Do chickens like homebrew? Well, the grains anyway...

[TinyLittleFarm]

My husband is an avid homebrewer. We were wondering if it would be okay to feed the chickens the leftover mash (spent grains.) I don't know if the chicks would even like them, but is there any reason not to offer them? DH said that he's heard of farmers picking the mash up for their cattle. Think there is any nutrition left in the grains after being cooked and boiled and whatever else it is happens to them?

Thanks!

ETA: I found this and it seems that chickens do indeed like the mash. Has anyone here tried it?

DH can't wait.

 

[Gonzo]

I don't know about the nut. value, but I believe it should be safe. At the Jack Daniels Dist. they give that to the ducks. They say if the ducks don't eat it or like it, they pitch the entire batch of whiskey they made with it.

 

[MotherJean]

I haven't personally tried it, but I know a "gentleman farmer" nearby who took barrels and barrels of the stuff from the local microbrewery to feed to his animals. What could be bad? Pretty much just natural grains and water.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It's an excellent feed component. Just make sure to feed it while still fresh because once it starts to mold it's compost material.

Spent brewers grain is much higher in protein than unbrewed grain for the carohydrates having been fermented out. It's not a balanced protein, but it can be an important feed component.

If you spread it out and dry it this will allow you to feed it out more evenly.

.....Alan.

 

[crittersitter]

What a great question!!

I have lots of friends that homebrew and now my girls will have access to a new treat!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

That's a good question. Someone in my area was giving away the grain but I was too scared to feed it to my chickens.

 

[MoSo]

Made an ale two days ago, and fed about a cup of the left-over grains to my 7/8 week old chicks (along with a side of chick grit). They ate it, but I don't think they were wild about it. Not like meal worms and dried cherries, their two foods of choice, for which you have to watch out for the tips of your fingers when you feed....

 

[flockof4]

Awesome to know. I have access to plenty of spent grains from breweries here in town. I'll have to make sure it's fresh, but it sounds like the chickens will like it.

 

[terricksa]

Excellent, I was planning on doing this as a homebrewer as well. I figured they would like it, but gla dto hear people have tried it already

 

[Cluckhead]

My girls love the spent grains I feed them after brewing.