Devonviolet Acres

[Devonviolet]

Save your whey for me! I'll give it to my pigs! When the sow weans her future yet to be born babies that may or may not be conceived yet, then you can feed the whey to your own piglet!! BWA-HAHAHAHA!!!!

Absolutely, we can save the whey for your pigs! I'm thinking, I could try using some of my Kefir grains, to culture the whey, so it will last longer at room temp. If that works, we could put it in clean 5 gallon buckets. To transport it to you.

As far as us getting one of your piglets, I commented on another thread (but can't remember which one). We have so many things going this year, its not a good time to start something new. So, we won't be taking one of your piglets. Sorry. Maybe next year.

 

[Baymule]

I know how bad you want a pig. I'm going to keep ribbing your DH until he caves in....... But is best to get prepared and build a good pen with a shelter. Y'all have a lot on your plate before you tackle a pig project.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I freeze milk in Ziploc freezer bags, (don't use the cheap imitations). Lay them flat on a cookie sheet until they're frozen and they'll retain that nice flat shape and stack well in the freezer. I do put them in a cake pan when I thaw them - just in case there's a breach in the bag.

 

[Bruce]

The frozen doesn't separate during first 3-4 months

Would that be a "self defrosting" or a "do it yourself defrosting" freezer? I would think that would make a difference.

 

[Devonviolet]

I freeze milk in Ziploc freezer bags, (don't use the cheap imitations). Lay them flat on a cookie sheet until they're frozen and they'll retain that nice flat shape and stack well in the freezer. I do put them in a cake pan when I thaw them - just in case there's a breach in the bag.

I did that with Falina's colostrum. The problem I ran into, was that the top, of the bag was rounded & they won't lay nice & flat.

I was thinking of putting the bag on a cookie sheet & putting another cookie sheet on top. Maybe that will work better.

 

[Mini Horses]

@Mini Horses, freezing the milk sounds interesting. So, you freeze it in the 1/2 gallon, glass jars? You don't have a problem with the jars breaking, as the milk (liquid) expands as it freezes

No -- just leave the capped jars in to quick chill, then to frig. I freeze much the way FEM does and it's fine. Use the heavy freezer type bags. I have also used other containers. When I do colostrum I generally freeze in ice tray, dump into bag so I can thaw what I need. Milk, I bag & freeze from that same doe for a few days. Mark all name/date of doe, colostrum/milk, etc. If needed for an orphan, you at least have consistency for important first few days. Never MW the colostrum or milk for a kid, destroys the good stuff they need. Set a jar of product into warm water & wait.

Bruce, the use determines thaw method. If making soap, I use the frozen chunks to put the lye into, which melts it & keeps lye temp under control, the bowl is always in ice water while slowly stirring it.

If to use for drinking, I put bag into a container to just hold it upright and let it thaw in frig. Normally takes overnight. But after a yr or little over, you will see some separation of solids in milk...not a lot but, poured you will sometimes see some flakes of solids.

 

[Devonviolet]

Never MW the colostrum or milk for a kid, destroys the good stuff they need. Set a jar of product into warm water & wait.

Good advise. Although I would not do that, as it would negate the "RAW" concept. Not healthy for me with a casein/protein allergy. The microwave would destroy the enzymes that allow my body to digest/metabolize the casein. I would think, as you said, it would act similarly with colostrum, if being given to a kid.

Would that be a "self defrosting" or a "do it yourself defrosting" freezer? I would think that would make a difference.

Bruce, the use determines thaw method.

I think Bruce was referring to the type of freezer (appliance) . . . . automatic defrost (aka "Frost Free") or manual defrost - as in, ice builds up in thick layers on and under shelves, you empty the freezer and place pans/bowls of hot water to melt the ice. It can take HOURS, depending on how bad you let the ice build up.

Me thinks you date yourself, kind Bruce. The last time I did that was in the 70's. What a pain in the pah-toot!!!

Automatic defrost was one of the great inventions of the 20th century!

 

[Bruce]

The 7 cu ft chest freezer we had at our other house and the 5 cu ft one we bought for this house (THIS year) are both "do it yourself" I think the 5 cu ft one even came with a scraper to speed things up. But I've not had to do it yet and might not be able to find the scraper if I do want it. I think I only had to defrost the 7 cu ft freezer like 3 times in 20 years and the last time was when we moved out.

Automatic defrost was one of the great inventions of the 20th century!

For the regular small "house" refrigerator/freezer, sure! Long term storage, not so much. You get freezer burn with self defrosting units since it keeps bringing the temp up above freezing (it is 0° F when keeping things cold!) to thaw the small amount of ice buildup.

I think that would do a number on the frozen milk as well which is why I asked since @Mini Horses said "The frozen doesn't separate during first 3-4 months". Was wondering if that was if it was held at 0°F the whole time or if the self defroster kept warming it up. If the former, 3-4 months is the max without separation. If the latter, it might be longer in a non self-defrosting unit.

 

[CntryBoy777]

No need for a scraper....a hand held hair dryer works Great on the do-it-yourself types.........and a shop vac will suck the water out pretty well too.

 

[Latestarter]

Or if you don't want to stand there holding a hair dryer, a good firm paint scraper/puttyknife will scrape that ice off the walls pretty danged fast. I use a really firm 4" putty knife. Just don't "chip" at it @ too great an angle so you don't poke a hole through the wall into a cooling coil. Once you've got most of it scraped off, use a dust pan to scoop all the ice out of the bottom onto the ground (outside) or into a bucket (indoors) to remove it. No need to thaw anything, or even turn the freezer off.

It will start to form new ice as you're working from any humidity, but you'll remove the large coating/chunks and it will be like a fall frost when you're done. Not enough to cause an issue at all. It will build again over time until the next time you need to remove it.