iPeanut: I can tell you that fermented feed is all that, and then some!!! Yes, it takes a little bit of time, but the benefits are far above and beyond the time investment. I look at fermented feed compared to dry feed, being similar to comparing yogurt to milk. Both fermented feed and yogurt are easier to digest, help the gut to develop a healthy micro-flora, and provide nutritional benefit over the starting product. If you ferment: you will not have to feed as much, thus saving $, your chickens poops won't smell as bad, and will be a better consistency... (only a chicken owner appreciates that one!) There will be no wasted feed. They will peck the dish clean, never so much as a crumble will be spilled out of the feed dish. And, your chickens won't drink as much water... you won't have to tote as much water to the coop! It takes me MAYBE 45 seconds for me to mix up the feed that will be fed 2 days from now. (I rotate 2 containers, so there is always one ready to go.)