The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Alcohol is produced when people use yeasts to start fermentation. (I have no idea why people choose to use a yeast, but they do)

Other types of acids are produced depending on what medium you choose. If you use vinegar you have acetobacteria, if you use yogurt or raw milk you have lactobacteria, and if you use things like cabbage or pickles too.

If you stay away from starting by adding yeasts you shouldn't have a problem w alcohol. Balance is the key and you want to keep the lactic acid bacteria in charge! (dominant)

If you take a look at the additional info added at the bottom of part 3 in the lacto-fermenting series it gives a little info on that. Also see part 2! for a brief overview of the types of fermentation.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I no longer use ACV in my fermentation. I added it last year I no longer need it. You do not have to use ACV at all. Buttermilk will work to start a brand new batch if you want to, but you really don't need to. Save the last cup of your batch, clean out your buckets, fill them and add that last cup. You should have FF the next day.

 

[Ashdoes]

I read the series, and thought I was (and had been for a while) understanding, but the FF thread is really pushing the alcohol thing.
I'm keeping my two batches going, and starting a third for the ducks. I just wanted to experiment a little and start this one with the buttermilk. But you're right, I could just start it with a scoop of one of my other FF.

 

[Leahs Mom]

There was some info added to part 3 for clarification near the end. Not sure if you saw that.

SUE'S RULE OF THUMB:

IF I SMELL ALCOHOL OR MOLD/YEAST I DON'T FEED IT TO THE CHICKENS.

It's just that simple.

That extra stuff at the end of part 3 tells how you can remediate it in such cases if it's not "too far gone".

Now that rule of thumb is what I do. I don't ferment toward alcohol; I lacto-ferment.

 

[Sally8]

I love reading all these mama and baby stories. The pc's are too cute. I'm glad everyone shares them.
i have a Sizzle setting on eggs, only about a week. But today I saw that she had moved to the next nest. I picked her up and no eggs under her. The nest she left I candled all had started to develop but she had been off them too long with our temps still dipping to 20 degrees f. Tomorrow I have an incubator full of eggs, mostly BCM but a few EE and Sizzles, going into lockdown. Could I take a couple of the lesser important eggs and slip them under her to finish hatching. Will that make her happy? This broody stuff makes me more nervous than when I'm hatching in the incubator.
Happy Easter all!

Sorry to repost this but does anyone know? Will she just kick the eggs out or peck them? They are due to hatch on Wed. I'd only put a couple in. Thanks, sue.

 

[Ashdoes]

Yeah, I think I might be done with the FF thread. It was useful for a long time, but has changed in the information it's now providing. I'll stick with how I've been doing the FF, but will be trying out the buttermilk starter for the ducks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sally8, I would put them around her and watch her pull them under her. Then I would put food and water nearby, and stick a screen or piece of hardware cloth over the opening of the nest box to keep her in. My last broody kept getting pushed off her eggs into another box by the hens who wanted to lay in her box. It worked. When the babies hatched I moved her to a dog crate inside the coop. When I have tried to move the broody and eggs to the crate, they freak out and won't set.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have never had any trouble starting my FF with a small amount of ACV, but once I have some liquid left over from my FF to start my next batch, I just use that. As Delisha said, it is so easy that you don't need any more ACV.

Delisha, those are the prettiest Easter eggs I have seen--the colors are so deep and vivid.

Aoxa, nice job on the deviled eggs!

 

[aaggjg]

Sorry to repost this but does anyone know?  Will she just kick the eggs out or peck them? They are due to hatch on Wed.  I'd only put a couple in.  Thanks,  sue.

Sally I had a broody do the same eggs were left cold for a good 18 hours?? I thought they were gonners but put them in the bator just in case and guess what?? Some hatched!

I'd give the broody some the only thing is she's only been sitting a week.... But maybe she'll just think she is some kind of super bator !! I'd also do as suggested and build some kind of enclosure so that she doesn't get kicked off or decide to swap nests again.

Good luck keep us posted!!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Time for some "kiddo" photos!

13 weeks and they just got the courage to venture out to the free-range area yesterday when several of us were out doing yard work. Burned some wood brush right in their range area to see if they'd use the ash pile it leaves.

Anyhow - here are some photos.

These SFH have GREAT CAMOFLAGE! Here's a couple of camo photos:

The CAMMO Kids - All 4 (Where's Waldo?)







Black



Gray:




Gray Cammo




Orange:


Orange Cammo



Rooster Boy