Texas

[NickyPick]

Oh, and as I have 70 +/- hens most of the time, I do my FF in a 35 gallon rubber feed can. When it gets low, I scoop up 4-6 buckets (the small horse feed buckets) and add water from the hose until it's floating. I add some cayenne pepper that I buy in bulk (keeps the rats & squirrels out of the feed) and stir with a long shovel. Just stir again in the morning, scoop some up and feed.

 

[electrycmonk]

I started reading that loooooooong FF thread in the meat birds forum way back when. I think a lady called Beekissed was doing an experiment with her broilers. They then started talking about how it would work for layers, so I started. I really hate the mush you get with wet pellets, so I have a grain mixture. Oats, barley, scratch, BOSS and catfish pellets. Since I got turkeys, I've been adding a half scoop of wild game crumbles to the wet mixture before feeding. I've had healthy hens and tons of eggs for 8 years now, so I don't see any drawbacks to it as a feed. My main pros were, the lack of smell in the coop and the feed lasting longer than the same amount of pellets (so my costs were less).

That sounds like a wonderful win-win for you. And at multiple years of production, it's sounds like the learning curve isn't that harsh either.

 

[electrycmonk]

Oh, and as I have 70 +/- hens most of the time, I do my FF in a 35 gallon rubber feed can. When it gets low, I scoop up 4-6 buckets (the small horse feed buckets) and add water from the hose until it's floating. I add some cayenne pepper that I buy in bulk (keeps the rats & squirrels out of the feed) and stir with a long shovel. Just stir again in the morning, scoop some up and feed.

So, I'm wondering how to scale this down to 1/3 your approx flock size. Sweeping generalizations aside. I definitely want to consider this for my future. Very near future - like, maybe this fall/winter at the earliest.

I should have the wellhouse etal built by then.....

 

[AllenK RGV]

It was Bo, the Malinois rescue. I went to Dairy queen and lost a pilllow now too. He is a cutie but a nightmare if you do not take him out at the proper time for his play dates. I bet @RUNuts wife feels the same about him. Regardless the dog escaped into our bedroom somehow.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Thank goodness the mosquito spray trucks are out now. After all of this rain the mosquitoes are bad. My wife hates chemicals but was cheering at the sight.

 

[NickyPick]

So, I'm wondering how to scale this down to 1/3 your approx flock size. Sweeping generalizations aside. I definitely want to consider this for my future. Very near future - like, maybe this fall/winter at the earliest.

I should have the wellhouse etal built by then.....

I don't fill up the 35 gallon tub completely, just about 1/3-1/2. I like the feed can because it's large enough that I can lean the shovel on it to really stir. Plus, since the rats at the old place actually chewed holes in the "rat proof" lid, I don't have to keep the lid cocked to make sure it's not airproof. Basically, you need feed, water (ACV with the mother for a starter is good, too, just a glug or two), air and time. For a first start, the ferment is going good after 2-3 days - just stir it every day. After that, just replace what you've used when it gets low and it will keep going easy. White "mold" on the top is good stuff. Black mold of any kind is very bad. I've never had that kind, but plenty of the white stuff. It's pungent, but it doesn't smell bad to me.

When I started with the turkeys, I fermented their game crumbles. With those, it's an easy 1:1 ratio. One bucket crumble, one bucket water.

It's taken my hens a month now on pellets to finally start eating them all. They usually finish the FF by noon and spend the rest of the day out in the field. The smell, though. I don't think I'm going to last until September. I'll probably switch back with the next feed order.

 

[AllenK RGV]

So, I'm wondering how to scale this down to 1/3 your approx flock size. Sweeping generalizations aside. I definitely want to consider this for my future. Very near future - like, maybe this fall/winter at the earliest.

I should have the wellhouse etal built by then.....

In my case I just used a 3 gallon bucket that was originally holding pool chlorine tabs. It scales with your needs and imagination.

 

[electrycmonk]

I really like this wisdom y'all. I really do appreciate it.

I edited for cut-n-paste to notepad on my phones browser....

 

[AllenK RGV]

Ok found this image on ksat.com and giggled. Nothing could be worse than taking away a Texan's tacos and salsa. There are things you just don't do in this state. Stand yer %$s outside and I'll bring you a taco would be kinder.
Only in Texas!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Depressing news. The ambulance is here for my neighbor again. This Covid stuff is getting depressing.