Fermented Chicken Feed
Have you ever seen a stampede?
What about a chicken stampede?!
If you decide to give fermented feed a try, I bet you’ll get to experience one first hand! Your chickens will be addicted!
Providing a healthy diet for chickens doesn’t have to be expensive, and in fact can actually save you money!
Fermenting chicken feed goes beyond just saving money when feeding your feathered friends in the backyard.
The reason that you are saving money is the fact that, one, they are not wasting a morsel and two, fermented feed makes nutrients more readily available to be absorbed than dry feed.
This causes them to eat less because they are fulfilling their needs sooner.
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A few other benefits (BONUS!) of providing a healthy diet for chickens with fermented feed are:
- it is easier to digest
- it gives them probiotics which helps with good digestive health
- chicken poo becomes more solid with less smell (DOUBLE BONUS!)
- and your ladies will give you larger egg yolks with harder shells.
So, now we have covered all of the reasons that should make you decided that not fermenting is not an option. Let’s talk about how to do it!
Related Posts:
Dual Purpose Chickens: Raise ‘Em Like Your Grandma Did ~ An eBook
10 Tips For Cutting Chicken Costs
Harvesting Sunflower Seeds For Chickens
23 Reasons Why You Need Nasturtium In Your Garden
What you’ll need to make fermented feed…
- 1 gallon glass jar (mine was a pickle jar that someone gave me for free)
- Dry feed
- Water
That’s it!
Fill your jar about a 1/3 of the way with dry feed and then cover with water leaving another 1/3 of head space.
Place the lid loosely on the jar and store it out of direct sunlight at room temperature.
Let sit for 3-4 days, checking that the feed is under the water and giving it a stir.
Your fermented feed is ready when you see bubbles on the top and it gives off a sweet smell.
Use a slotted spoon to serve and watch your ladies come running!
*To continue the process, add more dry feed and a bit of water as needed.
Want more cost saving tips? Check out 10 Tips For Cutting Chicken Costs!
Looking to make money on the homestead? Check out my post How to Make Money on the Homestead!
Looking to raise dual purpose chickens like us? Grab a copy of Dual Purpose Chickens: Raise ‘Em Like Your Grandma Did for tips from brooder box to butchering!
This post is shared on Modern Homesteading Blog Hop and the Homestead Blog Hop.
Jenny
Tuesday 31st of July 2018
Thank you for sharing your page is great simple and clean also easy to navigate I am making fermented feed today again thank you!!!!
Staci
Tuesday 31st of July 2018
Thanks so much Jenny! That really means a lot! I hope your girls love their fermented feed!
Louise Thomas
Monday 9th of October 2017
I’ve only 4 girls (well, I will have when they arrive on Saturday) how much do I need to make & how often please?
Staci
Monday 9th of October 2017
This pickle jar size should be fine for you. You don't have to use it all at once. Just make sure to add more dry and stir daily. :-)
Wendi Rice
Saturday 7th of October 2017
How do your store your feed once it is done? I'm concerned about molding.
Staci
Monday 9th of October 2017
As long as you continue you serve, replace what you took with dry and top off with water as needed and stir daily it should keep. If you notice a foul smell toss and make again but that definitely shouldn't have to happen often.
Lisa Delanoue
Friday 6th of October 2017
I use the whey from my fermented milk keffir to start the grain fermenting process with lots of beneficial effective microbes...adding some molasses (sugar) to feed those microbes so they can flourish and really start to break down the starches in the grain works well too... and freshly cracked grains have sooo much more accessible nutrition, if you can get them. Fermented food (done right) is so good for you!
Sabrina
Sunday 7th of May 2017
Can you do this with crumple type feed or does it have to be pellets?