Feeding chickens sourdough starter discard?

[topochico225]

Hi!

I have a rye sourdough starter, and when I feed it I hate discarding all of the extra, and would love to give some to my girls. I have 3 9 month pullets. In the past handful of times I've fed them starter, I've mixed it with a bit of oats, but my dog runs up and eats it. He is allergic to grain, so he then vomits it in the house. I will be feeding the starter mix in the run now, not while they're free ranging, but there's got to be a better alternative to oats.

TIA!

 

[Aapomp831]

Yes... filled with lots of healthy fermented goodness, like probiotics.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Yes, great idea!

 

[RiverOtter]

Are you asking if you should mix it with something besides oats? Chickens can just have plain starter, they love it. Or you can mix it with water until it's thin enough for them to drink and they suck it down like a kid with a milkshake.

 

[topochico225]

Are you asking if you should mix it with something besides oats? Chickens can just have plain starter, they love it. Or you can mix it with water until it's thin enough for them to drink and they suck it down like a kid with a milkshake.

Yes! Sorry, forgot to add that. Thank you!

 

[MarkJr]

I use my starter to mix up a batch of fermented feed. They eat it up!

 

[topochico225]

I use my starter to mix up a batch of fermented feed. They eat it up!

I've always wanted to ferment feed! @yakitori has a great thread from September about doing it, so I think I'll try it this weekend.

 

[Hathamark]

I use sunflower seeds & all the good for chicken herbs to make a warm pancake as a treat on cold mornings, when I feed my starter.

May I ask the hive whether there are concerns about sourcrop; any concerns there?
Since sourdough discard is oft' about Lowering the ph as much as volume of the starter, might that (Changing PH in crop) be a concern?

 

[topochico225]

I use sunflower seeds & all the good for chicken herbs to make a warm pancake as a treat on cold mornings, when I feed my starter.

May I ask the hive whether there are concerns about sourcrop; any concerns there?
Since sourdough discard is oft' about Lowering the ph as much as volume of the starter, might that (Changing PH in crop) be a concern?

I haven’t had any trouble with crop issues after starter, but that may just be me.

If you live in a very cold climate, be careful about feeding steamy food on cold mornings; the condensation can freeze to combs and wattles and cause frostbite.