Texas

[RachaelS]

Quote:
Not an expert at all, LOL! This thread is really good, super long, but reading the first 20 pages about sums it up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

I personally don't use the 2 bucket system, I don't have a place to hang it from. I have 3 small trash cans, 1 for the scratch to ferment in, 2 for the feed. My girls don't care if it is super wet so I don't drain. They pretty much lick their bowls clean.

 

[yinepu]

Not an expert at all, LOL! This thread is really good, super long, but reading the first 20 pages about sums it up.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds

I personally don't use the 2 bucket system, I don't have a place to hang it from. I have 3 small trash cans, 1 for the scratch to ferment in, 2 for the feed. My girls don't care if it is super wet so I don't drain. They pretty much lick their bowls clean.

How long did it take for them to decide they liked it?

 

[RachaelS]

How long did it take for them to decide they liked it?

My girls went for it the first day LOL!!! Of course I took out the dry food the day before, so they only had 2 hours of ranging, then put the fermented scratch on top, what girl does not like scratch

I have used ACV in their water off and on, so I think they were already used to the "taste" but I think it was the scratch that helped. Also, I totally removed dry feed.

 

[RachaelS]

PS the other great thing, is before, if I need to round them up before the sun set I had to chase them down. Now, I just fill up their bowls and they chase me down. So if a sudden storm, or lose dog comes around, I can get them safe in their coop ASAP.

 

[vebyrd36]

My new baby pygmy goat. Little wee, he is bottle feeding. he jumps and plays. He is a little over a week old. his mom did not want him. I put diapers on him so he can play for a while. Then I place him back in his sleep box at night. He is a mess. My sister takes care of him for me thru the day, and he is spoiled rotten.

 

[RachaelS]

My new baby pygmy goat. Little wee, he is bottle feeding. he jumps and plays. He is a little over a week old. his mom did not want him. I put diapers on him so he can play for a while. Then I place him back in his sleep box at night. He is a mess. My sister takes care of him for me thru the day, and he is spoiled rotten.

OMG!!! Can you say cuteness!!!!!! I wish I liked goat milk, I would get some. They are GREAT animals, so full of love! I just can't get over the taste of goat milk, can't even handle goat cheese. I keep trying, but to me it taste like what a goat udder would smell like, if that makes sense. I went deep into Mexico once and their goat cheese was super mild, almost less flavor that just white cheese, but here it is just to strong for me. However, I LOVE goats!

 

[bnjrob]

Oh, I feed daily anyway (twice daily, actually). Our humidity is crazy and I don't trust the feed to not get contaminated if I don't.

I don't really have any feed waste. Is this a common problem for people?

I've heard lots of people complain about feed waste but we don't have any. We use hanging feeders with lids to keep the feed dry and clean. It stays in the feeder where it belongs. Ours don't like pellets so we use crumble.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Boiled egg for the chicks...with or without the yolk?

 

[jockeyeba]

I am right on the Louisiana & Texas border & Gulf - small little place Bridge City - I'm a newbee and just getting started - hubby bought 15 acres on Cow Bayou and it had this small building sitting there, looked just right to be turned into a coop - so I have been cruising BYC for ideas and info, & gathering stuff & planning.  I'm ready but my timming seems to be off a little.  It's gardenng time here and it's takig all the spare time. Have to get everything in the ground first, nature doesn't wait.

to the Texas thread, we're right outside of San Antonio

 

[RachaelS]

Quote:
Well I guess it is not "waste" since they will eat it off the ground. With my set up, I don't like the feed getting mixed in. Eventually they will eat it, but it gets mixed into everything and if they spill their water it just stinks. However, this is because of my set up and would not apply to everyone, LOL! Prior to fermenting, I actually got less "waste" with pellets over crumble, LOL!!!! They just spread that all over the place.