The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[ShrekDawg]

Haven't finished reading the article yet but wanted to say that I've been seeing the fermented feed thing mentioned a lot lately not just here but tons of other threads and it seems like there are so many benefits and I should do it and kind of want to but then I'm too lazy and would probably wind up accidentally starving the chickens. Plus like @oldhenlikesdogs said, which I hadn't even thought about, it would probably freeze in winter. But my mom is kinda worried about salmonella so maybe I should switch over to it if it cures it like you say. Or rather reduces it. Especially since it's on the rise. But then at the same time, I feel like in a clean pen or free range with healthy chickens it wouldn't really be an issue. Oh and also I thought of this as I was reading the beginning of the article: one of the main points I see touted around is that they waste less food/don't scratch it out but to me that isn't really much of a benefit because honestly there are feeders you can make that also reduce waste. Right now mine do walk through their bowls and make a mess but I just made 2 bucket feeders the other night. Haven't put them in yet but planning to today since it's raining. You may have seen their thread but they stick their heads inside the PVC elbow and therefore can't fling food out. I don't know, it's just to me, there are other ways of reducing food waste so if that were the only reason somebody wanted to switch then I'd say to just make a bucket feeder. But I know that most people switch because of the benefits and less food waste is just an additional benefit. But speaking of the bucket thing, another reason I'm switching to that is so I don't have to constantly check their feeder. With this I'm assuming you have to bring it out every day? I'm lazy hahah and yes I know that I have to go out to check on them and check eggs every day anyways but still. But I mean to bash it or anything because it does seem like a great idea but actually my original point before I got so off track was this: I've been seeing it around everywhere lately and while it does seem better, plenty of people have had healthy chickens with chicken feed and I guess I'm saying sometimes it seems like people are saying you're a bad owner for not trying this because it's way better and the chickens are way better and you have to feed it or else. And I know that is not at all the intention and most people are just trying to be friendly or offer another way of chicken keeping for people who didn't know but sometimes it does feel that way a little bit. plus there are better brands, maybe they tested with the worst one. Sorry, just my thinking here

 

[Jewelwing]

I guess I should have said it's not something I wish to spend time doing. I don't see any problems with my flock health wise. My birds consume about half the feed in summer and any wet feed would freeze solid within an hour around here in winter. Sorry not arguing or even debating, just not for me, I have the land for mine to do what a chicken wants to do, tons of compost to dig through and animal manure. Just too much other stuff I'd rather do than make the stuff. Thank you for the article.

Ok, totally cool - I'm all for not making your life more difficult or complicated!

I'm a bit more south than you here in IL, but we get pretty cold in the winter too (well below zero *F), and you're absolutely right that it is a problem that fermented feed freezes. I often add some dry feed mixed in to the wet, to absorb more of the liquid, and then I find it doesn't freeze as solid and I can break it up into very small frozen bits with a spoon. So yes, it's definitely more work than dry feed would be in the winter, but I'm happy to do it, especially since they have so little to forage then. At least the chickens don't seem to mind eating their "ice food"!

I have just as much problem with their water freezing in the winter, as I have no electricity to my coop. I end up having to bring them fresh liquid water 2-3 times a day, which is more time intensive than the fermented feed.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Is there a way to run an extention cord? That seems so time intensive!!! I was using a tupperware container for a while which seems so small but they weren't drinking much but it would constantly freeze solid and I too would have to go change it all the time or if I didn't notice they would have no water for a little while which I realize is awful but sometimes it would freeze right after you put it out so would have no way of knowing. I switched to horizontal nipples and haven't had an issue since. But then again are winter was very mild this year and we only had a few really cold days so by then it wasn't cold anymore but it did get to freezing twice overnight. I had a sheet of ice over the top of the bucket which was easily broken up and I thought that was it but felt later and did have ice down the sides over the nipples. But oddly, despite what I've heard from other people who had the same issue, my nipples never froze or stopped working even with the ice sheet over them. It was harder to press so I pressed each one but it still flowed and usually melted later. The ice over sides happened twice. Next winter I will add a heater though. I have a stock tank de icer I bought but haven't had to use it. Next year I probably will though. Another plus to this besides the not freezing, how clean it stays, and how long it lasts, is that it actually stays really cold. The bottom of the bucket is colder. But I would stick my hand in to break up the ice and couldn't stay in more than a few seconds. It was COLD. And even now that it's a little warmer the water stays nice and cool. If this pattern keeps up then the water will stay cool in the summer too. But then again I bought a white food grade bucket and blue lid from Lowe's so maybe the white reflects heat and sunlight. Maybe if it was blue it would absorb the heat. But I still think it would be nice and cool and refreshing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Haven't finished reading the article yet but wanted to say that I've been seeing the fermented feed thing mentioned a lot lately not just here but tons of other threads and it seems like there are so many benefits and I should do it and kind of want to but then I'm too lazy and would probably wind up accidentally starving the chickens. Plus like @oldhenlikesdogs said, which I hadn't even thought about, it would probably freeze in winter. But my mom is kinda worried about salmonella so maybe I should switch over to it if it cures it like you say. Or rather reduces it. Especially since it's on the rise. But then at the same time, I feel like in a clean pen or free range with healthy chickens it wouldn't really be an issue. Oh and also I thought of this as I was reading the beginning of the article: one of the main points I see touted around is that they waste less food/don't scratch it out but to me that isn't really much of a benefit because honestly there are feeders you can make that also reduce waste. Right now mine do walk through their bowls and make a mess but I just made 2 bucket feeders the other night. Haven't put them in yet but planning to today since it's raining. You may have seen their thread but they stick their heads inside the PVC elbow and therefore can't fling food out. I don't know, it's just to me, there are other ways of reducing food waste so if that were the only reason somebody wanted to switch then I'd say to just make a bucket feeder. But I know that most people switch because of the benefits and less food waste is just an additional benefit. But speaking of the bucket thing, another reason I'm switching to that is so I don't have to constantly check their feeder. With this I'm assuming you have to bring it out every day? I'm lazy hahah and yes I know that I have to go out to check on them and check eggs every day anyways but still. But I mean to bash it or anything because it does seem like a great idea but actually my original point before I got so off track was this: I've been seeing it around everywhere lately and while it does seem better, plenty of people have had healthy chickens with chicken feed and I guess I'm saying sometimes it seems like people are saying you're a bad owner for not trying this because it's way better and the chickens are way better and you have to feed it or else. And I know that is not at all the intention and most people are just trying to be friendly or offer another way of chicken keeping for people who didn't know but sometimes it does feel that way a little bit. plus there are better brands, maybe they tested with the worst one. Sorry, just my thinking here

Yep you caught me, just too much work for, getting older and I'm not as go getting as I used to be. I did switch to a pelleted all flock which cut down on some of my waste, especially since the sparrows can't eat it. I use dishes and put out a certain amount every day so they clean it up by the following morning, I adjust the amount as needed. If there's an easier way I'm going to do it, frees up more time for other things, like sitting down and watching the chickens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Ok, totally cool - I'm all for not making your life more difficult or complicated!

I'm a bit more south than you here in IL, but we get pretty cold in the winter too (well below zero *F), and you're absolutely right that it is a problem that fermented feed freezes. I often add some dry feed mixed in to the wet, to absorb more of the liquid, and then I find it doesn't freeze as solid and I can break it up into very small frozen bits with a spoon. So yes, it's definitely more work than dry feed would be in the winter, but I'm happy to do it, especially since they have so little to forage then. At least the chickens don't seem to mind eating their "ice food"!

I have just as much problem with their water freezing in the winter, as I have no electricity to my coop. I end up having to bring them fresh liquid water 2-3 times a day, which is more time intensive than the fermented feed.

I carry out hot water all winter, so happy I don't have to do that now, I will give them some warm water on the ration in the winter to give them something warm in their gizzards, but that ends up with some waste too.

Even if I have nothing to do I always feel like I have too much to do, and hello southern neighbor, I was born in Chicago, so we are from the same state.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yep you caught me, just too much work for, getting older and I'm not as go getting as I used to be. I did switch to a pelleted all flock which cut down on some of my waste, especially since the sparrows can't eat it. I use dishes and put out a certain amount every day so they clean it up by the following morning, I adjust the amount as needed. If there's an easier way I'm going to do it, frees up more time for other things, like sitting down and watching the chickens.

Yeah, exactly. I can definitely understand that. I mean, I'm obviously nowhere near older and not doing anything now so theoretically I would have the time to do it but I like things as easy as possible. If I ever get any other species I think I'd switch to all flock but for now just chickens. I want ducks eventually though. I have a fairly big, round, cake pan thing I fill up and they usually take a few days to go through it but I wind up dumping some on the ground cause by then they poo in it. Last week I added a small steel bowl which also holds a lot and they seem to like eating out of that better. But sometimes they tip that over and that one is not under the coop so gets rained on which wastes food. Although maybe that's natures fermented food I put the bucket out today. No interest so far. Slight interest now but won't put heads fully inside yet.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yeah, exactly. I can definitely understand that. I mean, I'm obviously nowhere near older and not doing anything now so theoretically I would have the time to do it but I like things as easy as possible. If I ever get any other species I think I'd switch to all flock but for now just chickens. I want ducks eventually though. I have a fairly big, round, cake pan thing I fill up and they usually take a few days to go through it but I wind up dumping some on the ground cause by then they poo in it. Last week I added a small steel bowl which also holds a lot and they seem to like eating out of that better. But sometimes they tip that over and that one is not under the coop so gets rained on which wastes food. Although maybe that's natures fermented food I put the bucket out today. No interest so far. Slight interest now but won't put heads fully inside yet.

probably a lot of daring and say you go first.

 

[Jewelwing]

Haven't finished reading the article yet but wanted to say that I've been seeing the fermented feed thing mentioned a lot lately not just here but tons of other threads and it seems like there are so many benefits and I should do it and kind of want to but then I'm too lazy and would probably wind up accidentally starving the chickens. Plus like @oldhenlikesdogs said, which I hadn't even thought about, it would probably freeze in winter. But my mom is kinda worried about salmonella so maybe I should switch over to it if it cures it like you say. Or rather reduces it. Especially since it's on the rise. But then at the same time, I feel like in a clean pen or free range with healthy chickens it wouldn't really be an issue. Oh and also I thought of this as I was reading the beginning of the article: one of the main points I see touted around is that they waste less food/don't scratch it out but to me that isn't really much of a benefit because honestly there are feeders you can make that also reduce waste. Right now mine do walk through their bowls and make a mess but I just made 2 bucket feeders the other night. Haven't put them in yet but planning to today since it's raining. You may have seen their thread but they stick their heads inside the PVC elbow and therefore can't fling food out. I don't know, it's just to me, there are other ways of reducing food waste so if that were the only reason somebody wanted to switch then I'd say to just make a bucket feeder. But I know that most people switch because of the benefits and less food waste is just an additional benefit. But speaking of the bucket thing, another reason I'm switching to that is so I don't have to constantly check their feeder. With this I'm assuming you have to bring it out every day? I'm lazy hahah and yes I know that I have to go out to check on them and check eggs every day anyways but still. But I mean to bash it or anything because it does seem like a great idea but actually my original point before I got so off track was this: I've been seeing it around everywhere lately and while it does seem better, plenty of people have had healthy chickens with chicken feed and I guess I'm saying sometimes it seems like people are saying you're a bad owner for not trying this because it's way better and the chickens are way better and you have to feed it or else. And I know that is not at all the intention and most people are just trying to be friendly or offer another way of chicken keeping for people who didn't know but sometimes it does feel that way a little bit. plus there are better brands, maybe they tested with the worst one. Sorry, just my thinking here

Hi there! I obviously am one of those who thinks there are lots of benefits to fermented feed, but I'm also sure your chickens will be just fine without it. I just like the idea of eating the most organic and healthiest way possible while stuck in the middle of a rural area that farms using tons of pesticides and herbicides that have probably all washed into my drinking water, and my chickens are one thing I can control when there's so much out there that I can't. So I ferment their feed.

It really isn't as hard as it might seem. I just keep a huge glass jug (that I bought at Walmart) in the garage, and every evening I scoop out some food, bring it out to the chickens, and then add some more dry food into the mix in the jug. Then repeat the next night. Every once in a while I add more water. If you wanted to try it, you could do it for a week or two and see if you like it or not. If not, just quit.

Although if you really want to experiment, you might want to wait until your birds have started laying (I'm assuming they haven't started yet?), and then see if you can tell a difference in the eggs.

But you're right - you can't just fill up a feeder with food and forget about it for days. But also like you said, I'm going out to check on them daily anyway, to collect eggs and make sure they have clean water. So for me, it's totally worth it to ferment their food. But I don't make my own feed mix, like some on here do - that sounds like way too much work for me!

And I totally don't mean to say you're a bad chicken owner if you don't ferment your chicken feed. Absolutely not! I was just trying to suggest a way to minimize coccidia in new chicks, and then I wanted to say why I don't think fermented feed is only a good idea for confined birds.

In the end, we all do what works best for us, and everyone's situation is different. What I think is awesome about this forum is that we can all learn from each other, and sometimes we incorporate other people's ideas into our own flock care, and sometimes we say to ourselves "well, that's not for me!" I have learned so much from this site and this thread in particular - I wouldn't be the same chicken owner without it.

PS. As a complete aside, I notice you're in Massachusetts. My son is a sophomore at Emerson College in Boston, and he loves living in MA! But then, who wouldn't love the home of "Make Way for Ducklings"?

 

[Jewelwing]

I carry out hot water all winter, so happy I don't have to do that now, I will give them some warm water on the ration in the winter to give them something warm in their gizzards, but that ends up with some waste too.

Even if I have nothing to do I always feel like I have too much to do, and hello southern neighbor, I was born in Chicago, so we are from the same state.

Totally. I'm so overwhelmed I often don't do anything at all because I can't imagine where to begin. I tried making a "To Do" list on my phone that I could look at to decide how to manage my day (I don't work outside the home right now, although I did work for many years running my own business), but now it's at 50 items, and I still don't know where to begin.

I live in your native state now (and have for 20 years), but I'm actually from California.

But both my parents were born and raised in Minnesota, and I have a long line of ancestors from Canton, IL. So I guess I've really just come back to my roots (come home to roost, if you will).

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thanks for all the thoughts on the broody. Y'all have me almost convinced to try cochins or bantam cochins