Hi Trina, fellow Georgian! I've been doing this for 5-6 months now.I don't have alot of Chicks, so I use a large Plastic mixing bowl. I don't always put ACV in it. It still ferments. I believe the yeasts are in the air. (especially after doing it for a while). I use the Countryside organics, so its like grains that get soaked up, not mush. They love it.