Fermented feed?

[HeidiN]

i keep hearing about fermented feed. Why would you give this, and how do you go about fermenting the feed?

 

[AlleysChicks]

@KikisGirls

She'll help. She's super helpful on FF.

 

[barred2rock]

Fermented feed provides higher nutrition than dry, including probiotics. It reduces both waste and consumption, ultimately reducing feed cost. It's easier for the birds to digest, firming up the chickens poop and reduces smell in the coop & run.

 

[Kiki]

See if this helps you understand it a little better:
https://tikktok.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/fermented-feed-faq/

 

[Back to Eden Chickens]

So anyone know about how much to feed each chicken of the fermented feed? I think the link above said maybe a cup per chicken? It says whatever they can eat in about 30 minutes. So is feeding them once a day fine? I would be nervous about am I feeding them enough or not.

 

[lazy gardener]

I feed them in the morning, and if their crops are empty in the evening, after they've been out for free range, I give them some more. Others fill the feeder, and if it's empty in the afternoon, give them a bit more to tie them over. Still others, let their birds range for the day, then feed them before they go to roost. There are plenty of ways to do it, and no one way is wrong. Got a dog? Same concept. Eventually, you know how much he needs.

 

[feather13]

I've been fermenting both whole grains (according to this recipe: http://www.gardenbetty.com/2013/05/why-and-how-to-ferment-your-chicken-feed/) as well as fermenting my regular laying crumble. Both turn out exactly as described here on BYC. However, this feed has given my chickens very loose, diarrhea-like feces instead of making it more firm. Am I doing something incorrectly? Thanks.

 

[lazy gardener]

How long have you been fermenting? What is your temperature? If it's hot, your birds are going to have loose poo b/c the only way they can cool down is to drink more.

 

[feather13]

How long have you been fermenting? What is your temperature? If it's hot, your birds are going to have loose poo b/c the only way they can cool down is to drink more.

Only about two weeks, but off and on (one batch of whole grain and one batch of regular feed). It's very hot and dry here. But the poo was definitely more solid earlier in the summer when it was even more hot than it is now. Maybe they are just adjusting?

 

[lazy gardener]

Could be. Or it could be that b/c of the water in the ferment, their water intake is greater... so wetter poo.