Fermented feed for chickens

[BYC Project Manager]

If you’ve never tried fermented feed for chickens, it can feel a little strange at first. After all, soaking feed in water for a day or two until it starts bubbling doesn’t exactly sound like gourmet chicken cuisine. But many backyard chicken keepers swear their birds absolutely love it.

Fermenting feed is said to help chickens digest nutrients more easily and may even reduce feed waste. Some keepers also report healthier-looking feathers, firmer droppings, and slightly lower feed costs because the birds seem to feel full sooner. On the flip side, others find it messy, time-consuming, or simply not worth the extra effort.

So here’s the question for everyone: Have you tried feeding fermented feed to your flock?
Did you notice any real benefits or did you decide it wasn’t for you?

Share your experience, tips, or even your fermentation “failures.” Let’s hear how it’s working in your coop!

 

[Kiki]

I tried it.
It was too messy for me and didn't seem worth the trouble... especially since it's so hot down here. I was afraid it would start rotting/get nasty too quickly.
It didn't save any money and only caused more work.

 

[SkyAJK]

A few years back I did do fermented feed for my chickens.
I found that it is not good for hot summer weather and some of my chickens did not like wet feed.

The advantage is that it bulked up, stopped the powdery in feed and good during the autumn cool dry weather.

It is not good for hot summer weather as it continued to fermented on a hot day and also more flies attached to it. One of my hens got the fermented feed stuck to her nose and beak.

I will do fermented feed again when the weather cooled down and this time mix the fermented feed with dried feed to ease the mushiness.

The idea of fermented feed give chickens good gut bacteria worth the effort.

 

[Perris]

It matters a lot what feed is being fermented. My first foray into this followed advice online and involved fermenting regular commercial homogenised pellet feed. The result looked like this

and stuck to the birds' beaks as per SkyAJK's post. It also smelled foul. The birds ate it, but I was not happy with it, and it was not obviously beneficial.

I did a lot more research in serious sources. I discovered that fermenting suits real whole foods, not ultra-processed feeds. I started fermenting whole grains, legumes, seeds. It smells just a little, and that smell is nice. There is no sticky mess. There is no mould. The birds love it. They have been thriving on it here for several generations now. I explain what I do and why here, so there is no need to repeat it here. It looks like this after rinsing to serve

The differences are obvious.

 

[FrostRanger]

I use fermented feed occasionally as a healthy treat. I haven't noticed any difference in terms of health or egg quality but it makes them happy and I'm happy to see them happy

Am probably going to grab a bag of the henhouse reserve as chewy accidentally sent me a bag of 16% all flock instead of my usual 20% flock maker pellets (they promptly sent me a replacement) and the henhouse reserve has more protein

 

[rosemarythyme]

I ferment whole grain mash mostly to ensure the birds eat the entire mixture (including the added fines which contain protein, vitamins and minerals) instead of picking out bits they like. So main benefits for me would be reduction of food waste and more balanced nutritional intake.

 

[Debbie292d]

I was more avid about fermenting in prior years than I am now, so now it's more like making a treat. Warm in winter months, cool in summer months. I know it's healthy for them but we've got additives in their Flock Maker so I'd rather they fill up on that.

When I do it, I use quart jars and already have my grain mix to make it. That's hard red winter wheat, whole oats, Kalmbach's Henhouse reserve, and a teaspoon or so each of whole flax and chia seeds.

I used to be able to do one jar, now I have to do two to three so we're looking to find me some gallon jars.

 

[MichaelDJ]

I ferment. my 18%+ whole grain organic mix and my birds love it. I have 3 stainless containers on my counter. Each one sits for 3 days.
I supplement with Henhouse Reserve all flock 20% in a grandpas feeder.

 

[BDutch]

I tried a few years ago with a mix of chick feed and mixed grain, but it started to stink (probably too hot).
I tried a second time with the mixed grains* successfully, but the chickens were not fond of it, and stopped with the extra work.

My chickens thrive on a combination of feed and additional grit/oyster/leftovers. : I only buy organic feed for my mixed flock**. I give my chickens chick crumble and layer pellets to choose from whole day. Once a day they get limited grain mix and some wet chick feed, made from the left over dust they didn’t eat + a little fresh chick feed. Sometimes I add a little yoghurt or acv to the wet chick feed. They do like that. In addition they free range a few hours on most days.

*The mixed grain & seed mix here is always with broken corn and has no large bits. It’s not a complete feed.
** Can’t buy organic all flock in the Netherlands.