Fermenting update...
Well... a combination of research and advice (thanks Leah's Mom for the off line help
) and I finally got my fermented feeds going.
An update for those interested... I figure this "recap" may help some of you who are on the fence about fermenting...
I grind and mix my own grains and feed, so this transition to fermenting isn't as bad as I was worried it might me.
I am fermenting grains and then adding the premix to them each day as I go... grinding the grains in 50 lb batches every 5-7 days.
I have a LOT of chicks right now ranging from just hatched to almost 3 months old in 3 separate groups (and a fourth group are in the incubator).
So... I decided to ferment some ground grains about a week ago knowing I'd have newly hatched chicks a few days ago. Grinding may not be necessary, but I grind for the babies and I figured starting with only one group of chicks rather than all - this would allow for less trial and error and I wouldn't be as overwhelmed.
The newborns seemed like the logical choice.
The got offered their FF from day one with no other feed.
They play in it and walk in it, but more importantly they DO eat it.
Hint #1: Because they walk in it I have gotten in the habit of stirring it mid-way through the day so it isn't "packed down" and potentially easier for newborns to pick at - probably not necessary, but makes me feel better.
Figuring out how much for 22 chicks has been dicey, so... what they don't eat by that evening I move to the pen with the 4 week old chicks. They have free choice access to my ground chick feed all the time from a hanging feeder, so I didn't know if they'd go for the FF or not... especially since it was not "fresh".
Good news... they ate it right up!
I was a little surprised since I didn't really expect them to since they couldn't possibly be hungry with the feed they've had access to 24/7... but within 30 minutes the half day old FF was gone.
Hint #2: Waste not want not!
So... I feel better now about fixing it for the new chicks each morning because I know what they don't eat won't be wasted.
Don't know how that will work once I have everyone on FF... maybe I'll just continue to offer dry to the older chicks until I feel confident that they are getting enough FF.
We'll see how the next few weeks progress and hopefully by the time the last batch hatches in a week and a half I will have all the chicks on FF.
The laying hens free range this time of year and don't each much feed anyway, so they will be the easy group to transition when the time comes.
She is our green silkie.. Long story short, Jamie and his daughter dyed a few silkies for Easter. Bath, and than rebath with food colouring. She is white. and she will be white again. I just liked her type. All of them are in poor condition from breeding season. They've been plucked, clipped, and were very smelly. I gave all the girls baths, and still have to do the two boys. 
