How to dry, dehydrate, store or deal with spent brewery grains before they go bad?

[Marandaise]

Hi,

Just wondering how others deal with spent brewery grains?

I'd like to store large amounts for use later (we have a large flock.). Our freezer's full at the moment, so I'd like to try to think of other ways to use the grains or store the grains.

Thanks!

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

So I asked my DH, according to him you cannot. apparently large producers have to just continuously buy, it only lasts a couple of weeks.
He says you can buy it dried, that lasts much longer. So I guess, if you have the means to dry large batches maybe.

 

[Marandaise]

So I asked my DH, according to him you cannot. apparently large producers have to just continuously buy, it only lasts a couple of weeks.
He says you can buy it dried, that lasts much longer. So I guess, if you have the means to dry large batches maybe.

Thanks for the reply!

So you're saying dried spent grains can be purchased? I wonder how those producers are drying them?

Also, if the grains lasts a couple of weeks before going bad, sour or moldy (I thought it was a couple of days since everyone says they go bad fast), then we might not need to dry, as I can get them refilled 1X weekly.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Thanks for the reply!

So you're saying dried spent grains can be purchased? I wonder how those producers are drying them?

Also, if the grains lasts a couple of weeks before going bad, sour or moldy (I thought it was a couple of days since everyone says they go bad fast), then we might not need to dry, as I can get them refilled 1X weekly.

I asked my husband because he does cattle, and while anti grain, he knows many producers who feed distillers grain to their cows. So my info may be inaccurate. But I think, from what I know, you would be ok on a weekly refill (especially if your in winter). Just be sure to give your chickens an adequate diet, distillers corn alone will not be enough for a chicken.

 

[Marandaise]

I asked my husband because he does cattle, and while anti grain, he knows many producers who feed distillers grain to their cows. So my info may be inaccurate. But I think, from what I know, you would be ok on a weekly refill (especially if your in winter). Just be sure to give your chickens an adequate diet, distillers corn alone will not be enough for a chicken.

Thanks so much! We are in fall now in Ca., cooler temps, but sunny still. If we can stretch this out for a week, then, it will take away the hurried need for dealing with it in winter, which would really be good.

The grains seem to be barley and wheat with occasional hops. Hops seems from my research to be fine for chickens, but not good for other animals. We are supplementing other feeds, plus pumpkin chipper slaw right now- which they really like.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Oh yeah I tried to carve a pumpkin this year for the porch, it did not last a day. I am sure hops is great, just make sure they are getting adequate protein. This winter to make up for the decrease in insects I have been feeding my girls liver.

 

[candy cable]

Hops is added to the water drained not to the grain, so there shouldn't be hops in your grain. I store our loads in 44-55 gallon barrels and add water as needed to stop the mold process. The top still molds, but I scrap it off when I get to that barrel for use and feed to pigs. That keeps even in hot weather. And my animals like it wet!