Texas

[Little Wing]

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.

I agree. If you have feed on the ground then your feeder isn't set up right.

 

[Kilsharion]

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.

So cute!

 

[Kilsharion]

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.

Oh - my feed has not wound up on the ground or anything like that. Maybe I've got something odd setup. I dunno. I just don't feel comfortable with feed that has potentially gotten damp (frosty nights and warm days makes for a lot of sweating on containers) and causing problems - that's my idea of contamination. I've had to deal with ergots type poisonings in the past and don't want to play that game again in any way, shape or form. So, the only waste I experience is if the feed buckets are not empty when I go out in the morning and we've had a cold night with a potentially warm day ahead. I will deliberately dump the feed. Fermenting it instead might be an option.

 

[RachaelS]

Quote:
Could be, I used to use those 5 gal white and red feeders from TSC. They would just fling it everywhere!!!! Figured out how to hit them so feed would go flying to the floor, LOL! Now I have rubber bowls with fermented feed and they are licked clean.

 

[Little Wing]

I am definitely going to try fermenting. I'm going to start with scratch grains.

 

[bnjrob]

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.

Yeah, spilled water is miserable.

We bought buckets and put nipples in the bottom of them, so they hang and the chickens go underneath them to drink. MUCH better than spilling water. Not to mention that I can stick frozen water bottles into the 5 gallon buckets during the summer to keep the water cool. We wrap the buckets with air bubble insulation - makes a difference in keeping the water cooler even on the hottest days, and keeping from freezing as often in winter.

 

[bnjrob]

Could be, I used to use those 5 gal white and red feeders from TSC. They would just fling it everywhere!!!! Figured out how to hit them so feed would go flying to the floor, LOL! Now I have rubber bowls with fermented feed and they are licked clean.

You must have talented chickens.

 

[LightningTFarm]

I have read thru the entire thread on fermenting feed, and am definitely going to do it for my ducks and geese. I just need to get the holes drilled in the inner bucket. I think it will make my ducks' poop more solid and less smelly, so I can clean it out of their run easier. In their house, I use Sweet PDZ sprinkled over their pine shaving bedding every day, and that makes it really easy to pick up the poopy bits because they make a solid mass, and it doesn't stink even in the summer. That stuff is AWESOME!!!

I am still working on my goose house, so in the meantime the two Toulouse ganders are outside all day and then get herded into the duck run at night (after the ducks are in their house). This has worked okay except that the geese have twice chewed the wire in two that goes from my automatic duck house door to the battery. I fixed it for good this weekend, though, with some rubber tubing that I then attached to the duck house wall. I dare them to chew it now!

 

[bnjrob]

the geese have twice chewed the wire in two that goes from my automatic duck house door to the battery. I fixed it for good this weekend, though, with some rubber tubing that I then attached to the duck house wall. I dare them to chew it now!

Seriously? I've got enough problems with dogs and cats that chew things, can't imagine having to geese-proof everything.

 

[LightningTFarm]

Yes, sadly geese like to chew on things. Sticks, wires, you name it. A lady who posts on the goose thread had a favorite goose that electrocuted herself earlier this winter after chewing the wire on the pail warmer thingy they use up north to keep the water from freezing. They found her with her beak still attached to the wire but her feet blown out from under her and she was laid straight out. Kinda funny, but kinda sad, too. Another lady said her geese chewed all the wires under her truck one day - her husband was NOT amused. But, they are also so funny to watch and so incredibly smart. They have LONG memories so woe to the person who mistreats one. They may not be able to pay you back today, but a year from now they will have their revenge! I raise Giant Dewlap Toulouse. I only have two ganders right now, but will be getting some goslings this spring so I can raise them some girlfriends and get a regular gaggle going. My two boys are named Atticus and Finch, and some day I hope to at least have a Scout and Calpernia. As you can see, I am a major "To Kill a Mockingbird" fan! Here is a picture of my boys.