The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Shan30]

[COLOR=FF0000]Electro-netting: [/COLOR]I use it to enclose about 3 acres for my yearlings, segregated from the laying flock which is not fenced at all...except OUT of my yard.


[COLOR=FF0000]Feeding peeps:[/COLOR][COLOR=B22222]  [/COLOR]At day three, I start peeps on fermented feed...sorta'.....I mix Purina medicated chick starter with the stirred-up broth from the vat, along with some goat butter milk. I make it the same consistency as for adults...you could almost make a firm ball of the mixture. 


This virtually eliminates wasted feed and I think the fermented broth is good for their little guts.  I also helps keep them hydrated.

I'm not advising anyone to do this ...just saying it seems to help the chicks to be perky and healthy. drunk....Just kidding on the 'drunk' part.
 


[COLOR=333333]:[/COLOR]

No worries, we've all been the drunk chick on the farm at some point....right?

So if I'm getting this straight you don't actually ferment it, just moisten with the ferment juice? No additives other than the buttermilk? What do you feed it to them in?

 

[RedRidge]

Where might I find something like this? I promised my husband he can have a poo-free area of the yard this year but I still have to let the kids out to forage

and how inexpensive is inexpensive? Thanks!

https://www.kencove.com/fence/Electric+Netting+10/40/3.5_detail_NSPCG.php

Best investment ever after my maremma....

 

[hellbender]

No worries, we've all been the drunk chick on the farm at some point....right?

So if I'm getting this straight you don't actually ferment it, just moisten with the ferment juice? No additives other than the buttermilk? What do you feed it to them in?

I've seen a drunk chick around here now and again...in fact I saw a couple of 'em over the week end....that's another story.

No I don't feed them totally fermented food at first but likely could. I put their feed on 14"X 18" human food trays for awhile (with a thin piece of rubber matting to prevent their feet from slipping). In short order, I move them up to the 3 gallon rubber feed pans and at about 2 months, I begin adding fermented grains to the mess. By month four I'm mixing the medicated feed about 50%/50%, still adding the buttermilk if I have it.

I gradually start changing the medicated diet at 5 months and use the Layena crumbles with fermented grains.

Works well for me!

 

[Leahs Mom]

No worries, we've all been the drunk chick on the farm at some point....right?

So if I'm getting this straight you don't actually ferment it, just moisten with the ferment juice? No additives other than the buttermilk? What do you feed it to them in?

I do give mine ff from day 1 - the whole flock gets the same feed. Then I add some extra meat protein for the littles and there is calcium on the side for all others.

There should be no alcohol concerns with Lacto-fermented feed as it is fermented to produce lactic acid rather than alcohol. (For a quick primer on the differences in the kinds of ferments, take a look at this article. )

That article also has links to the research articles that were done feeding chicks Lacto-fermented feed from day 1 and the health benefits

 

[misbhaven]

Tried the test batch of FF on my flock today, meaties and ducks ate it well, grown ups loved it, 6 week old SLW and white rocks looked at me like me what is this s*** gave it at 10 am just a small amout they still haven't touched it. So I moved to a bigger container and buying a bag of oats to add to the mix. I figure even if half their feed is FF still save me money and better for them.

 

[hellbender]

Tried the test batch of FF on my flock today, meaties and ducks ate it well, grown ups loved it, 6 week old SLW and white rocks looked at me like me what is this s*** gave it at 10 am just a small amout they still haven't touched it. So I moved to a mich bigger container and buying a bag of oats to add to the mix. I figure even if half their feed is FF still save me money and better for them.

I'd leave it....the old saying is true...'they will eat it before it eats them'.

 

[misbhaven]

I will I figure either later tonight or before I feed them in the morning they will try it out..

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Thank you for the electro fence link people! I can't begin to tell you how much distress my ranging ducks cause here, when it comes to the poop! For some reason, there's no desire to range the acres of pasture, no they just want to be on the concrete by the cars. Forget that.

I tried to build a "wattle fence" today, will need to use a post hole digger tomorrow if no rain. Can't beat FREE,

 

[beccasev]

[COLOR=FF0000]Electro-netting: [/COLOR]I use it to enclose about 3 acres for my yearlings, segregated from the laying flock which is not fenced at all...except OUT of my yard.


[COLOR=FF0000]Feeding peeps:[/COLOR][COLOR=B22222]  [/COLOR]At day three, I start peeps on fermented feed...sorta'.....I mix Purina medicated chick starter with the stirred-up broth from the vat, along with some goat butter milk. I make it the same consistency as for adults...you could almost make a firm ball of the mixture. 


This virtually eliminates wasted feed and I think the fermented broth is good for their little guts.  I also helps keep them hydrated.

I'm not advising anyone to do this ...just saying it seems to help the chicks to be perky and healthy. drunk....Just kidding on the 'drunk' part.
 


[COLOR=333333]:[/COLOR]

I like that idea! The wetting of starter with the fermented broth. I want to at least feed wet, but they look at it like it may bite them. These chicks aren't the smartest cookies in the jar. I will try the wet food again with the fermented broth on it and see what they think.

 

[hellbender]

I like that idea! The wetting of starter with the fermented broth. I want to at least feed wet, but they look at it like it may bite them. These chicks aren't the smartest cookies in the jar. I will try the wet food again with the fermented broth on it and see what they think.

Doesn't matter what they think. Just put it down and they will eat it. Best to make it quite thick in consistency. That way, they can't track it all over the place and there's no waste.

EDIT:Much less likely to choke with the firm moist texture, it gives them H20 and the food begins to digest sooner, with virtually no pasty-butts, at least not in my peeps. That can quite
literally, a pain in the BU>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!lol