How to Ferment Feed

[Tookie]

Hello! I am interested in fermenting feed for my chickens, how do I do that? I have 14 adults and 7 19 week olds. How often do you all feed fermented feed?

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

Hello! I am interested in fermenting feed for my chickens, how do I do that? I have 14 adults and 7 19 week olds. How often do you all feed fermented feed?

I feed it every day start with a bucket of feed with water covering up the feed just enough and then every time you feed mix some more feed and water back in sorry I know that not very helpful

 

[Percheron chick]

That's the way I do it too. Easiest way. Not an exact science.

 

[Tookie]

I feed it every day start with a bucket of feed with water covering up the feed just enough and then every time you feed mix some more feed and water back in sorry I know that not very helpful

That's the way I do it too. Easiest way. Not an exact science.

How much feed would I need for one day for all my chickens? Also do your chickens have access to dry feed too?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I offer fermented feed in the morning and dry feed all day, so the chickens always have food available during daylight hours, and I don't have to overthink measuring things out.

I use cat bowls or ramekins to serve my FF, so I can scatter the food around. 4 bowls in the morning for 10 adult hens. Roughly... 3 1/2 cups of ferment, maybe?

For your flock, you'd be looking at about double that for part-time FF feeding. I'd probably start with maybe 2 cups of FF a day at the beginning so they can get used to it, and increase/adjust from there.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

How much feed would I need for one day for all my chickens? Also do your chickens have access to dry feed too?

I'm not sure mine free range and I just give a couple quarts a day with oyster shell mixed in. They don't have access to dry feed either.

 

[Percheron chick]

21 adult chickens will eat around 5# of feed a day. I would start with a 5 gallon bucket. Add 10# feed. Cover with water and stir. Add enough more water for about 2" coverage. The feed will absorb the water and expand over night. Feed as normal in the morning. Throw a scoop of feed in, add some water and stir. Feed dinner and repeat. It will take a few days to ferment fully but in the meantime you will figure out the process and how much to make and feed. You will have a perpetual fermented feed bucket going. Think of it like sourdough starter. Keep adding to the original batch and it never spoils. Having 3 buckets going is too complicated for me.

 

[Tookie]

So I made some fermented feed about a 11 days ago, it did ferment and I gave some to the chickens. Well the last couple days I've forgot to stir it, it also had almost no water, it went moldy. What did I do wrong? Did I need to stir it more and put more water in it? Its not much food but do I need to throw the whole thing out? The only mold I see is on the top, could I get all the mold off the top and give the rest to the chickens or is that risky?

 

[TooCheep]

If you are concerned, simply scrape the mold off the top. Ideally, you should stir the mix every day which will minimize surface mold. I prefer to have slightly more water than feed in my mix (about 1.1 or 1.2 water to 1 unit feed). The feed will be soft, but not runny. That said, the chickens like it even somewhat more runny, so it isn't critical.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So I made some fermented feed about a 11 days ago, it did ferment and I gave some to the chickens. Well the last couple days I've forgot to stir it, it also had almost no water, it went moldy. What did I do wrong? Did I need to stir it more and put more water in it? Its not much food but do I need to throw the whole thing out? The only mold I see is on the top, could I get all the mold off the top and give the rest to the chickens or is that risky?

So it sat for 11 days total? I would toss it out, partially because of possible mold and partially because it's not meant to sit that long. It definitely can get moldy if it simply sits around.

There's a difference between mold and kahm but if you're unsure, better to throw it away or compost it.