Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[teacake]

Since we got our hens on Friday I am slowly learning how to be a chicken keeper! if only my chickens would help out.

I put the bokashi bran in the poo tray to cut down on smells, - they rush inside and spend ages reaching through the bars and gobbling it up!

[Barkisland]

I think the bokashi is probably better put in with the food, they eat it, and it subsequently makes their poo smell less.

[fluffy chick]

That was my thought too

[Henergy]

Yes they always eat it !!! I sprikle it in the poo area when its freshly cleaned, but because I know they eat it I also put a small handful in the feed too.

[The Dogmother]

I wouldn't bother wasting it in the poo tray - just add some to their feed when you make it up; it will do the same job that way.

[bouldercroft]

the omlet US store doesn't sell it so I googled it - is the same thing?

it's sold as a composting accelerator here?

and you feed it to the chickens?

 

http://www.bokashicycle.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BS&Product_Code=BFS03&Category_Code=PRDS

[Cinnamon]

Using something like Aubiose in the poo tray & nest box will help to cut down on smells too.

They won't eat that!

 

Feed them the Bokashi Bran, & also add a little garlic powder to their pellets for fragrance free hens

[jimnpaula]

the omlet US store doesn't sell it so I googled it - is the same thing?

it's sold as a composting accelerator here?

and you feed it to the chickens?

 

Bokashi has "effective micro-organisms" in it which is made in liquid form. This liquid needs to be soaked into something for easier use. Some people make their own and soak newspapers which can be easily used in composters. Another way is to soak bran; this leads to Bokashi Bran which can also be spread onto compost heaps/bokashi bins. As it's also a foodstuff it's not a problem if the chooks eat it.

 

(I hope that makes sense - I'm in the middle of nights.)

 

P

[teacake]

thanks. I've just put it in with the food today, I guess they like it!

[bouldercroft]

what pellet:bran ratio would you recommend? my girls are free-ranging a lot and their poops are very green and grassy

[JillM]

I think the general recommendation is approx 5% bokashi bran.

[The Dogmother]

I mix up my pellets in an old 4kg Diatom bucket - I add a squish of cod liver oil, a tablespoon of seaweed and a (very scientific!) handful of Bokashi.

[JillM]

Seaweed for anything in particular, Claret, or just to improve their condition?

[The Dogmother]

Just occasionally as a general conditioner - it's full of micro-nutrients and I either add that or alfalfa on an ad hoc basis, when I remember. They like it so much that they will eat it straight if I let them.

[Henergy]

I've always given mine bokashi from day one, so it was interesting that I've now discovered smelly poo ! Mine have been at a sitters while we've been on holiday with no bokashi. For the first couple of days being home they really did stink !!!!

[JillM]

Nice to know it really does work, then!

[teacake]

yes that's what I was thinking too, I gave mine it as soon as we got them, and don't plan on stopping it now ....