MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

I was making kefir for a while, but stopped because I was struggling with the extra thing on my to-do list.

Kefir is still live isn't it?
The chickens here like yogurt. I wonder how they would get on with kefir.
Can you thicken it?

 

[RoyalChick]

Kefir is still live isn't it?
The chickens here like yogurt. I wonder how they would get on with kefir.
Can you thicken it?

Yes. Kefir is very much alive and to make it you have to keep the little kefir grains alive. They need tending to now and then - but not much cuddling! I would put them at the same level as Kris's meal worm farm in terms of husbandry needs!
Rich source of pro-biotics and chickens seem to like it. Each batch is different depending on a whole lot of factors (including I suspect the mood of the little kefir grains!).
The longer you keep it going the more sour and thicker it gets - I eat mine at roughly Greek Yoghurt consistency. You can also strain it and make it into cheese. The chickens will also eat the whey - lots of protein.
It is least messy for the chickens if you freeze it - maybe with some veggie scraps inside.

 

[Ribh]

Woke up to 2C this morning with lots of fog...
View attachment 2393858

How lovely!

 

[MaryJanet]

Poor Mary. I just need to hug her.

Making people want to hug her is one of her superpowers.

Her other superpower is running away from people who want to hug her.

I wish it was running away from feisty bantams who want to rip her feathers out.

 

[LozzyR]

Kefir is still live isn't it?
The chickens here like yogurt. I wonder how they would get on with kefir.
Can you thicken it?

Yes it’s live. The ‘grains’ multiply so you halve it and start again. You can feed the excess to the chooks, they love it!

 

[BY Bob]

Brrrrr. I am so not ready for snow.

Me neither.

 

[MaryJanet]

Seems like Peggy has a little Aurora in her. I'm sorry for you.

Peggy was being delightful until Mary and Ivy stopped brooding. At the same time, Peggy's moult started and she cut right back on her mashes which means she's not getting enough enzymes (she has a chronic pancreatic insufficiency). So she's probably got a tummy ache on top of sore feathers on top of resenting the two brooders.

I may seprate her and give her nothing but an endless supply of mushy baby bird food with enzymes added in.

Is that a good idea?

 

[BY Bob]

Peggy was being delightful until Mary and Ivy stopped brooding. At the same time, Peggy's moult started and she cut right back on her mashes which means she's not getting enough enzymes (she has a chronic pancreatic insufficiency). So she's probably got a tummy ache on top of sore feathers on top of resenting the two brooders.

I may seprate her and give her nothing but an endless supply of mushy baby bird food with enzymes added in.

Is that a good idea?

It might be a good idea to get her eating properly again. Feather growing takes a lot of nutrients.

 

[MaryJanet]

It might be a good idea to get her eating properly again. Feather growing takes a lot of nutrients.

Good news! Instead of making normal mash with plain water, I made it with liquid baby bird food. Peggy finds it palatable. The others are scoffing it down.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks