POLL: Ferment or Not Ferment...what do you do?

[Sylver Queen]

I checked "Other" because I ferment a ground, whole food feed for their breakfast, then give them layer pellets the rest of the day. (I've found it too rich to feed them more fermented feed than that--lost one to fatty liver, and it's pricey!) Back when I made sourdough bread, I used to give them the discarded starter and they absolutely loved it! They live pretty long and are pretty healthy, so this works for me so far.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I checked "Other" because I ferment a ground, whole food feed for their breakfast, then give them layer pellets the rest of the day. (I've found it too rich to feed them more fermented feed than that--lost one to fatty liver, and it's pricey!) Back when I made sourdough bread, I used to give them the discarded starter and they absolutely loved it! They live pretty long and are pretty healthy, so this works for me so far.

Oh good to know!
I'm only doing it about 4 days a week with the discard so far so good and they do luv it!!!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...Layer Pellets and Starter grow as mine are all between 13-28 weeks

Do you use ACV to ferment? YES

Do you use sourdough discard to ferment? NO

How many days do you allow it to ferment? 2

Do you also offer dry feed during day? YES

They love their "mash" but also like to scratch the dry food, so I do a mixture of scratch and dry pellets usually spread around for them to "work" for and I feed them their mash (which is the mixture of pellets and starter, ACV, minced garlic, flax seed, oregeno and sage), in the morning and that usually lasts them until around 5ish. Seems to work out pretty good so far and I love making their mash because they get so excited over it

Do you use dry or fresh Oregano and sage?

 

[Dizzee474]

I used to ferment Scratch & Peck grower (nothing added), but it has gotten to be difficult with this many birds.

how many is "this many" .. just asking as we also ferment - we are "averaging" 170 chickens in winter ... way more when I am incubating eggs LOL

 

[Dizzee474]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...what feed do you use? YES - wheat
Do you use ACV to ferment? No but should I?
Do you use sourdough discard to ferment? NOT sure what this is - so NO
How many days do you allow it to ferment? 3
Do you also offer dry feed during day? Absolutely - plus free range (colorado)

Would love tips though - can never have too much helpful info
with raising lovely chickens !! Thank you

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Do you ferment your chicken feed?

If YES...what feed do you use? YES - wheat
Do you use ACV to ferment? No but should I?
Do you use sourdough discard to ferment? NOT sure what this is - so NO
How many days do you allow it to ferment? 3
Do you also offer dry feed during day? Absolutely - plus free range (colorado)

Would love tips though - can never have too much helpful info
with raising lovely chickens !! Thank you

My understanding is....sourdough discard is non-active extras ya don't need for making a new starter...so rather than throwing it away you can use it in the chicken feed for added health benefits and makes the feed go farther.
Ive just been letting it sit overnight...so 12-24 hours and it grows quite a bit and smells so much better than their dry feed normally does. Supposed to help with lots of digestive things, smelly poo,etc.

 

[Greta A]

I get grain mash from a local brewery each week and feed to my birds. They love it Anyone else do this ?

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I get grain mash from a local brewery each week and feed to my birds. They love it Anyone else do this ?

I have seen that on social medial but not tried personally!

 

[lori_smith99]

Do you use dry or fresh Oregano and sage?

I fresh. I just grow it in buckets in the run. They like to eat it off the stems and I add it to thei feed

 

[Greta A]

I fresh. I just grow it in buckets in the run. They like to eat it off the stems and I add it to thei feed

I fresh. I just grow it in buckets in the run. They like to eat it off the stems and I add it to thei feed

Oregano grown wild in my yard. Frankie nested in an oregano patch all summer and layed her eggs.