INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

There is some confusion about different kinds of ferment and what is produced with yeasts vs. Lactic Acid Producing bacteria.

This gives a good overview of the difference...the studies that were done on the feed were done using Lacto-fermentation rather than yeast fermentation which initially produces alcohol, then acetic acid rather than lactic acid. http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

Also, a podcast was done that addresses the differences and an easy method here:

http://www.urbanchickenpodcast.com/ucp-episode-048/

You have to scroll all the way to the bottom to get the player. The podcast is long, but interesting.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Oh... and some of the studies that are linked in the article:

http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajb/article/viewFile/60378/48610

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19373724

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

There is some confusion about different kinds of ferment and what is produced with yeasts vs. Lactic Acid Producing bacteria.

This gives a good overview of the difference...the studies that were done on the feed were done using Lacto-fermentation rather than yeast fermentation which initially produces alcohol, then acetic acid rather than lactic acid. http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

Also, a podcast was done that addresses the differences and an easy method here:

http://www.urbanchickenpodcast.com/ucp-episode-048/

You have to scroll all the way to the bottom to get the player. The podcast is long, but interesting.

great post also! Its a very cost effective alternative. Healthier birds, better eggs. Less feed waste, the birds use/absorb more of the nutrients from the feed. And if the birds are confined, its an even better alternative.

 

[bradselig]

Anyone interested in a dozen white silkie eggs? I was asking $40 shipped for them, but at this point just make an offer. Id would rather not set that many more silkies, but I will if not sold my tomorrow morning.

 

[Leahs Mom]

PS: If you're desiring to use a LAB culture to quick-start your fermented feed, Avi-Culture 2 is specifically made for avian and is grown on non-gmo substrate (the only avian probiotic I've found on the market that I've been able to find that's grown on a non-gmo substrate.) It's not expensive as a little goes a long way. It's made for dosing in the water or the feed, but you can use some of it when starting a bucket of ferment...and use it the regular way as well. I keep a container in my fridge on a regular basis...like to give them some in the winter especially.

The website for it is really not very well-done...but the product is good.

http://www.avi-culture.com/shop.html


They also have other blends suited to various animals. The only one I have experience with the the avian.

Here's the administration sheet for normal use. I think it will be large enough to read if you click on it.

 

[kittydoc]

On a happier note, my last hatch of chicks for sale this year is under way!

I spread eggs out over a week long period (there is a method to my madness, but I am one tired puppy by the end of the hatch). The first five hatched today.

2 Half-English Lavender Orps
1 Half-English Black/Lav Split Orp
NEW!! 2 English Blue Orps--I'll likely be keeping all of the blues so there will be some to sell next year, plus splash!
3 English Jubilee Orps--still here, still darling, and still need a new home!

I'll have a few more hatch each day for the next several days. I'll have two brooders to keep the blues/regular blacks separated from the lavs/black splits.

@Faraday40 if you're checking here, what was the ratio of lavs to splits in your eggs from me? Just curious!

Photos later. I have found that my cell phone camera sucks for still photos though it is awesome for short video clips. I need to post some Biele photos, too. They are going to get put on fermented feed very soon! It's easy. I'm going to pick up buttermilk starter since I can get that at the store (with live culture) and not have to wait. That and a couple of clean plastic buckets, and I should be good to go. We have reverse osmosis water available, which I will try to use as much as ppossible, though our water is not chlorinated (well water). Thanks again for all the info, @Leahs Mom

 

[ChickCrazed]

Hi All! Welcome to all of the new members! I'm so sorry for those members dealing with family health issues.

I just had a new BYC experience on the egg auction forum. I got tempted into bidding on 6 Lavender/Split Marans eggs....and won! Squeeeeeeeee!!!!!! It will be my first experience with shipped eggs. From what I hear only 50% will hatch, so 3. Of those 3 half will be male.....and then there is a 50% chance they will be black and not lavender.....lol. So I'm not sure I really got a bargain, but it will be a fun test hatch and the price tag wasn't too high. And who knows...maybe I'll get lucky! I'd really love to understand the Lavender/Lavender split genetics better (in a for dummies type explanation if anyone has one please). I love my Marans so much, lavender would be a fun project to work on if I manage to get a few to hatch.

The group ordered Sand Hill chickies should ship in a week! I had planned a huge Bielie hatch for myself to coincide with their arrival....unfortunately after cleaning my coolerbator I forgot to put the thermometer (which tells the thermostat to shut off the heat) back inside the cooler......so I cooked 50+ eggs for a couple of hours. Doh! Totally my fault and very devastating. I will be able to gather a few eggs and set Wednesday but have now been set back two weeks and there will be an age difference. Oh well, what is done is done! I really need to build my breeding stock up for next year though. Trying to get enough eggs to meet orders was stressful this year!

I'm enjoying all the chick pictures!!! Please keep them coming and hopefully in the upcoming weeks I will be able to join in with a few different breeds!

 

[flyladyrocks]

@kittydoc Sorry I did not post sooner. We have guests in town this week.
I know lots of people ferment in plastic but I had problems when I went from glass to plastic last year. It continually grew a coating of yeast on the top. That yeast attracted bugs including yellow jackets and smelled horrible. I use a 2 gallon glass container from Walmart (I actually have 3 going now). Target has them too. They look like giant cookie jars.

 

[kabhyper1]

I got this message today from Nifty Chicken, the BYC owner. Apparently this is a good thing, except I'm really bad at math, so I'll just take his word for it. Anyone want to enlighten me? Did anyone else get this message? I hate compliments in the form of math story problems. lol I'll take it, even if I don't fully understand it.


"Hello!
As many members of BYC know, I'm a huge geek and I LOVE me some data / numbers. Well, one thing I do from time to time is look at the members that are getting the most “Ovations” and I was pretty impressed with what I saw!

So, out of literally hundreds of thousands of members, your name was in the top 0.05% (yes, that’s 1/20th of one percent!!!)with the most ovations received in the past few months!
I wanted to congratulate you and say "GREAT JOB!!!"

"

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40 if you're checking here, what was the ratio of lavs to splits in your eggs from me? Just curious!

exactly 50%

incubator 7 lav 4 black
broody all 3 hatched out black

Lavs: 5 have tail feathers. One has a stubby tail. One has no tail.
Blacks: Only 2 of the blacks have tails. Many have no tail feathers at all & those also have smaller wings.

Not sure if slower feathering will equal male or if it's due to the coloring.