Gotta wonder if that's just firefighter talk to scare people into being careful. I mean, how many chimneys actually catch fire? My uncle burned wood for 30 years and never cleaned his chimney more than once every few years, never had a problem. Seems like one of those things that can happen, but the odds are pretty low for most folks.

You talk about copying hurting other makers, but isn't a lot of design just using ideas from others? Might not be as bad as you think.

Ever worry about getting the mix just right?

Totally agree about homemade beating store feed! I switched last spring after my flock's feathers looked dull. Mixed my own with cracked corn, rolled oats, and some sunflower seeds. Their egg yolks got way darker and they just seemed more energetic. Saved a bunch of cash too, which was a nice bonus.

Question if patience lessons from a scoby aren't just wishful thinking.