The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Chick Pix - 2 Weeks Old
(These were taken after WW3)









Mom still being vigilant just in case someone comes her way. FF in the foreground.






Digging into FF. Dry feed in background. I still offer a little dry free-choice.

 

[delisha]

Mine love it under too..specially in the hot weather..they have a perfect dust spot..they also nest under it too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

That is why I don't bother with UP/ACV in the water if they don't drink it or don't drink very much of it why bother and waste the UP/ACV. I put it in the Fermented feed on a regular basis. I have changed to doing it every other day now just before I serve it. Not in my main ferment bucket but the bucket I carry the feed to them in. That way I know they are getting it and it can do the job it is suppose to for them.

I really do like the idea of adding a little ACV to the feed AFTER it's fermented right in the feed bowl (rather than the ferment bowl).

 

[delisha]

Chick Pix - 2 Weeks Old
(These were taken after WW3)









Mom still being vigilant just in case someone comes her way. FF in the foreground.






Digging into FF. Dry feed in background. I still offer a little dry free-choice.

They are growing so fast..so cuteeeeeeeeeee

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Let us all know when you come up with a solution. Those cups are awesome!

I've got a little off topic question but I think you all are the ones to ask. All this talk of the health benefits of ff and ACV makes me wonder what else I could feed this to. Do any of you feed your horses ff and acv? Rabbits?

Actually, that's crossed my mind a good bit. I put a glug in my dog's water bucket and they drink it just fine but I've not noticed a significant difference in their health, appearance, etc. I've certainly not noticed a change in their egg laying. ^_^ . One good thing is that it keeps down the "ick" factor in the water bucket. I've been toying with the idea of fermenting some dog food much the same as I do the layer pellets. My hound loves to follow me when I feed the chickens and she'll lap up any that drips in the wrong direction. Being a hound, she has trouble with fungal infections in her floppy ears and general "hound smell" so I'm curious as to if FF would help. Haven't done it yet as I need to pick up another bucket.

As for me, I consume a lot of vinegar in my regular food. Lately have been eating a lot of greens - collards, kale, etc. - and always eat my greens with vinegar. I like to put extra on salads, too. One way to drink it is to make a "shrub" which was a colonial era drink of fruit juice, a little vinegar, a bit of water if you want it. Not bad on a really hot day served ice cold.

 

[delisha]

The broody here on the nest is nasty as all get out..she is so loud and growls enough to scare the poor dog. i think I am going to make a short taape tomorrow so others can see a funny broody, not being so funny.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Aoxa & LM - The chick pics are wonderful. They make me want............resisting, resisting and resisting. Well, maybe this spring.....they grow up ..... (trying to talk myself out of it) sigh

 

[pigeonguy]

I love the idea of the glass waterers...just don't like the open trays that get gunky and stinky.

I'm still working on a way to use the cup waterers on glass...think I'll have it ready soon!

They also make diamond drill bits for drilling glass you just have to go really slow.

lol... I saw him when I was 17 at Stone Pony,,, never forgot how unbelievably exciting it was....

I am proud of you tackling the FF. I am a sissy, and won't start until the freezing ends. Cleaning 200 lbs of frozen horse manure takes up all my patience on a daily basis. Keep us posted how it goes... at least I know when I do start, I have the best dang group of FF groupies to help me along...

MB

200 lbs a day how many horses do you have.

Here's the photo of my little fermented feed bowl. I have 6 adult hens and now the 4 babies and this makes enough. I take out some in the morning then put another scoop of dry in the bowl, add water stir and go on my way. They may end up getting another feeding later in the day depending on what's left in their bowl.

In this photo you can see the height of water above the feed...it's about 1" above. In this photo the sediment hasn't totally settled as I just stirred it not too long before.



When you first get started, you'll put the water in and stir it up, and you'll think there's plenty in there. Then when you look at it in a couple hours it may have soaked up all the water and you'll have to add more and stir again. Just keep doing that until it has enough water. Then when you take some out to feed, put in a little more dry and some water and stir it all together. As you go, you'll get a better idea of how much water you need to use. After it starts to get going well it will start to smell a little like pickles.

As far as a culture starter...
-Some use ACV.
-Some don't use any starter at all and just do "wild fermentation".
-Some use a little whey.

So far, I've tried all of the following as starters to see which I liked best. I'm listing them in order from my favorite to my least favorite:
1. Juice from my fermented sauerkraut
2. Experimental pack of starter for fermenting veggies. (This would be similar to using the sauerkraut juice...has the same Lactic Acid producing Bacteria (LABs).
3. Whey from cheesemaking
4. ACV,


On this batch I used a couple tablespoons of the juice out of a jar of my fermenting sauerkraut.

I love, love cold sauerkraut.

I really do like the idea of adding a little ACV to the feed AFTER it's fermented right in the feed bowl (rather than the ferment bowl).

Ya I keep changing my FF methods. Some day I will find one that completely suits me. Ya right like that will ever happen. Always experiment always change that is the only way to improve and get better.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Combs & Wattles....

These two are the same age and from the same hatchery. Look at the dif. in the size of wattles and combs!


Little Red (Broody Mom) This was just after the fray..looks like she has a wound above her eye there.




Big Red. Huge size difference.

 

[PeepsCA]

Quote: I tried some in water and didn't like the taste either, but it's pretty good in apple juice.
I have the trick for you guys..
two shot glasses
one have ACV
the other has Tequilla
Tequilla is first..the ACV does not taste like ACV after the Tequilla
LOL too funny

I just think of dill pickles or a salad with oil/vinegar dressing when I am about drink my 2 tsp of UP-ACV in a glass of ice cold water, twice a day. So that's what my taste buds are expecting and aren't quite as shocked when I take that first gulp. Mind over matter, but getting it down fast definitely helps lol.

ETA... SandB, I use a couple of good glugs of UP-ACV in my old horse's soaked beat pulp and grain breakfast every day. ACV has been used for horses for eons. I don't feed any FF to my horses tho, too worried about colic...