody. Does not want to get off the nest and puffs up her feathers at me when I reach in to pick her off.

 

[magpiesing]

Is this the cup you are talking about?

No, the ones I have have the connection on the side and a little float in the bottom. they're about 3 inches across and are orange. They attach to the pipe and sorta stick out from it.

 

[magpiesing]

I think he means these:

Yes, that's the ones. Right now using the water jugs you have to turn over and fill then put the lids on. Was not fun when it was so cold. Going to hook up the new system very soon, tired of the hassle with the jugs and they hust don't stay clean for even a day. I even have them up on bricks and they still sling dirt into them, ugh!