Beer grains for chickens?

[Chickenslol]

I'm going to be honest here, I am not very well versed in the ways of making beer so forgive my terminology but a customer of my family's had some extra grains after making beer and gave it to us to give to our girls. He has another lady who usually gives them to her birds but she's out of town. We've now got a fifteen lb bucket of leftover beer grains and barley in our basement and while I know it is safe, I was wondering how healthy it is for them? Will it give them a little boost? we've just been sprinkling it in the run in place of scratch, but can they just eat it as free choice with feed as well? Just wondering!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Since the beer-making process removes some nutrients, it's probably best to give as a treat...although unless you have a LOT of birds, it'll likely spoil before you can feed it all. Maybe freeze some?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Barley is more of a scratch grain unless you sprout it, then its a superfood!

 

[Chickenslol]

Since the beer-making process removes some nutrients, it's probably best to give as a treat...although unless you have a LOT of birds, it'll likely spoil before you can feed it all. Maybe freeze some?

If i can make any room in my freezer for the giant bucket it came in then yes, I'll try!

 

[Chickenslol]

Barley is more of a scratch grain unless you sprout it, then its a superfood!

permission to ask a very dumb question?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

permission to ask a very dumb question?

If it's "will grains used to make beer sprout?" the answer is "no", since they've been cooked.

If your question is less dumb than that, you should feel good.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I don't think it will grow after being heated to make beer, fyi. Sometime though if you want a really nutritious food for your birds you could sprout fodder with barley seeds if you have some untreated and not cooked, lol.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If i can make any room in my freezer for the giant bucket it came in then yes, I'll try!

You could also transfer into smaller containers to make it easier to fit (and make them more suitable size for feeding the flock).

Also, if there's any ice cream in the freezer, you should probably eat it...you know, for the chickens.

 

[Chickenslol]

If it's "will grains used to make beer sprout?" the answer is "no", since they've been cooked.

If your question is less dumb than that, you should feel good.

nope that was the question, wishful thinking I guess

 

[Chickenslol]

I don't think it will grow after being heated to make beer, fyi. Sometime though if you want a really nutritious food for your birds you could sprout fodder with barley seeds if you have some untreated and not cooked, lol.

I've been wanting to make fodder for so long, hopefully it can be a spring project!