Arizona Chickens

[Tracydr]

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Only on this forum could you post that and be understood.

I'm anxiously awaiting the call from Ideal. I wonder if it will be the 14th, 15th or 16th? I guess I should go get some rice hulls, make yogurt, decide what I'm using for starter. Get some sprouts going.
Mikey, I really like feeding fenugreek and mung bean sprouts while they're in the brooder. Alfalfa or clover would be about the same as fenugreek, although fenugreek is supposed to stimulate the appetite, plus it's high protein.
I also give a little organic apple cider vinegar in the water. Sprouts has a non-pasteurized brand with the mother that is cheaper than Bragg's. The cheapest was Fleichmann's, about half the price of Bragg's and still with the active " mother".
Since I don't feed medicated feed, I like to get them on probiotics like ACV and yogurt right away. I also think the enzymes help them grow and digest faster.

Holy Crow!

This sounds way more complex than fill'n up a feeder with starter!

Meggie Moringa-seed gave me a half of a bag (THANKS MEG!!!) of O.H. Kruse organic feed - it's pretty finely milled, like sand. She uses it as starter.

clover...
...alfalfa, yogurt, rice hulls, sprouts?
I've never even heard of fenugreek!

Don't worry, I'll get you started. None of it is crucial, anyway. Just nice to do. Except the bedding. You do need some bedding. The rice hulls are really nice, much finer and nicer than wood shavings. The place at Power and Williams Field Road ( not Higley Feed), across the street from there, has them. I don't know anywhere else that does, except for way south at Marley Farms. One bag will do you for the whole time.

Am I about to kill a bunch of chicks?

Oh and BTW - My countdown was based on hatching on the 14th and a pessimistic 2 days shipping. I too am anxious...

 

[Tracydr]

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They said they would but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Tracydr]

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kefir grains are little globules of micro organisms that turn milk into kefir. Ok, that's not a very good description, but I'm very much a newbie to kefir. You just take these "grains" (they're not grains at all, but have a grainy appearance) and put them in milk (skim, low fat or whole) and set it out on the kitchen counter for about 24 hours, strain out the grains and put them with more milk. The strained kefir can then be put in the fridge (or I think even kept on the counter) for a second fermentation. It supposed to be good for you. I just love the taste of it. I'm sure mclevinson or other experienced kefir fermenters could extol the virtues of kefir better than I.

Meg has kefir grains? Is that true? Meg, could I steal a few kefir grains? I can share some sourdough starter.

 

[Mikey D]

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I just got on here to announce that our chicks have shipped, too!

Wahoo!

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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They said they would but I'm not holding my breath.

When I ordered from Ideal last year I asked them to mark the packing peanuts and they didn't.
They were slightly a different color from the pullets, though.

We ordered from Ideal. I almost ordered with Tracy and Mikey but I was worried that our similar looking chicks would not be labeled and get mixed up.

Tracydr: Maybe I'll see you at the post office Thursday morning.

What did you end up ordering? Do you have different breed chicks that look very similar?

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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kefir grains are little globules of micro organisms that turn milk into kefir. Ok, that's not a very good description, but I'm very much a newbie to kefir. You just take these "grains" (they're not grains at all, but have a grainy appearance) and put them in milk (skim, low fat or whole) and set it out on the kitchen counter for about 24 hours, strain out the grains and put them with more milk. The strained kefir can then be put in the fridge (or I think even kept on the counter) for a second fermentation. It supposed to be good for you. I just love the taste of it. I'm sure mclevinson or other experienced kefir fermenters could extol the virtues of kefir better than I.

Meg has kefir grains? Is that true? Meg, could I steal a few kefir grains? I can share some sourdough starter.

I have kefir grains too.

 

[Tracydr]

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What about one of those magnetic scrapers like you use in aquariums? Or, maybe some algaecide?

 

[Tracydr]

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Meg has kefir grains? Is that true? Meg, could I steal a few kefir grains? I can share some sourdough starter.

I have kefir grains too.

Ok, then. I'm canceling my meet to buy them from somebody on Craig's list tomorrow. How can we get together? I'm just waking up my starter, after a rest this summer, but it seems ok. Just needs a few more feedings.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

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I have kefir grains too.

Ok, then. I'm canceling my meet to buy them from somebody on Craig's list tomorrow. How can we get together? I'm just waking up my starter, after a rest this summer, but it seems ok. Just needs a few more feedings.

Are you still interested in my packing peanuts if I get them? If so we could do an exchange after Thursday.

 

[mclevinson]

Quote:
kefir grains are little globules of micro organisms that turn milk into kefir. Ok, that's not a very good description, but I'm very much a newbie to kefir. You just take these "grains" (they're not grains at all, but have a grainy appearance) and put them in milk (skim, low fat or whole) and set it out on the kitchen counter for about 24 hours, strain out the grains and put them with more milk. The strained kefir can then be put in the fridge (or I think even kept on the counter) for a second fermentation. It supposed to be good for you. I just love the taste of it. I'm sure mclevinson or other experienced kefir fermenters could extol the virtues of kefir better than I.

Meg has kefir grains? Is that true? Meg, could I steal a few kefir grains? I can share some sourdough starter.

Deal! See you Saturday?