The Old Folks Home

[hennible]

I would like to ferment their feed but have no where warm to do it.... How warm should it be LindaB220? I only have outdoor space at this point and it never very warm at night here.

 

[vehve]

@dsqard stunning vistas.

Ron, some of the sourdough starter might do good for the chickens too. Many people (including me) feed them a bit of yeast.

 

[chickisoup]

Quote: Same here

Everything that still needs doing to prep for snow just isn't going to get done, sigh. Hubby and I over the years just sort of split who does what without thinking about it. I am struggling to write down for him all the stuff I always did for the gardens, plants and animals without really even thinking about it, now the temps have dropped and our first real snow is due tomorrow night. I should be running around outside right now picking up, covering up, sealing up and storing away.

I HATE THIS!

I love the fall! I am a northerner like you. There is just something so very satisfying about the last minute prep for winter. All the work, all the hustle, even the stress, then being able to sit down with your cup of coffee, stare out the window and watch the beauty of the first snowfall and know all the "stuff", the plants and the critters are all safe and tucked in.
The reality of the hard, cold, long nights ahead will sink in later, but for now, just that moment, you can sit back and enjoy a job and a season, well done.

Not being able to participate in that is really hitting me harder than I thought it would. Sitting in this stupid wheelchair and staring out the window is breaking my heart.

 

[getaclue]

I personally can't do all of that. So I spent the $30 for a quart of EM-1. Essentially the same thing. It makes hundreds of gallons of it for the feed. @pdirt also uses it for a drink for health. Maybe he will chime in about it. To make a 5 gallon bucket of feed I use 1/2 cup AEM and 1/3 cup molasses. Grain or feed and water. Let it sit for 3-4 days the first time and it's ready. After that I let it get down to a couple of inches from the bottom and do it again. Ready overnight. I also use 1/2 c of AEM to one gallon of water and spray down the coop. Fabulous.

I found the EM-1, but what is AEM?

 

[chickisoup]

I would like to ferment their feed but have no where warm to do it.... How warm should it be LindaB220? I only have outdoor space at this point and it never very warm at night here.

same here. I did do it for awhile in the spring and the girls loved it.

 

[ronott1]

@dsqard stunning vistas.

Ron, some of the sourdough starter might do good for the chickens too. Many people (including me) feed them a bit of yeast.

I did add some sourdough starter to some fermented feed. I do think it would make good lacto bacillus quite easily.

 

[hennible]

Same  here    Everything that still needs doing to prep for snow just isn't going to get done, sigh.  Hubby and I over the years just sort of split who does what without thinking about it.   I am struggling to write down for him all the stuff I always did for the gardens, plants and animals without really even thinking about it, now the temps have dropped and our first real snow is due tomorrow night.  I should be running around outside right now picking up, covering up, sealing up and storing away.

 I HATE THIS!   I love the fall!  I am a northerner like you.  There is just something so very satisfying about the last minute  prep for winter.  All the work, all the hustle, even the stress, then being able to sit down with your cup of coffee, stare out the window and watch the beauty of the first snowfall and know all the  "stuff", the plants and the critters are all safe and tucked in.
 The reality of the hard, cold, long nights ahead will sink in later, but for now, just that moment, you can sit back and enjoy a job and a season, well done.

 Not being able to participate in that is really hitting me harder than I thought it would.  

That's a bummer for sure. So much to do... Fire wood to chop and stack, hoses to collect, greenhouse to clean out, and a temporary coop to build.... I'd lose my mind if I wasn't able to get it done. My DH works away from home, 10 in 4 out.... So I better get on it.
Got to laugh at my ducks they have no clue what the ice is and seem a little freaked out, I really should go break it up for them, but it's fun to watch -evil laugh-
Hope you can get out soon. Probably in time to shovel snow lol

 

[LindaB220]

I would like to ferment their feed but have no where warm to do it.... How warm should it be LindaB220? I only have outdoor space at this point and it never very warm at night here.

I'd make it in an ice cooler. Use hot water to make it up and it will keep it perking. Daily I'd put a 1 liter bottle of hot water in there and replace it daily with hot water. See if it works in your area. I've not fermented in winter before so this is heresay. But Beekissed did well with it. It's so warm in La I'll not have much problem keeping it warm. It still works if the temp inside is 60 or so. I think that Beekissed had to eventually take it inside to a back room to keep it going.in the deep winter. Even giving them a little a day will still give you the benefits.

 

[perchie.girl]

Deb, easiest way to cook rice, take a quart size pot, pour in about 2 cups of water (or about one if you're just cooking for yourself), and put it on max heat, add a pinch of salt. When the water boils, pour in some rice in the middle of the pot until it just reaches the surface (so that you have a little underwater mountain), and turn down the heat to about 1½ (if your stove goes to 6). Stir it properly, and then keep stirring a bit every minute or so, when the water has been absorbed by the rice it's ready. Perfect rice.

Stove is gas but I get the idea... I have tried this. and failed miserably. Either I burn the rice or it sticks so badly to the pot i had to throw it out.

Funny thing though I can cook rice in a skillet. Just not boiled in a pot. there is a product here called Rice A Roni. I have cooked that before. So when I failed at boiling rice I cooked it in a skillet.

Melt butter in the skillet then throw the rice in to coat and keep cooking till the rice kind of cracks and cooks that way. Then add in liquid like chicken broth and cook till the liquid is gone and add more liquid.... stirring it in.... cook till the liquid is gone.... and on till it fluffs up.

But Steamed or boiled rice.... Um no.

deb

 

[vehve]

That's basically a risotto, that's the best way to eat rice. Try some white wine in that too. And some onions before adding the rice.