Fulltime fermented feed effects on lifespan

[Elle111]

Hi,
Are there any owners out there feeding fulltime fermented feed to their flock longterm and noticed it really adds lifespan/reduces health problems in their flock? I'm very curious.

 

[Perris]

By 'fulltime' I assume you mean exclusively, and not just as a part of the diet. If so, then yes, I do; I feed lightly fermented whole grains, pseudo-cereals, legumes, seeds etc.. And yes, I believe it does really make a difference to the health and wellbeing of the flock.

Edited to add And I have been doing it since 2018 for adult birds and since 2020 for all birds including newly hatched chicks.

 

[Elle111]

Yes, by fulltime I did mean exclusively, sorry, English is not my first language. Very encouraging you notice the difference. Do you have the impression it adds to lifespan (other than in the sense of less health issues)?

 

[Perris]

Do you have the impression it adds to lifespan (other than in the sense of less health issues)?

Well, it is of course just impression, but my oldest birds are 9 now, and they are still looking good and laying a few score eggs a year, and they're still the no.1 and 2 hens, so not getting bossed by younger hens (all ages, down to a POL, as we have a few hatch every year). And no chicks have been born with deformities, though that was also true in the 2 years before I went over to home made and fermented feed.

This is the 9 yr old matriarch, photo taken a couple of weeks ago

 

[Elle111]

Wow, she's pretty, great feathers, excellent poster girl for fermented feed

 

[Perris]

Wow, she's pretty, great feathers, excellent poster girl for fermented feed

thanks. What feed are you considering fermenting?

 

[Elle111]

It's a Dutch mixed grain feed. I'm going to give it a try. Not totally sold on offering it as sole feed though.

 

[Perris]

It's a Dutch mixed grain feed. I'm going to give it a try. Not totally sold on offering it as sole feed though.

you need to supply some animal protein too; meat, fish, dairy, insect. I also add one or other of a variety of seasonal top dressings, e.g. breadcrumbs, dried fruits, chopped veg, etc. The grains form the base, not the whole. The whole needs to be a varied diet just as ours should be. And salt needs to be included somewhere; tinned sardines work well there for me, ticking the animal protein and multiple vitamin and mineral boxes at the same time.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

And salt needs to be included somewhere; tinned sardines work well there for me, ticking the animal protein and multiple vitamin and mineral boxes at the same time.

What a great suggestion, do you include the fish oil in the feed as well?

 

[Altairsky]

When I eat canned mackerel, I use the mackerel water to wet some bread, chickens love it, they get some minerals, protein and omega 3 from the fish water.
In winter i do the same with the olive oil in canned sardines.