PROBIOTICS for you and your chickens

[Pet Duck Boy]

Does it taste good?

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Consumed plain, it has a sour taste to it (depending on how old it is and how much butterfat was in the milk) but you can always add flavor to it. Adding things like honey, stevia, agave, fruit, whatever, always helps.

Personally I find Kefir grown from some VERY rich milk is good old plain. The sour taste isn't there as much, and the texture is very creamy, thick, smooth, and almost "carbonated."

 

[emarble]

Quote:
"KEFIR" is actually quicker and easier than the others and if you get good grains they will multiply even quicker than the you tube guys videos I got mine from here and they have already almost doubled and are producing a full quart a day http://www.kefirlady.com/orderkefirgrains.htm



Easy to make you need fresh whole milk and kefir grains 1/4 cup of kefir grains and 1 quart of whole milk let it set on the counter overnight covered with a cloth/ stir after 24 hours and strain

ernie

Ernie, I agree. Kefir is best by far. Not only does it have 52 probiotics (Yogurt has two.) in the forms of good bacterias and yeasts, it's the easiest to work with. I use two two-gallon glass jars with glass tops from Walmart. I add a quart or two of milk per day, so I only have to strain it once a week into the other two-gallon jar that goes into the refrigerator; then I wash the first one, dump the grains from the plastic colander back into it, add a quart of milk that's just barely warmed in the microwave, cover with a paper sack, and add a quart a day for seven more days. So that's more than a gallon a week for my wife, my chickens, my dogs, and me. I could make a gallon a day now if I wanted to, but... https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/9574_glass_jar.jpg
I've only had mine for a few weeks, and they've multiplied quite a bit. There are some members whom I'll be sending some free grains when I get back from Florida.

ETA Anne and I can already see a BIG difference in our digestion systems, sleep, and energy. The stuff is really something. EVERYONE should be drinking it. It's like yogurt on steroids.

Joe
Yes that is what I use to make my Kombucha but never thought about using it to make kefir the way you do. Although it does sound easier and I may try it, I am using my grains and making it a quart at a time and a day at a time and ageing it in the refrigerator in a gallon Jug! The longer it sits the mellower it get and gets better and better! My grains That I got were about 1/4 cup now after a week I have almost 1 full cup of grains and am getting ready to share some with My BYC friends here in Missouri

I will also say you are right on the Yougurt on steroids (This stuff is the greatest thing I have ever seen and the taste just keeps getting better and better!

Kombucha for the first batch was wonderful and the taste was kinda that of an aged cider with a fizz and it definitely has an effect!!

Chickens love the Kefir and now will go right tothe bowl and gobble it up no questions ask (Cats inside not so sure that they like it but the little long haired dauchand that is my wifes loves it!!

BEST THING I EVER FOUND! I will keep drinking it

Ernie

 

[catterbug]

I think making kefir is going on my after Christmas to do list. I buy it every now and then but it is so expensive. Thank you for sharing how you make it. Both my family and my chickens will be happy!

 

[PolloAdoro]

I make water keffir ( can't have dairy or gluten) and it is incredibly good for you and tastes great. The grains multiply quickly and my chickens love them. I also eat a few crumbles of these awesome probiotics.. My kids love it too because it's the closest thing to pop ( or cola/soda/etc) we have around here.

 

[Truevalentine]

bout to try making the yogurt

... AND bought some kefir while I was at TJ's tonight just cause you all got me curious enough to try it! I figure if I don't like it the girls will get it.

ETA

discovered when i was cooling my milk that the double boiler did not fit well into the pan i had icewater in. As I was trying to correct the situation I lost hold of the double boiler and took on water

... at least I was only doing a quart, maybe I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[flowerchild59]

I would love to brew kombuchu again. It has a wonderful flavor.
I get kefir from my dtr who does milking for a neighbor. I like to whirl frozen fruit in the blender then buzz in briefly some kefir or yogurt. That is our go to drink for my grandkids who have never had soda at this grandmas house. Blueberry is our particular favorite and I also like just a few frozen elderberries for the antioxidant effects and it makes a really cool pink smoothie too.

 

[firsthouse_mp]

Yup, definitely going to make this. I have always loved kefir and the thought that I can make it for cheaper than buying it, really seems attractive. But, I am also going to make some yogurt since my kids love the yogurt with local honey and nuts for breakfast.

I can also throw my sprouts on this too! Now if only I had just a bit more time to devote to all this home cooked and home made food, I would be extremely happy!

My friends already complain to me that they don't have enough time for all the advice I give them about doing their weight-bearing exercise, keeping flexibility, getting their cardio exercise, raise chickens, grow sprouts....and now MAKE KEFIR! Thank goodness my "friends" here will listen.

 

[emarble]

Quote:
The Kefir and Kombucha and Kombucha are so quick and easy to use and only take about 15 min a day! The kombucha takes about 20 minutes to make the tea and put together and then you don't mess with it for a week till it is done! I am with Joe on the fact that I will never make Yougurt again! Kefir is so much better and is better for you with the 52 probiotics and yeast cultures it has and it is SO CHEAP TO make too! I have to buy my milk but it is $3 a gallon at the local dairy (Fresh from the cow is the best (I do wish I could find someone that has goats around here that I could buy goat milk from and use it to make my Kefir (Guess I am going to have to add Goats to my list along with my chickens LOL)! Kombucha to make only takes Probabely under a dollar a gallon to make (One gallon of Spring water and 8 tea bags 1 1/2 cups of sugar and put in a $7 walmart jar and you have a gallon of Kombucha in a week Taste better than any soft drink youve ever had) I am going to start experimenting with different teas though like Red Tea! Joe I think is using black tea and I am using Green tea BUT I think that is just taste preference) I am going to try red tea next and see what happens! You will have an endless supply of mushrooms to use after a while but I hear chickens like them too!

 

[Cebarmlds]

I tried to make Kombucha a while back. I bought the culture and followed directions.... for the initial batch it needs about 28 days and you will know it's done because it forms a new culture... well mine never did so I let it sit a few more days and then it was moldy.
I think the culture cost me about $12.