Happy Sabbath, Everyone! I’m starting a fun new series called Sabbath Skool Animal Trivia! Each Sabbath, I’ll post a question about an animal mentioned in the Bible. I’ll point you in the right direction, and you’ll have all day to answer. Everyone who answers correctly will be entered into a pool, and one person will be randomly selected to win a prize! 😊 This Week’s Question: With Passover and Resurrection Day just behind us, we’re diving into the book of Exodus! What animal is described as being the first affected by the 10 plagues of Egypt? Read carefully — it’s a tricky one! And just like trivia night, please no Googling! 😊 Hint: Start in chapter 7 of Exodus. 🌟 Fun Extra: After naming the animal, share a fun trivia fact about it! 😊 I’ll announce the winner tomorrow — good luck!

You asked, so I did some digging! What IS Fermented Feed? Feed soaked in water for 3-4 days, allowing beneficial bacteria (primarily Lactobacillus) to multiply and create lactic acid fermentation—similar to sauerkraut! Nutritional Changes During Fermentation: INCREASES: 🦠Beneficial bacteria (natural probiotics!) 🦠B vitamin content 🦠Enzyme activity 🦠Protein digestibility 🦠Mineral bioavailability (reduced phytic acid) DECREASES: 🦠Harmful bacteria (acidic environment inhibits pathogens) 🦠Anti-nutritional factors 🦠pH (becomes acidic: 3.5-4.5) Research-Backed Benefits: GUT HEALTH: 🌾Increased beneficial gut bacteria 🌾Reduced Salmonella and E. coli colonization 🌾Improved intestinal integrity FEED EFFICIENCY: 🌾Better nutrient absorption 🌾Some studies show improved feed conversion 🌾Birds may eat less (higher digestibility) FLOCK HEALTH: 🩺Enhanced immune function 🩺Reduced pathogen load in digestive tract Does It Change Eggs? RESEARCH SUGGESTS: 🥚Potential for slightly stronger shells (improved mineral absorption) 🥚Some studies show reduced Salmonella in eggs 🥚No significant changes to taste or appearance 🥚May support more consistent laying More research needed—results vary by study! How to Ferment Safely: BASIC METHOD: 1. Cover feed with dechlorinated water (1:2 ratio) 2. Stir daily 3. Ferment 3-4 days at room temperature 4. Should smell tangy/sour (like yogurt), NOT rotten 5. Feed wet, make fresh batches continuously SAFETY CRITICAL: ✓ Use clean containers ✓ Keep feed submerged (prevents mold) ✓ Discard if moldy, smells “off,” or slimy ✓ Don’t ferment medicated feed! ✓ Summer = faster fermentation, watch closely Your turn: ❓Have you tried fermenting feed? Thumbs up or too much hassle? 👍👎 ❓Did you notice any changes in your flock or eggs after switching? 🥚

Those floppy red bits on your chicken’s head aren’t just decorative—they serve critical biological functions! What Are They? 🐔Comb: Fleshy growth on top of head 🐔Wattles: Fleshy lobes hanging below beak 🐔Both are highly vascularized (rich blood supply!) THERMOREGULATION (Temperature Control) Chickens can’t sweat! Combs and wattles are their cooling system. HOW IT WORKS: 🩸Blood flows to comb/wattles 🩸Heat radiates out through thin skin 🩸Up to 40% of body heat lost through comb! 🩸Larger combs = better heat dissipation BREED ADAPTATIONS: ☀️Hot climates: Large combs (Leghorns, Minorcas) ❄️Cold climates: Small combs (Wyandottes, Buckeyes) 🐔Pea, rose, cushion combs = less frostbite risk FROSTBITE RISK: ❄️Large combs vulnerable in freezing temps ❄️Blood-rich tissue freezes easily ❄️Tips turn black, may fall off ❄️Prevention: ventilation (removes moisture), petroleum jelly SEXUAL SIGNALING & HEALTH INDICATORS MATE SELECTION: 🐓Hens prefer roosters with larger, redder combs 🐓Indicates good health, strong genetics 🐓Brighter color = higher testosterone HEALTH STATUS: 🐔Bright red: Healthy, good circulation 🐔Pale/pink: Anemia, parasites, illness, molting 🐔Purple/blue: Poor circulation, respiratory distress 🐔White spots: Fungal infection (favus) 🐔Black tips: Frostbite or pecking injury 🐔Shriveled: Not in lay, hormonal changes LAYING STATUS: 🪺Pullet approaching lay: comb reddens, enlarges 🪺Actively laying: bright, full comb 🪺Broody/molting: pale, smaller appearance Your turn: ❓What comb type do your chickens have and does it suit your climate? ❄️☀️ 🐔Drop a picture of the different combs of your flock!

Love fresh eggs AND fresh vegetables? Let’s talk about keeping your garden intact while your chickens roam! Why Chickens Destroy Gardens: 🐔Natural scratching behavior uproots seedlings 🐔Dust bathing creates craters in soft soil 🐔Foraging instinct = eating your produce! 🐔Fresh mulch is irresistible scratching material Some Protection Strategies: PHYSICAL BARRIERS 🌱Fencing (2-4 feet minimum; 6 feet for flighty breeds) 🌱Hardware cloth around raised beds 🌱Chicken wire cloches over young plants 🌱Netting over berry bushes TIMING MANAGEMENT 🐓Let chickens in AFTER harvest 🐓Restrict access during germination/seedling stage 🐓Allow supervised garden time only 🐓Morning garden access when hens are laying DESIGNATED AREAS 🐥Create separate “chicken garden” with plants for them 🐥Use chicken tractors to control access areas 🐥Rotate garden access strategically PLANT PROTECTION 🌱Large rocks around plant bases deter scratching 🌱Established plants withstand pecking better than seedlings 🌱Thorny plants naturally deter chickens CHICKEN-RESISTANT PLANTS: 🍅Strong herbs: rosemary, lavender, sage 🍅Tomatoes (leaves are toxic—chickens avoid!) 🍅Squash (prickly leaves) COMPANION BENEFITS: Strategic timing allows chickens to eat pests, fertilize soil, and clear beds between seasons! Your turn: Tell us Tuesday! ❓What’s your best trick for protecting garden beds from your flock? 🌿 ❓Have your chickens ever destroyed something you worked hard to grow? What was it? 😭

Ever felt that squishy pouch on your chicken’s chest and wondered what it is? That’s the crop - and understanding it can help you catch problems early! What IS the Crop? A thin-walled, expandable pouch at the base of the neck where food is temporarily stored and moistened before moving to the stomach. Think of it as a “lunch box” for later digestion! NORMAL Crop Function: ☀️Morning: Empty and flat (food processed overnight) ✨Evening: Full and rounded (storing day’s food) 🐥Feel: Soft, squishy, like a partially-filled water balloon 🐤Normal crops empty in 12-24 hours. You should be able to feel food/grain through the skin. ABNORMAL Conditions: IMPACTED CROP (Crop Bound) 🐓Full, hard, doesn’t empty overnight 🐓Feels like a dough ball 🐓Caused by: long fibrous material (grass, hay, strings), dehydration, lack of grit SOUR CROP (Candidiasis) 🐔Squishy but doesn’t empty 🐔Foul smell from mouth 🐔May vomit or have fluid slosh 🐔Caused by: yeast/fungal overgrowth PENDULOUS CROP 🐤 Chronically stretched, hangs low 🐤 From repeated impactions Treatment Approaches: For Impaction: 🐓Massage gently to break up contents 🐓Offer water, withhold food temporarily 🐓Separate from flock 🐓May require veterinary intervention if severe For Sour Crop: 🐔Antifungal medication (veterinary guidance needed! I’m happy to jump on a telehealth call) 🐔Probiotics after treatment 🐔Address underlying cause Prevention: ✓ Provide grit always ✓ Fresh water available ✓ Avoid long, stringy materials ✓ Limit scratch/treats When to See a Vet: Crop issues can be life-threatening! Seek help if no improvement in 24 hours. Again, I’m happy to jump on a telehealth call. Just DM me. Your turn: ❓Ever had a chicken with a crop issue that resolved itself, or did you have to intervene? 🩺 ❓Do you do regular crop checks or only when something seems off? 🔍