The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lalaland]

Scott: I dare you!

AFL: I am totally speechless... I want to tell you how cruel you are to post that pic when we're enduring neg temps, but all I can do is be so totally, overwhelmingly JEALOUS!

LaLa: I thought that day's didn't start getting longer until after the 21st. What am I missing here???

I thought so too! but npr's weather guy said no, it actually starts a few days before solstice, and it was increasing now! just a minute or some tiny amount, but an increase.

 

[aoxa]

Dumb question: what is coconut sugar?
(Obvious answer: sugar made from) but.... what is it?

Yeah, really big on coconuts!!!

Justine, coconut sugar? never heard of it, but wish I had some to stick in Sue's stocking.

http://authoritynutrition.com/coconut-sugar/

What is Coconut Sugar and How is it Made?

Coconut sugar is also called Coconut Palm Sugar.
It is a natural sugar made from sap, which is the sugary circulating fluid of thecoconut plant. It is often confused with Palm Sugar, which is similar but made from a different type of palm tree.
Coconut sugar is made in a natural 2-step process:

1. A cut is made on the flower of the coconut palm and the liquid sap is collected into containers.
2. The sap is placed under heat until most of the water has evaporated.

The final product is coconut sugar, which looks something like this:

Is it More Nutritious Than Regular Sugar?

Regular table sugar and high fructose corn syrup don’t contain any vital nutrients and therefore supply “empty” calories.
However, coconut sugar does retain quite a bit of the nutrients found in the coconut palm. There isn’t a lot of data on this, but according to the Phillipine Department of Agriculture, coconut sugar contains several nutrients (1):
Most notable of these are the minerals Iron, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants that may also provide some health benefits.
Then it contains a fiber called Inulin, which may slow glucose absorption and explain why coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than regular table sugar (2).
I’d like to point out that even though coconut sugar contains some nutrients, you would get a lot more from other real foods.
Coconut sugar is very high in calories (same as regular sugar) and you’d have to eat a ridiculous amount of it to satisfy your need for the above nutrients.
Coconut Sugar May Have a Lower Glycemic Index

The glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how quickly foods raise blood sugar levels. Glucose is given a GI of 100 and if a food has a GI of 50, then it raises blood sugar half as much as pure glucose.
The Phillipine Department of Agriculture measured the glycemic index of coconut sugar and compared it to glucose (1).

According to them, Coconut Sugar is given a GI of 35, which puts it in the low range. This is much lower than table sugar, which is somewhere around 60.
But I do have a problem with making any conclusions based on this study alone.
GI can vary greatly between individuals and this study included only 10 people. GI can also vary between different batches of food, meaning that products from other manufacturers might have slightly different effects.
In the graph above, they are comparing coconut sugar to glucose, not table sugar (sucrose). I’d like to see it compared to regular table sugar, because that is what coconut sugar is being used to replace.
Overall, I’m not convinced that coconut sugar is really as low on the glycemic index as they claim. Perhaps the Inulin fiber in it slows absorption somewhat, but I’d like to see another study before I make a conclusion.

​

Houston, we Have a Problem – it is Still Loaded With Fructose

Regular sugar isn’t bad for you because it is empty calories or has a high GI, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The main reason sugar is so unhealthy, is because it is loaded with Fructose.
Regular table sugar (sucrose) is 50% fructose, 50% glucose.
But here is the kicker… even though I see claims all over the web that coconut sugar is effectively fructose free, it is made of 70%-80% sucrose, which is half fructose (3)!
For this reason, coconut sugar supplies almost the same amount of fructose as regular sugar, gram for gram.
Consumed in excess, added sugars will cause all sorts of problems like metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
I don’t see any reason why the same shouldn’t apply to coconut sugar.
The Bottom Line

Coconut sugar is no miracle food. It is very similar to regular table sugar, although the manufacturing process is more natural and it also contains some minor amounts of nutrients to go with it.
If you’re going to use coconut sugar, then use it sparingly. It is slightly “less bad” than regular sugar, but definitely not something you should eat every day.
I’m going to have to put coconut sugar is in the same boat as honey. It is healthier than refined sugar, but definitely worse than no sugar at all.

 

[TeaChick]

More light
means
more eggs!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

Well, bust my buttons! Thanks!

 

[Pozees]

Kassaundra I keep meaning to tell you, I love your new hair, I think it is beautiful! I stopped coloring many years ago, and I do not miss it a bit!

 

[TeaChick]

Does anyone use almanacs in their chicken care???

What I'm wondering is whether we're in for as severe a winter as the autumn we've had seems to indicate?
Does anyone know anything about that?

 

[aoxa]

Does anyone use almanacs in their chicken care???

What I'm wondering is whether we're in for as severe a winter as the autumn we've had seems to indicate?
Does anyone know anything about that?

Yes, though it indicates a mild winter for us here in NB. The coldest part of the winter is mid December (true) and mid-late February and mid March.

Bellow average snow... Does not seem that way so far. We have 3 feet as of today in our yard. Henry is completely covered when he goes out LOL

 

[TeaChick]

Yes, though it indicates a mild winter for us here in NB. The coldest part of the winter is mid December (true) and mid-late February and mid March.

Bellow average snow... Does not seem that way so far. We have 3 feet as of today in our yard. Henry is completely covered when he goes out LOL

Hmmm
Do you buy an almanac, or is this info I could find online?
I've searched "almanac" and the like and come up dry (or I think I do; I'm not that good with internet stuff).

 

[TeaChick]

Does anyone have any ideas on how to stop feather picking. I have one picker and now with them being cooped up its getting worse. She only picks on the other SS. Leaves the tetras and LB leghorn alone.

You can see her eyeing up the target.

Ha! Found it!!!
Zinia, I found a thread about feather picking. Another member was having the same problem with two peeps. She posted her "cure", which worked!!!
Anyway, here's the link. =)
Here's the webpage address thing (IDK what it's call!!!!) https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/843447/feather-picking-cure-suggestion

 

[aoxa]

Hmmm
Do you buy an almanac, or is this info I could find online?
I've searched "almanac" and the like and come up dry (or I think I do; I'm not that good with internet stuff).

Free 2-Month Weather Forecast

DECEMBER 2013: temperature -1.5°C (1.5°C above avg.); precipitation 130mm (avg.); Dec 1-5: Snow, then flurries, cold; Dec 6-10: Rain arriving, mild; Dec 11-16: Snow showers, seasonable; Dec 17-21: Rainy, mild, then flurries, cold; Dec 22-25: Snow to rain, then flurries, seasonable;Dec 26-31: Rain, then snow showers, cold.
JANUARY 2014: temperature -1°C (3°C above avg.); precipitation 90mm (10mm below avg.); Jan 1-7: Rain and snow, then snow showers; mild north, turning cold south;Jan 8-14: Rain and snow showers, mild; Jan 15-18: Sunny, mild; Jan 19-23: Showers, mild north; rain, then snow showers, colder south; Jan 24-28: Rain and snow showers, mild; Jan 29-31: Rain to snow north; flurries, cold south.
Annual Weather Summary: November 2013 to October 2014

Temperatures, precipitation, and snowfall will all be above normal this winter. The coldest periods will occur in early and late December and in early and mid- to late February, with the snowiest periods in early December, mid- to late February, and early to mid-March.
April and May will be a bit warmer than normal, with below-normal precipitation and snowfall.
Summer will be warmer than normal, with the hottest periods in early to mid-July, mid- to late July, and mid- to late August. Rainfall will be below normal in Newfoundland and Labrador and above normal elsewhere. Expect tropical storm threats in August and early September.
September and October will be warmer, wetter, and snowier than normal.
http://www.almanac.com/weather/longrange/region/ca/1

Maybe you can find it if you google "farmer's almanac" and your area.. I looked up Atlantic Canada.