Hey Longbow. I assumed you were no longer making videos. I just clicked on your channel to find out that I've been unsubscribed for some reason unknown to me. Looking forward to catching up with your content. 🤝🏻
I know you guys packed the crap out of it . I wonder if it's your moisture in the grass and you should cut it let it sit for a day or 2 and then bag it . I know farmers let theirs dry out some if it's grasses . Thanks for sharing and have a great day !
That’s a very good thought….. I hadn’t thought about it! We’ll definitely see…….. when it’s chopped fine it starts smelling bad in a few hours, so maybe it needs to be cut like hay first.
I have no need for making silage at this time but if that situation ever changes I'll have you to thank for teaching how it's done! I hope you enjoy your special day to the fullest! Happiest of birthdays Micah!! 🥳🎉🎂🎊🎈🎁
I've been wondering where them barrels went. good experiment I really thought it would be as green as the day you put it in there🤔 thanks for the update video
Micah I’d say this was a success. I’ve been following your lead on this and have been waiting for the results. I grow my own corn, barley and wheat for my animals. However, this winter I ran out of grain prematurely. Having to buy feed is no joke. Matter of fact, it down right hurts. 😂 I also grow lots of ladino clover and now since I’ve been following you, more crimson clover. I’ve been feeding my hogs, during the growing season, for years green chop clover. Never once considered using it to make silage for pigs. Thanks to you showing us how, I will be making lots silage this year (God willing) to supplement my grain harvest in the Winter. I Also will be frost seeding sweet and red clover to also turn into hay and now silage in early Summer. Thank you thank you. Two questions. “ Which method do you prefer”? The silage in the barrels or the “packed pile method”? Also I’m considering doing some millet and sorghum. Do you think letting the millet and sorghum head up and make grain before chopping is a good idea? Thinking this would also boost the protein and add more substance to the silage. What are your thoughts?
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Then barrels it is my friend. Micah I’m excited about trying all these things this year. The silage is a big one for me. Thanks again
My friend. I started making barrel silage a year and a half ago. I think the problem may be in sealing the barrels. I don't pack mine near as tight as y'all and I've never had a barrel spoil. I put a hefty garbage bag between the barrel and the lid. Then clamp the whole thing down tight. Best of luck moving forward! 💖
I have baled and wrapped a lot of round bales of silage. Usually cut one day and bale the next. 50% moisture is what we shoot for but that always varies somewhat. If you had some way to pull a vacuum on those barrels and keep it sealed to eliminate as much oxygen as possible might help. That is why we want extremely tight bales when wrapping. Using a inline wrapper the last bale was hard to seal completely therefore there would be some waste to that last bale. That is why the top layer in the barrel is not as good. Just that small amount of oxygen trapped on top is all it takes.
Oh one more thought you may be interested in. I have had really good success making chicken feed from mowed bagger grass (with a hand picked assortment of curly dock, several clovers, plantain, etc to increase nutrient quality) and chopped up by the mower then sunk in a bucket of rainwater with salt, vinegar, some corn and some feed wheat. About 3 days or so it starts getting a white skim of kahm yeast (very probiotic) floating ontop and is ready to begin feeding. I transitioned chicks onto it maybe 2 weeks old and they done fine right into maturity. Slow at first then they become serious grass eaters. I also soak my whole corn before blending into a ration for pigs and goats. They seem to do well, no doctoring or sickness, always good manure.
Oh heavens when you mentioned mixing deer meat with pork to make sausages, brought back a memory of a friend who gave me 2 of his wild boar pups and the day I went to pick the pups up he'd just finished mixing up meat (a fresh killed 800+ lb. wild boar, elk, deer meat with freshly killed steer off the range when wild boar hunting) for BBQing meat for dinner that night. Well, his wife was battering some bull frog legs that my roommate thought were young chicken legs, but that night the burgers were so big and juicy that his wife baked her own sourdough buns/bread, and my roommate named the burger 'FRED FLINSTONE BURGERS". I don't think you are old enough to remember the cartoon The Flintstones where the family go out to drive--thru to order a meal, and the food was a rack of Dinasaur ribs they put onto the roof of the car, and it was so big/heavy it tipped the car over. My roommate said after eating the burger on that big baked sourdough bun with homemade goat cheese, garden fresh tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, onions, pickled cucumbers we both would have to make sure we sat as far apart as possible in the truck cab not to end up over setting the truck going home.
Great experiment I must have missed that video will have to go back and watch it sylag is new to me what is the minerals your talking about is it somthing you added to the sylag?
It’s totally optional, but we add minerals to it. We’ve got a couple different barrel silage videos, and several different big pile silage videos! Here’s my silage playlist! th-cam.com/play/PLACs7aSJGlQLjLvvJPAnfIyzuEb-h64fV.html
I really like all the experiments you do. I want to try this. You said you added minerals, did that include salt? I wonder if ducks, chickens and goats would eat it?
@McGie Homestead Adventures I am right there with you.. well, 5 months and 5 days behind you. It was my daughter Luella's bday yesterday, so yours is easy to remember!
I wonder if inoculating the barrel with lactic acid bacteria near the top would cut down on the rot. It sounds like an interesting experiment to add a few drops of cultured buttermilk or sauerkraut juice to the top layer and see if it outcompetes the putrifying bacteria.
I had 2 packed to the top compacted and had to pull out a fire truck and couldn't find a strap for guy said hd he a strap for free s he gave it to me for free to hold the barrels in the bed of the flatbed 😂
We live in northern Indiana we get a hard early freeze.Do you think this could have a positive or negative effect on this barrel method? I think this is a great thing I would like to try
Interesting experiment Micah! Yes I recall seeing you taking Caleb along for that extra weight advantage. What do you suppose would change if water were added just prior to capping off? Or is your packing so dense that the water would just set on the top layer? Looking forward to see the results of the later in time experiments as you get to those barrels while you and your family all have yourselves a Great Day! -Bob...
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Well Congratulations are indeed offered for your awakening bright tailed and bushy eyed to begin the annual Micah McGie Birthday Bash! Is there any bacon on the menu lol? All kidding aside tho Micah, a serious Happy Birthday is extended to you to clearly have an Especially Exceptionally Great Day! I do wonder tho, what has Frank in mind for you?
He showed up at the crack of dawn raring to go! We indeed had bacon and a rare treat…. Monkey Bread!! I just put a couple sides of bacon into the smokehouse and got that thing going good, now it’s time to check some traps!
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Sure does sound like you all began your day with a right proper breakfast Micah! Sure hope that you have Frank in tow when you are out running your trap lines tho, unless you have previously set up a trip wire to let you know that Frank is doing another of his raid the smoker sneak ups! I saw that in a recent video!
silage (n.) "fodder for cattle packed in a silo," 1884, alteration (probably by influence of silo) of ensilage. ensilage (n.) "mode of storing green fodder, etc., by burying it in pits or silos dug in the ground," 1879, from French ensilage, from ensiler "put in a silo," from Spanish ensilar (see silo).
I think the protein content of fresh grass (unwilted) and the beggars lice was just too high. If you had let the grass wilt for half a day of so then the excess nitrogen would have evaporated out a bit. Silage needs a more balanced sugar/carb vs nitrogen/protein ratio. That's why corn makes such good silage. You silage corn just when lower leaves start browning and the ear fills out, iirc, that's the signal the starch vs protein is better balanced. Maybe cut half the grass one afternoon and let it wilt overnight and then mix with fresh cut the next day. Nice experiment though.
Micah... if I was to send you a Dollar like that guy was sending Frank , do you think you could use some old lawnmower parts and built you a Hydraulic Press to tamp down the green fodder into the barrels , and that would probably save you from braking your neck if you should fall off when you stomping it ??
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures HAWWW!!! .. oh . . alright ... BUT , if you change your mind , that Dollar is here waiting for you .................... orrr , I bet The Boys could figure it out .. they appear VERY mechanically-inclined and creative thinkers ... kinda like McGyver
dont worry im soon to catch up on your videos old friend. 500 deer aint no joke and we got 16 days left. hope yall are doing good
Hey Longbow. I assumed you were no longer making videos. I just clicked on your channel to find out that I've been unsubscribed for some reason unknown to me. Looking forward to catching up with your content. 🤝🏻
We’re doing great here…. I’ve been hanging on by a thread hoping you’d get dem deer done!!!😂😂😂
Holy cow you're alive!
I missed you man
Finally!!
I know you guys packed the crap out of it . I wonder if it's your moisture in the grass and you should cut it let it sit for a day or 2 and then bag it . I know farmers let theirs dry out some if it's grasses . Thanks for sharing and have a great day !
That’s a very good thought….. I hadn’t thought about it! We’ll definitely see…….. when it’s chopped fine it starts smelling bad in a few hours, so maybe it needs to be cut like hay first.
Thanks trying to get caught up on your channel son👍. Love it
I don’t see how you can stand that much of me!😂😂😂
I have no need for making silage at this time but if that situation ever changes I'll have you to thank for teaching how it's done! I hope you enjoy your special day to the fullest! Happiest of birthdays Micah!! 🥳🎉🎂🎊🎈🎁
Thanks so much Pamela!
3 weeks out of a barrel. Nothing wrong with that Brother! Thanks for sharing.
It’s definitely worth doing!!
Another very good video God bless you and your family
Thank you! You too!
That was interesting to see Micah, enjoyed the experiment. Have a blessed won’t friend.😊
Thanks Tony! We are happy with it!
Interesting. Don't know a thing about it. Very educational for me. Have a blessed day.
It’s gotta be packed tight, but it sure is good feed!
I've been wondering where them barrels went. good experiment I really thought it would be as green as the day you put it in there🤔 thanks for the update video
It’s well preserved down in there, so I’m thinking it’s a success!
I remember that day🙌🏽🍍🌺🌴🇺🇸🤙🏽❤️good to see this too
Thanks so much!
Micah I’d say this was a success. I’ve been following your lead on this and have been waiting for the results. I grow my own corn, barley and wheat for my animals. However, this winter I ran out of grain prematurely. Having to buy feed is no joke. Matter of fact, it down right hurts. 😂
I also grow lots of ladino clover and now since I’ve been following you, more crimson clover. I’ve been feeding my hogs, during the growing season, for years green chop clover. Never once considered using it to make silage for pigs. Thanks to you showing us how, I will be making lots silage this year (God willing) to supplement my grain harvest in the Winter. I Also will be frost seeding sweet and red clover to also turn into hay and now silage in early Summer. Thank you thank you.
Two questions. “ Which method do you prefer”? The silage in the barrels or the “packed pile method”? Also I’m considering doing some millet and sorghum. Do you think letting the millet and sorghum head up and make grain before chopping is a good idea? Thinking this would also boost the protein and add more substance to the silage. What are your thoughts?
Definitely let the seed go to heads…… if you have enough barrels you will have less waste….. much less.
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Then barrels it is my friend. Micah I’m excited about trying all these things this year. The silage is a big one for me. Thanks again
Happy belated birthday Sir
Thank you!
My friend. I started making barrel silage a year and a half ago. I think the problem may be in sealing the barrels. I don't pack mine near as tight as y'all and I've never had a barrel spoil. I put a hefty garbage bag between the barrel and the lid. Then clamp the whole thing down tight. Best of luck moving forward! 💖
Thanks for the info!
I have baled and wrapped a lot of round bales of silage. Usually cut one day and bale the next. 50% moisture is what we shoot for but that always varies somewhat. If you had some way to pull a vacuum on those barrels and keep it sealed to eliminate as much oxygen as possible might help. That is why we want extremely tight bales when wrapping. Using a inline wrapper the last bale was hard to seal completely therefore there would be some waste to that last bale. That is why the top layer in the barrel is not as good. Just that small amount of oxygen trapped on top is all it takes.
Yes sir! I think if I’d have opened it and used it sooner, the waste would have been less.
Good job yes feed is getting outrageous
It definitely pays to seek alternative sources!
Oh one more thought you may be interested in. I have had really good success making chicken feed from mowed bagger grass (with a hand picked assortment of curly dock, several clovers, plantain, etc to increase nutrient quality) and chopped up by the mower then sunk in a bucket of rainwater with salt, vinegar, some corn and some feed wheat. About 3 days or so it starts getting a white skim of kahm yeast (very probiotic) floating ontop and is ready to begin feeding. I transitioned chicks onto it maybe 2 weeks old and they done fine right into maturity. Slow at first then they become serious grass eaters.
I also soak my whole corn before blending into a ration for pigs and goats. They seem to do well, no doctoring or sickness, always good manure.
Really great ideas!!!! I really appreciate the feedback!!!
Happy birthday from England MICAH! 🎂👍🏻 Hope l got it right today? 😉 21again!
This is the day! I’m getting old, but not planning on slowing down according to my age!😂😂😂
Oh heavens when you mentioned mixing deer meat with pork to make sausages, brought back a memory of a friend who gave me 2 of his wild boar pups and the day I went to pick the pups up he'd just finished mixing up meat (a fresh killed 800+ lb. wild boar, elk, deer meat with freshly killed steer off the range when wild boar hunting) for BBQing meat for dinner that night. Well, his wife was battering some bull frog legs that my roommate thought were young chicken legs, but that night the burgers were so big and juicy that his wife baked her own sourdough buns/bread, and my roommate named the burger 'FRED FLINSTONE BURGERS". I don't think you are old enough to remember the cartoon The Flintstones where the family go out to drive--thru to order a meal, and the food was a rack of Dinasaur ribs they put onto the roof of the car, and it was so big/heavy it tipped the car over.
My roommate said after eating the burger on that big baked sourdough bun with homemade goat cheese, garden fresh tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, onions, pickled cucumbers we both would have to make sure we sat as far apart as possible in the truck cab not to end up over setting the truck going home.
🤣🤣🤣 great memories😂😂😂😂
I think it turned out pigs 🐖 are eating it thanks for sharing keep the cameras rolling from Florida
It’s getting consumed happily!
Finally!!!
😂😂😂
I need to try this! 3 weeks with no other feed? And how many pigs? Good stuff Micah!
No we just use it as supplement.
"Pack it in extremely tight..."😳
Keeps it moist and fresh….. and really smells good!
Great experiment I must have missed that video will have to go back and watch it sylag is new to me what is the minerals your talking about is it somthing you added to the sylag?
It’s totally optional, but we add minerals to it. We’ve got a couple different barrel silage videos, and several different big pile silage videos! Here’s my silage playlist!
th-cam.com/play/PLACs7aSJGlQLjLvvJPAnfIyzuEb-h64fV.html
Hey love your videos. Does the barrel ever freeze too much and make it hard to get out? I’m in maine - much colder climate
No it never freezes actually…., not sure why.😅
I really like all the experiments you do. I want to try this. You said you added minerals, did that include salt? I wonder if ducks, chickens and goats would eat it?
There was salt in the minerals…. I think a lot of different animals would eat it but I’m not sure……. More experiments are in order!!😂
👍👍
BTW Happy Birthday!
Thanks brother! I’m old now!😂
@McGie Homestead Adventures I am right there with you.. well, 5 months and 5 days behind you. It was my daughter Luella's bday yesterday, so yours is easy to remember!
Awesome experiment and free feed if ya willing to work a little... Calf still doing OK? Be blessed
Oh my yea that calf is romping all over!!😂😂😂
Lol Mikey likes it
😂😂😂
Could you add corn or grain or vegetable scraps at the same time you pack the barrel
Oh yes! That would make it much better feed!
I wonder if inoculating the barrel with lactic acid bacteria near the top would cut down on the rot. It sounds like an interesting experiment to add a few drops of cultured buttermilk or sauerkraut juice to the top layer and see if it outcompetes the putrifying bacteria.
I love that idea!!! Might just have to try that!
Going to bet that the moisture in the minerals added to the darker fermentation on top
Definitely a strong possibility!😎😎😎
I wonder if the stick tights would be better baled? 🤔 I bet it was an interesting smell 🤣
I can probably send you a bottle of the odor!!😂
Interesting. Everything is crazy expensive. Maybe a darker would be better??
We’ll see! I’ve got blue and black coming up next!
👍👏👏👏
Very intresting. I 'm thinking to make silage from alfa alfa, what do you think?
Good luck!
I like it! If you pack all the oxygen out of it it should work well! Be sure it’s chopped up well!
I had 2 packed to the top compacted and had to pull out a fire truck and couldn't find a strap for guy said hd he a strap for free s he gave it to me for free to hold the barrels in the bed of the flatbed 😂
😂😂😂
Try adding molasses next time, it feeds natural yeast and such that uses the oxygen and helps preserve it.
Awesome pointer!!!
I talked to an old timer who said to plant some sorghum seeds in corn for molasses for the silage
We live in northern Indiana we get a hard early freeze.Do you think this could have a positive or negative effect on this barrel method? I think this is a great thing I would like to try
I don’t think it would effect it at all….. we had -3° and ours was fine!
Interesting experiment Micah! Yes I recall seeing you taking Caleb along for that extra weight advantage. What do you suppose would change if water were added just prior to capping off? Or is your packing so dense that the water would just set on the top layer? Looking forward to see the results of the later in time experiments as you get to those barrels while you and your family all have yourselves a Great Day! -Bob...
I love how your comments all lead to having a great day! Today happens to be my birthday, and it’s already been great and it’s just begun!
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Well Congratulations are indeed offered for your awakening bright tailed and bushy eyed to begin the annual Micah McGie Birthday Bash! Is there any bacon on the menu lol? All kidding aside tho Micah, a serious Happy Birthday is extended to you to clearly have an Especially Exceptionally Great Day! I do wonder tho, what has Frank in mind for you?
He showed up at the crack of dawn raring to go! We indeed had bacon and a rare treat…. Monkey Bread!! I just put a couple sides of bacon into the smokehouse and got that thing going good, now it’s time to check some traps!
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures Sure does sound like you all began your day with a right proper breakfast Micah! Sure hope that you have Frank in tow when you are out running your trap lines tho, unless you have previously set up a trip wire to let you know that Frank is doing another of his raid the smoker sneak ups! I saw that in a recent video!
😂😂😂 I’ve got 24 hour surveillance on him AND the smokehouse! He’s done shown his true colors!🤣😂😂
silage (n.)
"fodder for cattle packed in a silo," 1884, alteration (probably by influence of silo) of ensilage.
ensilage (n.)
"mode of storing green fodder, etc., by burying it in pits or silos dug in the ground," 1879, from French ensilage, from ensiler "put in a silo," from Spanish ensilar (see silo).
These are not the smallest silo’s in the world…. But they definitely ain’t the biggest!!😂
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures ... But .. I bet what you have is the World's Smallest MOBILE Silos .......... ?! 😃
.. and , IF you get enough of them together in One Place , you could have a SiloCity
We definitely are not breaking any records over here but I remember breaking a sweat when we put it all together!
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures .. I remember ! .. just so long as you don't BREAK nothing else .. sweat is fine . .
Where did you find your barrels? I live in Cookeville and can't find any screw tops around here.
I got lots of barrels at the community in Spencer. The Pine Ridge Market I believe
I think the protein content of fresh grass (unwilted) and the beggars lice was just too high. If you had let the grass wilt for half a day of so then the excess nitrogen would have evaporated out a bit.
Silage needs a more balanced sugar/carb vs nitrogen/protein ratio.
That's why corn makes such good silage. You silage corn just when lower leaves start browning and the ear fills out, iirc, that's the signal the starch vs protein is better balanced.
Maybe cut half the grass one afternoon and let it wilt overnight and then mix with fresh cut the next day.
Nice experiment though.
Thanks brother!
Micah... if I was to send you a Dollar like that guy was sending Frank , do you think you could use some old lawnmower parts and built you a Hydraulic Press to tamp down the green fodder into the barrels , and that would probably save you from braking your neck if you should fall off when you stomping it ??
I’m not mechanically inclined at all….. no way I could figure it out…. But my balance is impeccable… so no problem here😂
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures HAWWW!!! .. oh . . alright ... BUT , if you change your mind , that Dollar is here waiting for you .................... orrr , I bet The Boys could figure it out .. they appear VERY mechanically-inclined and creative thinkers ... kinda like McGyver
😂😂😂 I’m hoping they do well….. I need a cheap mechanic!!😂😂😂
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures 🤑🤗 ... 😆
First!!!!!
Pretty much!😂😂😂
How did this work little buddy
It worked great!!
How's the heifer calf, Micah ?
Doing very good!
First!
Oh my goodness yea! Just barely slid in front of LongbowbanjoAL!!😂😂😂
@@McGieHomesteadAdventures have you talked to him lately? Hope he's doing better.
He’s just swamped in deer…. He’ll emerge from his lair with red eyes, a desire to hunt rabbits and a pocket full of moolah very soon!!😂😂😂
Hi Mcgie! I am interested in getting some pigs in the video from you. How do I get in contact with you?
Two ways to contact me… on Facebook messenger @Micah Mcgie. Or email me @ drmdmcgie@gmail.com
What is the ticket for one of them piglets
120 at weaning! These are much bigger than that but I need to move em!
I think you need molasses
looks like you put your thumb somewhere it shouldn't have been
It got in the way of a fast moving knife 😅