Chicken Yoghurt

Breakfast is always taken in the greenhouse!

The gifts of yesterday were well received and Trev and I have enjoyed some Lemon Curd today as well ( always make extra!) We had hot toast with Lemon Curd and tea as a tasty break from gardening. Its been such a beautiful day and The Chix have been sunbathing to build up their Vitamin D. They've all had a dust bath and enjoyed all of the dandelions I dug up from the flower borders. So they've had their perfect day. I often wonder if they can remember their time of captivity - they are such intelligent creatures but after nearly a year of tender loving care they still don't like me to touch them, much less pick them up. So any observations for health etc have to be done as they cluster around, but handsfree.

One thing we were told was great for rescue hens was to give them plain yoghurt. I think you were only supposed to do it until they had acclimatised - but ours still enjoy it every morning. I make it for them as it means we don't have to keep going and buying cartons of it.

It is so easy to make - you just need one of those wide necked flasks, mine holds 900ml. Heat the amount of milk that will fit your flask until just before it reaches boiling point. Once I see those tiny bubbles forming, but before they break, I take it off the heat. Leave it to cool until you can put your finger in it - still hot, but bearable. Stir in 2 tablespoons dried milk powder. Put a small carton bought plain yoghurt into a jug, mix in a little of the hot milk and mix well. Add the mixture to the rest of the milk and stir to combine. Pour into the vacuum flask, seal it up and leave overnight. In the morning you will have lovely thick, plain yoghurt, which, if you are not a chicken, you can flavour or not, as you choose. Soft fruit, rhubarb - whatever takes your fancy. Empty into a jug or bowl, cover, and keep in the fridge.

When you want to make some more, just save a small amount ( about the size of the small carton) to start off the next batch. The measurement is not critical.