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Put them in a bucket cover w/ water (make sure they stay covered w/ water) and let them sit for a few days, they will smell very bad, but the chickens love them and they are good for them, easier access to nutrients and in the summer they are an added source of liquid in their diet when it is really hot.
I've simplified my system I just keep a bucket out by their coop and each week put a weeks worth of oats in and make sure to top the water off, then I scoop them out w/ a strainer on a handle. This way I'm not so hit and miss w/ the oats.
Oh by the way I can't take credit for the idea of the fermented oats I learned it from several "seasoned" chicken keepers here on BYC.
In the winter do you keep them inside because the water would freeze here.
I just rearranged how I keep the oats to outside, not sure what I'm going to do about the very cold times. I thought I'd play it by ear and see what happens. I've acutally thought about burying the bucket and seeing if that keeps it just enough not to freeze through.