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Bee - at what age do you start to restrict their FF intake? My intent with my last batch of broilers was to allow them to forage for more of their food. They turned out lazier than any previous batch despite being able to forage earlier (about 18 days). I could not ween them off their FF...

I've noticed that pellets and crumbles expand and puff up more than mash - especially the pellets. Some of that is water absorption and some of that is the tiny air bubbles that are embedded in the feed. The mash that I'm using now does not expand or puff up nearly as much because it i's just...

My whole grain mix (scratch) contains a lot of peas - about 20%. The chickens love them. And they go straight to the clover when they forage. Someone posted on another thread that their eggs started to taste fishy when they added to much fish meal. I think the key is balance. Not too much of...

Talking out loud? That reminds me of laughing out loud.... I saw an egg sale display at the grocery store about a month ago. So out of curiosity I went over to check them out. I grabbed a carton, opened it, and when I saw the 12 identical perfectly shaped, cleaned white chalky eggs I started to...

So they eat the whole thing - shell and all? Or are you talking about about adding shelled BOSS?

My smell did not go bland before it went bad - it was a slow transition. It was humming along with a nice "I could almost eat that for breakfast smell". Had a strong sour FF smell. Then it slowly moved to "hmm... the chickens are still eating it" In the end it almost made me gag but the birds...

Where's that group hug icon? Glad your still with us Gale

I don't like to kill either - probably no one on this thread enjoys it. A lot of people who love their animals (as much as Gale) will actually find the strength to do the right thing when faced with the prospect of allowing their animals to suffer. They just need support and guidance. (maybe a...

Thanks - something else for me to look forward to. We need a stinky poo icon for this thread:D.

Did I miss something? You said Broody poo but I was talking about Brooder poo.

Broody poo control is the first benefit I noticed. There is no comparison: fermented is less stinky, less watery and seems much less abundant. We turn and change brooder litter at about 1/4 the frequency we did when our meaties were spewing the sewage from regular chick starter. The difference...

I created a threat here about the taste of eggs (blind taste test): https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/720076/egg-taste-challenge-blind-taste-test I'm providing the link here because I mentioned fermented feed as being one of the variables.

Yeah - thanks for the info on free-ranging Bee - very helpful. Chickabee - How did you set up the fishing line? A grid? How far apart? As for forage, I planted drought-resistant goat forage grass mix, white clover, crimson clover, field peas, and buckwheat and winter rye. We'll see how that...

I have some doubles before but this was a record size for my hens. I hope all you folks (and your flocks) in the east are getting thru that storm intact

My eggs are bigger with FF ... Ouch Just had to share this picture after I found these eggs in the nests today. Not a optical illusion - my hand is almost touching the other eggs.

x2 on all that except i'm 47. I had to do the math cause usually I have no idea how old i am. I have water inside in the winter. Inside and outside in the summer. What's your take on the inside/outside water Bee?

Field peas are the same as split peas except the outer coating is removed so the two sides of the pea fall apart. I get field peas from the feed store and split peas from the grocery store but they come from the same plant. Yellow and green are just different varieties. Never heard of a...

As for increasing protein, I don't see much discussion about field peas - they are about 25% protein. It ferments nicely and my chickens love it.

It's described in the link. I just named it the "pigeon method" a couple minutes ago Uh oh, there an image of a bucket in the sky - the chickens must be hungry and are using the bucket signal. To the bucket cave boy wonder!!!

PigeonGuy described another method here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/1630#post_9755259 I tried the Holy Bucket, peanut butter approach and pigeon method. My least favourite is the Holy Bucket. I'm currently using the pigeon method and using...