Feeding chickens fermented feed

[Wooden Chicken]

Does anyone ferment their chicken feed? If so, how do you do it? Health benefits?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Lots of folks on here do fermented feed, check out this massive thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fermented-feeds-anyone-using-them.645057/

I do a very simplified system, just water and feed in a large glass jar, mix and let sit. I have my ratios down pretty well to get a very thick finished product. I start feeding from 24 hrs on, and when the jar runs low, I just add more water and feed.

 

[JaeG]

Our chickens love their fermented feed. I make just a bit more than enough for one day, then just add more food and water to the container and in 24 hours it's bubbling away and ready to go again.

You can ferment grains as well - I ferment wheat for our ducks and they go crazy for it. Fermented wheat smells delicious.

 

[yakitori]

I just started, and I love it. Their poops are more solid and maybe I imagined it...smells less! i'm fermenting feed using my sourdough starter as I always have some on hand. Mine is also a drier ferment, I add just enough water to make the crumbles into a coarse paste.

 

[CatsandCrops]

I ferment for them - I have 3 containers that I rotate and feed after 3 days of fermenting. I like doing it with 1 day's worth of food in each container vs an ongoing one in case it ever goes bad, I only loose 1 days worth vs multiple.

 

[bcorps]

I actually read something yesterday by the "chicken chick" that confused me. She said there is no benefit to fermenting a crumble. I am the newb here, so conflicting info is always confusing. I am currently 24 hours into my first try at fermenting starter food.

 

[JaeG]

I actually read something yesterday by the "chicken chick" that confused me. She said there is no benefit to fermenting a crumble. I am the newb here, so conflicting info is always confusing. I am currently 24 hours into my first try at fermenting starter food.

I wouldn't think there'd be any difference between fermenting a crumble as compared to pelleted feed. They are basically the same thing, one's just chopped up into smaller pieces.

 

[yakitori]

I actually read something yesterday by the "chicken chick" that confused me. She said there is no benefit to fermenting a crumble. I am the newb here, so conflicting info is always confusing. I am currently 24 hours into my first try at fermenting starter food.

where did you see this? While it doesn’t make sense to me, I’m curious to see what she wrote...

 

[PioneerChicks]

I actually read something yesterday by the "chicken chick" that confused me. She said there is no benefit to fermenting a crumble. I am the newb here, so conflicting info is always confusing. I am currently 24 hours into my first try at fermenting starter food.

Welcome to BYC!

That information is incorrect. Crumbles are just crushed pellets and work just as well as pellets. However, to get more of the benefits from fermenting try using whole grains instead of commercial chicken feed.

I have a process where I add some to the bucket every day and take some away (to feed to the chickens). Pretty simple once you get the hang of it.

 

[centralcaligirl]

Lots of folks on here do fermented feed, check out this massive thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fermented-feeds-anyone-using-them.645057/

I would second this and add this by @Molpet : https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/