The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: The inverted black can is perfect! Allows for off-gassing and keeps the buggies out too


Aoxa - an old-fashioned pickling crock (lead-free) comes in all kinds of sizes by gallon. I know you can get these in CN too. This is what has been used for fermenting for decades.

Lehman's has up to 5 gallon: https://www.lehmans.com/p-3893-numbered-stoneware-crocks.aspx

"Sauerkraut Boards" are used to push the fermenting items down under the brine.

Wooden lids allow for off-gassing but keep the crock covered.

Here's a 10 gallon one: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11930039

 

[aoxa]

The inverted black can is perfect! Allows for off-gassing and keeps the buggies out too


Aoxa - an old-fashioned pickling crock (lead-free) comes in all kinds of sizes by gallon. I know you can get these in CN too. This is what has been used for fermenting for decades.

Lehman's has up to 5 gallon: https://www.lehmans.com/p-3893-numbered-stoneware-crocks.aspx

"Sauerkraut Boards" are used to push the fermenting items down under the brine.

Wooden lids allow for off-gassing but keep the crock covered.

Here's a 10 gallon one: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11930039

I don't think it would be very practical. The weight of it, no handles.. I would have to get at least 4 10 gallons to do what I need to do.

What about a stainless steel bucket? Nevermind.. checked and they are just as expensive.

 

[Leahs Mom]

How soft do your peas get? Like mushy soft (like when you over cook peas at dinner) or just soft enough that you can break them in half and put a fingernail in it easily? I am wondering if I should throw them in the food proccessor..................guess I will have to wait and see how the girls like them as that will decide if I need to do with them.

Mine isn't that stinky to me either...used to it I guess. But my husband thinks it is!

I first tried putting the whole peas in the ferment bucket but because of the tough outer coating, it just doesn't get through to the interior. The kiddos would avoid them at all costs too. They really don't like legumes much.

After seeing that, I decided to crack all my peas (in the heavy-duty blender) so that they would be more thoroughly fermented. Have done it ever since.

 

[RedRidge]

Quote: Well I guess I'm a meanie... my chicks (in jan and feb) go from incubator to outside brooder.
They can get under heat lamp, or walk away...
They stay in brooder #1 for 3 weeks (probably around 90 if you are "right under" light.
Then they go to brooder #2 for 2-3 weeks... much higher light, about 70 right under light.
Then they go to grow out pens... YES in Feb...
Last year I did not loose one chick... they are hardier than most folks think.

 

[RedRidge]

How soft do your peas get? Like mushy soft (like when you over cook peas at dinner) or just soft enough that you can break them in half and put a fingernail in it easily? I am wondering if I should throw them in the food proccessor..................guess I will have to wait and see how the girls like them as that will decide if I need to do with them.

Just fingernail soft is all... they never get mushy.
I run my whole corn and peas through a course screen oh the hammermill. Some get cracked in half, some don't.
All get eaten except for some that may not get cracked by little chicks... once they are teenagers they will eat in all.

 

[armorfirelady]

"Sauerkraut Boards" are used to push the fermenting items down under the brine.

Wooden lids allow for off-gassing but keep the crock covered.

Here's a 10 gallon one: http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11930039

Do you know off hand if the boards are made out of specific kind of wood? (I can google just thought you might of known off hand) I have wood at home and power tools so I could make a lid myself.

And it seems crocks are the new *in* thing.........I lucked out on prices on the small ones I found and I would love to have a big one to just put in the coop to ferment their feed.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I don't think it would be very practical. The weight of it, no handles.. I would have to get at least 4 10 gallons to do what I need to do.

So...this is what I'd do.

Have one or two LARGE fermenting vessels where I don't have to move them. Then fill the smaller buckets for carrying them to the various feeding stations. I do that even with my smaller set-up.

I just dip the feed I'm going to use into my (PLASTIC

) bucket that has a handle, carry it to the feeders and put it in. So it's only in the plastic long enough for transport. Could use a ss milking bucket for the transport but just don't have one at the moment.

Your large vessels need to be short or tall enough that you can work with them easily. Most the crocks are not so deep that you can't easily scoop to the bottom.

 

[RedRidge]

The inverted black can is perfect! Allows for off-gassing and keeps the buggies out too

Why do you want to keep bugs out?
I don't cover mine at all.

 

[aoxa]

Well I guess I'm a meanie... my chicks (in jan and feb) go from incubator to outside brooder.
They can get under heat lamp, or walk away...
They stay in brooder #1 for 3 weeks (probably around 90 if you are "right under" light.
Then they go to brooder #2 for 2-3 weeks... much higher light, about 70 right under light.
Then they go to grow out pens... YES in Feb...
Last year I did not loose one chick... they are hardier than most folks think.

My basement babies were 5 weeks when I opened the basement windows to allow for acclimation (since I didn't have a coop at the time). It hovered around 35 in that room. They did get cold, but huddled. The youngest was 7 weeks when they were moved to the baby barn in late February. No heat at all.

 

[RedRidge]

I just dip the feed I'm going to use into my (PLASTIC

) bucket that has a handle, carry it to the feeders and put it in. So it's only in the plastic long enough for transport. Could use a ss milking bucket for the transport but just don't have one at the moment.

Plastic which is food grade is no problem....