To soak or to ferment

[Shadrach]

There may be measurable chemical changes in a feed that's been fermented. Whether these changes are of any use to the chicken is as far as I have read, inconclusive. Some people swear by it. Exactly how they've assessed these benefits with regard to changes in the chickens health is a bit of a mystery. Knowledge about feeds for humans and other creatures are subject to fads, often proven to be less than purported once properly researched.
I've tried it. I wrote this tongue in cheek article of my experience.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...o-fermented-facts-myths-and-experience.74414/

 

[Chicks in VA]

That is almost exactly the same as my experience: I haven't tried fermenting feed, but I have given wet/soaked feed to chickens many times. I see reduced spilling and excited chickens with the wet feed, but I have not noticed any other benefits.

From what I have read about fermented feed, it makes some nutrients more available to the chickens (a small difference), and it may improve the gut health of the chickens (another small difference, which would not matter if they were fine, but might be useful if they were on the edge of having problems.) It also reduces spillage, and many people say their chickens like it, but that applies to any wet feed even if you don't ferment it.

For people feeding a whole-grain food, where the chickens tend to pick through and eat their favorite bits, making the food wet or fermented can help them eat it all, and is especially useful for keeping the powdered supplements with the grains instead of letting them fall to the bottom and get wasted. But if you use a pelleted or crumbled feed, that is not a concern anyway.

Like @Wyorp Rock I see no problems with giving some fermented feed, but I haven't personally taken the time to mess around with it.

There may be measurable chemical changes in a feed that's been fermented. Whether these changes are of any use to the chicken is as far as I have read, inconclusive. Some people swear by it. Exactly how they've assessed these benefits with regard to changes in the chickens health is a bit of a mystery. Knowledge about feeds for humans and other creatures are subject to fads, often proven to be less than purported once properly researched.
I've tried it. I wrote this tongue in cheek article of my experience.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...o-fermented-facts-myths-and-experience.74414/

Thank you all of you have been super helpful.