The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SallyinIndiana]

Do you use "any old rock"? I know folks used to heat bricks like that as foot warmers (wrapped them in a towel).

I'm thinking that there would be some rocks that are better than others. Dense would retain the heat longer but weigh more and take longer to warm. Flat of course would be a big plus. Too porous and I'm sure there could be a cracking issue. Also how hot to allow the rock to get might be a deal if the chickens try to walk on the rock.
I'm thinking the rock heating would be more effort than benefit for me.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I only have 2186 more pages to get caught up on....

You know, you should just join right in and read as you have time! I imagine there are a lot of folks on here that haven't started at the beginning

 

[ki4got]

Quote: like me, which is why I feel like i'm asking all kinds of noob questions about FF. I guess I could just pick up the phone and call Leigh

ok LM... now that I have an estimate of how much to feed, how much does one of those jars hold?

if not enough, or just enough, would I be better off getting 2 and swapping out every other day? or would overnight fermenting be enough?

heading to the feed store today, to get my regular feed, baby feed and some sweet to try the ff with.

 

[Leahs Mom]

That's what the forum is about - helping folks with ideas, etc. Don't be afraid to ask questions that might have been asked before. Of course, there is always the blog that covers a lot of the info in an easy to find format. But it doesn't record all the personal observations, specific situations, etc.

It's always good to be able to talk about your specifics and hear the ideas that everyone comes up with. I've gotten lots of ideas by rehashing things w/different folks and tried a lot of things. Some of what I posted last year I'm doing a little different this year, for example.

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

Yup im just going to jump right in here =) hi everybody I'm Chrysolin and I was wondering what the benefits of Ff are? I am sure t has been covered before but I've been through hundreds of pages and I haven't found the complete answer Or the information I think I am looking for.. I look forward to learning from people who have more experience then I do and hope to contribute when I can.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yup im just going to jump right in here =) hi everybody I'm Chrysolin and I was wondering what the benefits of Ff are? I am sure t has been covered before but I've been through hundreds of pages and I haven't found the complete answer Or the information I think I am looking for.. I look forward to learning from people who have more experience then I do and hope to contribute when I can.

Chrysolin - good to have you! Just sent a pm with some information

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Yup im just going to jump right in here =) hi everybody I'm Chrysolin and I was wondering what the benefits of Ff are? I am sure t has been covered before but I've been through hundreds of pages and I haven't found the complete answer Or the information I think I am looking for.. I look forward to learning from people who have more experience then I do and hope to contribute when I can.

The birds consume less FF after their first month on it, before that they eat it like a child eats ice cream. In the end it should save a considerable amount of money. The good parts of the food like the protein are magically made easiery for the chicken to digest or convert to use. Basically the bird is able to eat less food, and get more of the good stuff out of it before the said good stuff gets digested out into the manure area. From what I have seen in my own birds, they are healthier and happier. I think they are happier due to being in better health not because they are eating some kind of treat. My birds are also more active when they eat their soaked food, fermented would be better. I do soaked as a compromise between fermented and dry. The reason for me was the smell and the tiny bugs that the smell would bring. And young toddlers are just too curious about a bucket full of messy slop.

Draw backs are the feeding the birds at least daily. With the dry food I was able to fill a giant feeder and forget it for at least a few days. Then the smell and bugs were not good. There is a good article about fermenting food. Here is a link. there are three parts so more links at the end of the article
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

 

[Leahs Mom]

Karen - refresh my memory. How many birds are you feeding? That will help with the size of container needed.

Some people keep a couple containers (some larger some smaller) and rotate the containers while one is fermenting longer. Some just stir some back into a single container after removing for a day or 2.

Just an overnight soak is beneficial for beginning to break down the anti-nutrients in the grains and legumes. But a longer soak allows more of the probiotics to proliferate. You will never empty the container completely just keep stirring fresh feed and water back in which will keep the organisms in there continuing to feed and putting out the lactic acid.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

You know, you should just join right in and read as you have time! I imagine there are a lot of folks on here that haven't started at the beginning

*breathes a sigh of relief* ... spent the last two evenings trying to get caught up in this thread, and realized it was going to take forever.

 

[lindz8504]

Ok, so with the FF... does it have to be grains or can it be the chick starter/grower crumbles?