Do chickens like spent grain?

[Sqwidy]

Hey! We're homebrewers new to chickens Random question: Do chickens like the spent grains from a wort? I'm thinking most of the sugar is probably out of the grains, but wasn't sure. Usually we just compost them. But I think I've heard of breweries giving the grains to ranchers? Cheers!

 

[pdirt]

They do, in small quantities, someone suggested about 10% spent grains of their total diet. Read more on this recent thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/941950/spent-grain/0_60#post_14485584

 

[Sqwidy]

Awesome -- thanks

 

[Percheron chick]

A good tip for spent grains is to freeze them in small blocks (1# or so) and use them as a cooling treat when temps get bad. If you brew once ever week or two that will assure that they are fresh when you feed them. They will only last 2-3 days before they start to spoil if you don't do anything with them.

 

[CrazyTalk]

If you're curious about a specific item as livestock feed, Feedipedia is the best place to start:

http://www.feedipedia.org/node/74


They're high protein, but have a ton of fiber in them, which makes them less digestible - they make a fine amendment for feeding adult birds, but probably shouldn't be used for broilers, or young turkeys, etc.