4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[stoice]

Hi guys

 

Noticing a little 'pong' emanating from my girls house and run and have read about the Bokashi active bran on this site. As there is no feedback on the product I had a few questions...

 

Do you just feed some to the chickens or sprinkle around their run? Would this not get eaten? (ie: is the point of the product to be eaten and make the poo smell better from 'within' or does sprinkling over the poo act like an odour eater?) Is it the same stuff you sprinkle on compost heaps? (hence the 'sprinkle' question above) Therefore could I buy it from any garden supplier (which may be cheaper) or should I stick with the eglu stuff? How much do i use per chicken?

Finally, is it worth it?

 

Thanks. And sorry for all the questions!!

 

 

[*mummy_hen*]

Can't offer any advice as yet, but mine arrived this morning so will let you know how we get on with it.

 

Think it's to be added to the food, but unsure whether it would work just by sprinkling it around though....sure somebody will be along with better advice soon.

[WitchHazel]

You mix it in with their pellets, and it works from within.

 

Hope that helps!

[Duckmomma]

I am sure I have read on here Some people sprinkle it in the pooh tray? (Don't have an eglu so not sure if thats right ) in the eglu.

You would get through an awfull lot of it if you sprinkle it in the run I think.

 

It can be mixed with the food but don't expect results immediatly I think it takes a while for good bacteria to build up in their digestive system.

You could also use the garlic powder that omlet sell, I found that made a differece quite quickly.

I use them both

[Carol U]

I mix a scoop (about an eggcupful) in with their pellets and also sprinkle some in with their treats. They absolutely love it and it certainly seems to cut down on the runny poos. As for smell, I'm not sure how much difference it makes, but as the runny ones always smell worst, it probably helps. I've never bothered with garlic powder as the smell never seems too bad, but some people swear by it. Don't worry about asking lots of questions - we all do, especially in the beginning.

[surferdog]

I put a scoop in their pellets and morning porridge and also sprinkle in the litter tray. The stuff in the litter tray helps it compost quicker when you empty the tray into the compost bin. Don't know if it helps or not as have used it from the beginning!

 

The bigger sacks from Wriggly Worms seem to be better value for money.

[meezers]

I've been using it for a few weeks now, I mix a small handful in with their pellets. Certainly haven't been bothered by any 'whiffs' from the run, but not sure if that is down to the bran, the chooks like it though and it can't do any harm.

[jomaxsmith]

I started using it a couple of weeks ago - I put a handful in with their mash every day. It really helped my chook with a runny tummy but doesn't change the 'curry sauce' poos - they will always stink!

 

I also use garlic powder but have really noticed that the run and eglu don't smell 'farmyardy' even in the really hot weather.

 

I'm too mean to put it in the poo tray though!

 

Jo

[stoice]

Thanks guys, I'll give it a go

[lisaroo2]

Hi stoice

 

Hope ypu don't mind me jumping in on your thread but it's about the same topic.

 

I ordered some bokashi bran from omlet but on the packet it says that its to put in wormerys. Have I got the right stuff?

[Tigerlily]

Oh yes it's the same!

It helps things break down and "activates" it in wormeries and composters, but it's also good for the chooks' tummies too!

 

BW x

[lisaroo2]

Thanks Tigerlily!

 

I haven't given them any yet, just in case. But guess what they're having mixed in with their treats this afternoon!

[Kathy C]

We put a handful in their "treat Grub" each day (along with their green veg, oystershell and grit mix, tinned corn and a few grapes). They love the stuff and steal it when they can. The poos are less smelly now and attract fewer flies. We also put 4 or 5 grains of dried garlic in their water, this helps too.

[amethystdragon]

Just registered but I couldn't resist posting on this subject - I have been using bokashi bran with my ex-batts right from the beginning

 

You can add it into their food and sprinkle it in their house - you can also buy the EM liquid that they use to make the bran and use that in a diluted solution sprayed around the house as a prevention for red mites, also a teaspoon in their water to help keep it sweet - I also have some EM impregnated ceramic beads that I put in their water - all help to encourage the development of the EM microbes, keeping down the smell and helping their gut

[redhotchick]

Omlet advise adding bokashi bran at the rate of 5% by weight to their food. If a chicken eats 125g of food a day, 5% would be approx 6 - 7 grams per day. A 1Kg bag of bran would last one chicken about 150 to 160 days if used this way.

Divide 150 by the nr of chickens that you have. That is how many days a bag of bran would last.

Of course if you put it in the droppings tray too this will use it up a lot quicker!

Hope I worked that out right

[mayflower]

Bokashi Bran...used for breaking down to make compost definately makes a difference to chicken odour. A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of the stuff, so left it a few days before ordering some more. Well, I could smell the hens' droppings, not too pleasant. As soon as possible, reintroduced it into their layers mash and hey, no odour and no runny mess. It really makes a difference.

[Janty]

I buy the layers mash with bokashi already in it from Wiggly Wigglers. It's already mixed in and my girls seem to prefer it to the other mashes that I have tried.

[Hen Watch]

I have bought some bokashi (but for runny poos rather than smell). I've only been using it a month or so and I think the runny poos are better but not sure I have noticed any difference as far as smell is concerned. Might be too early to say.

 

However, I do use Garlic Powder every day in their pellets and have done so for 1 year (to reduce smell) so maybe they smell less anyway.

 

I have to say that if I add bokashi in with the pellets, my girls will eat pellets only and I am left with bokashi in the bottom of the grub feeder. But if I make pellet porridge (ie. pellets + warm water) and then if I add bokashi to the porridge they seem to eat it......!!!!!

[Valkyrie]

I don't know whether this is any help - gather it is cheaper than Wiggly Wigglers which is £25 for 5kg, courtesy of the "It's Not Easy Being Green" website forum:

 

Bokashi bran

To place an order phone 01886 832559 or email: bubblehouseworms@aol.com

 

600g bag Code B600 £3.99 p+p £2.30

5 Litre bucket (1KG) Code B1000 £5.00 p+p £4.25

10 Litre bucket (2KG) Code B2000 £10.00 p+p £6.25

20 Litre bucket (4kg) Code B4000 £18.00 p+p £6.25

25 Litre bucket (5kg) Code B5000 £20.00 p+p £6.25