Alex_A Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 This might be a very stupid question, but I read somewhere that it's good to put cider vinegar into their water to make the gut more acidic (to prevent parasites?), and that it's good to add bokashi to their food to make their poos less acidic. Do they not work against each other? If so, is it best to alternate (add a little cider vinegar to the water one week and then bokashi to the food the next?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 You're right about the apple cider vinegar but I don't think the bokashi has anything to do with acidity in poo. It aids their digestion, helps to firm up their poos and reduces smells. So you can use both at the same time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 That is right...it adds beneficial bacteria to the gut which make the poos less sloppy and smelly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo1962 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I have started giving mine bran and what a difference it makes, much less ponky! A joy to clean out now!! NOT! Got the cidar vinegar lined just done nothing with it yet. Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Several people on here also add garlic powder as well as bran to food - bran firms and garlic powder reduced odours. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A chickychickychick-ENN!! Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Several people on here also add garlic powder as well as bran to food - bran firms and garlic powder reduced odours. Have you tried a fat layer of newspaper in your coop - much easier to just roll everything up in it and throw it away - saves a wee bit of scrubbing. Anna x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_A Posted October 3, 2008 Author Share Posted October 3, 2008 Thanks for the reassurance - I've ordered some bokashi, but then worried that it might interfere with the cider vinegar. There was a suggestion on a composting website that bokashi might attract vermin, so I didn't want to add it to the poos in the tray. I use newspaper (and garlic powder when I remember ) and don't usually find the tray too bad to deal with, but the contents are going in the compost bin, and I read that feeding them bokashi might make it easier to compost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 The bokashi does make poo and any compostable material break down more quickly. I sprinkle a bit into the bottom of my Eglu poo tray but the girls love the bran so much they are inclined to eat it so only use it towards the back of the tray to make it less accessible to them. I use Bokashi Layers Mash that I buy from Wiggly Wigglers - you could add some to your own layers mash as its probably cheaper, keep meaning to do this myself and then always seem to go for the easier pre-mixed option. The Garlic Powder really works with reducing poo wiffs too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_A Posted October 4, 2008 Author Share Posted October 4, 2008 Do you compost the used bran? If so, do you have any problems with rats? I read on a composting website about people who started using bokashi having rat problems, but the bokashi bins they were using supposedly allowed you to add leftover meat to the bin, which probably would attract rats by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 I don't put bokashi in our poo tray so none goes in the compost (except indirectly through their poo!) I did try a bokashi bin (and put meat & fish in it) - when it worked it was great and went into the compost with no signs of rats afterwards. However, two of them failed and I haven't had the heart to try again . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 Is this the garlic that everybody uses?? http://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken%20Extras&sub=Health&product_id=134 Sorry bit dumb question! Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted October 4, 2008 Share Posted October 4, 2008 That's certainly the garlic powder I use (and the ppultry spice too!), can I aska questio now? How much bran are people adding to the food only having looked at Wiggly Wigglers website, it's not cheap! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 5, 2008 Share Posted October 5, 2008 I just lost mesage reply! I think it MAY be 5% or a tchnical small handful! I being tight put a little in a bowl & try & get em 1 at a time, they don't chuck it about then!(as you say it's not cheap!) but I do only have 4 If you don't mind a messy house you are welcome to visit any time neighbour! Or we may meet at next get together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
