Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Dreamzchaser]

 

[fuzzi]

My younger bantam (SLW) has continuously laid this year, even through her molt. I have one other hen who is laying, the rest are coming out of their molts or in the midst of it. Finally finished winterizing the coop and run yesterday, just in time for the snowstorm (Thursday night through next week apparently).

I've noticed that same bantam, who was at the bottom of the pecking order has started to push the older ladies around, and now it seems she's at the top. Not sure why they decided to rearrange themselves, but the big roost is almost completely empty at night now, except for a couple girls at the very end and the bantam and rooster snuggled together in the middle.

I made apple scrap vinegar this year and I really like it! The pH is 2.8 and it tastes like vinegar, but not as harsh as ACV. I put together my fire cider today and have 4 bottles of vinegar left.

Prepping for Thanksgiving host today. Dunno how we winded up hosting cuz we're hosting Christmas, too. But it's nice to have family coming here this year!

Apple scrap vinegar? How do you make it?

My Dominiques are on the bottom of the pecking order, so when one of the Sussex hens tries to keep the roost to herself the Doms use the A-frame roost. Oh well.

 

[fuzzi]

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Folly's place]

Happy Thanksgiving!
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Wayfair has some really nice large chicken runs on sale, having built a few that size I don't think you could buy the materials for that much. They do need some safety modifications, but that could be done easily

 

[Sally PB]

Did anyone watch the Lions game? At one point, they explained how they make John Madden's "Turducken." When they sliced it in to pieces, I said, "Oh, man, it looks like a giant lash egg!"

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Apple scrap vinegar? How do you make it?

1. Take cider apples, chop them up, and add them to a large glass container, add sugar and water, cover with a tea towel and leave in a dark place for 2 weeks. You want to attract natural yeast in this stage and help it grow, so not too cool of an area. Stir once each day (important if you don't have a weight on the apples, you might have kahm yeast form, you can still stir it).
2. After two weeks, strain and combine your liquid into a clean glass jar. I gave the apple scraps to the chickens. Place back in the dark place with the tea towels over top and let sit until it tastes like vinegar. Mine did go through an alcoholic phase which was interesting. It took 2 months before it was ready. I checked it occasionally to check for fruit flies and watched the scoby grow, but left it alone for the most part
3. Strain again (I had a couple of fruit flies in mine, lol). And pour into your final glass containers. I use a pH measured to make sure it's at vinegar level.

I used 3 1-gallon containers to start.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

I'm going to add that I like the taste a lot better than ACV. It's sweeter and easier to swallow. It doesn't make your throat all scratchy. I can use it in cooking and fire cider, but it's recommended you only use store bought vinegar in canning because you can't guarantee proper (consistent) acid levels in homemade vinegar.