"i just put my colonized grain into my first casing today(washed compost/cow shit)"
Thats not casing its substrate . Try using turf and chalk mixed together to PH 7 .
Your cakes should be nearly if not completely white , with fat healthy myceleum . Its OK if you can see some grain or a
little browness . If there are big patches that are not grown through its probably bacteria .
"also when i broke it up to transfer it to the casing it was def. very cakey/chunky in structure."
It should be chunky as you say , the cakes should be fully grown through so that when you break them they look like white
chocky with rice crispys in it . But why break the cakes up ? What about sterility ? Did you do it in a glove box or with a
face mask and sterile gloves ?
"From what I hear, for best results remove cake when you can see some red heads starting to push up against the side. "
Thats the latest point to put them out . When they are fully grown through and fluffy its the right time . But thats a matter of experience to know when that time has come . Its only a question for you the first few times you do it , after a while you just feel like its the right time and do it .
Dont waste your time looking on other web sites they will just confuse you . Ask anything you want , no mater if you think its stupid and there are enough people here who realy do it that can answer your questions .