Fermented Chicken Feed for Better Flock Health

Fermenting chicken feed is an easy and much healthier for your flock. The fermented whole grains provide good gut health, require less feed per serving, and is a way to extend the nutrients of the grains. Not to mention, fermented grains can also be fed to waterfowl, guineas, turkeys, and quail. When organic chicken feed is fermented, especially whole grains, there is no healthier option to offer.

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A Quick Rundown on Fermentation

What makes fermentation excellent for poultry? When fermented feed is consumed, it provides natural probiotics to the body, packed full of good bacteria and yeast. Lacto-fermented foods and feed can be consumed by all living creatures, including dogs, cats, and even ruminants.

Livestock feed ferments when allowed to soak in water for some time, typically within three days. Temperature plays an essential factor in how quickly and safely food ferments. Fermentation occurs between the range of 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything over can cause the item to spoil, whereas anything under can cause the grains to ferment slower and potentially spoil.

A fermented feed can be done any time of year. During winter, a secondary heat source may be needed for homes that maintain a steady temperature below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. LED Christmas lights or a heating pad for starting seeds are excellent options for providing heat without overheating the fermenting vessel.

Lactic acid bacteria begin forming on the second day of the fermentation process. The beneficial bacteria consume the sugars in the grain and multiply. The lactic acid makes the environment unsuitable for harmful bacteria to thrive. What remains in the fermented chicken feed are beneficial microbes.

The Benefits of Fermented Chicken Feed

Feeding fermented feed daily to poultry, fowl, or waterfowl is an excellent way to provide a natural probiotic option to your flock.  Unlike natural options, a synthetic probiotic should not be offered daily.

By providing fermented feed to chickens and other healthy poultry, good things can happen:

• Increase in egg weight, providing thicker shells
• Boost intestinal health, forming a natural barrier to pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella
• Lower feed consumption, digesting and absorbing fermented feed more effectively
• Providing and preserving vitamins and minerals in fermented whole grains; B vitamins such as folic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin.

Humane husbandry allows individuals to want more for the animals in their care. Something as simple as fermenting chicken feed leads to a better egg and a healthier hen. This is a win for both the chicken keeper and the flock.

Two Additional Benefits of Fermenting Chicken Feed

If the above information has not convinced you to begin fermenting the feed, what will?

Fermented feed will fill birds more than a dry pellet or crumble, especially when feeding whole grains. With the feed decrease comes a decrease in the overall feed bill.

Consuming fermented feed allows the chicken to absorb most of the feed. Remember, the more feed absorbed, the less the chicken poops. Another win!

In addition to what has been mentioned, organic chicken feed that is locally resourced from family farms is indeed the best option of feed available.

How to Ferment Chicken Feed

Are you ready? Let’s begin!

Ingredients

The following steps to fermenting chicken feed are extremely easy. Before beginning the process gather the necessary material.

• Fermenting Vessels – Three food-grade buckets (2 or 5 gallons) work best for larger flocks. For smaller urban flocks, 3 Mason glass jars can be used. This allows for multiple batches of fermented grains to be in progress at all times.
• Whole Grain Feed – Whole grain feed is an overall healthier option for fermenting or feeding dry, and my preferred is Scratch and Peck Feeds.
• Feed Container – Chicken feeder troughs are the best option for fermented feeds. In addition to the needed supplies, select the best location to store fermenting vessels.

Storing fermenting vessels away from direct sunlight and drafty spots is essential. Doing so ensures the fermenting temperature does not fluctuate up and down but remains consistent.

Instructions

A chicken will consume around 1/4 of a cup of feed per day. That said, once the feed is fermented, chickens often will consume less than that amount daily. Also, keep in mind chickens will continue to eat all day if offered.

1. Begin by fermenting 1/4 cup per bird. Discard any fermented feed at the end of the day, and reduce the amount by 1/4 cup.
2. Do not allow fermented chicken feed to go past three days. The ferment can become too sour, turning unappealing for many poultry.
3. By day three, the fermented chicken feed will take on a yeasty, slightly sour scent. Again, no mold should be present in the fermenting vessel.

Printable Recipe – Fermented Chicken Feed

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Fermented Chicken Feed

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Fermented chicken feed is easy to make for your flock. The whole grains used provide a natural probiotic option with beneficial good bacteria. Not to mention, fermented feed provides a filling healthy diet and is an overall better feed option.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 3 days

Total Time 3 days 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Whole Grain Feed,, per chicken
• Water

Instructions

DAY ONE

1. In the fermenting vessel add appropriate amount whole grain feed.
2. Add water, making sure feed is completely submerged by 3 inches.
3. Gently mix the feed with water taking, making sure to mix the bottom of the fermenting vessel.
4. Add more water if necessary, keeping grains cover by 3 inches of water at all times.
5. Though not necessary, fermenting vessels can be covered using breathable cotton dishtowels. A coffee filter can be used as a cover when mason jars are used. Fermenting covers can be secured to the vessel with twine or large rubber bands. 

DAY TWO

1. Using a second fermenting vessel, repeat steps from Day One

DAY THREE

1. Using a third fermenting vessel, repeat steps from Day One

FEEDING

1. On day 4 feed from Day One's fermenting vessel.
2. Begin another ferment following instructions from Day One. 

REPEAT

1. The next day, feed using Day Two's vessel. Start a new ferment.
2. Continue to process each day.

Notes

Upon the completion of the fermentation process the grains will have a yeasty, lightly sour smell resembling sourdough bread. This scent indicates the grains are ready to be fed to the flock.

Do not provide feed which contains mold. Mold is fuzzy and can appear black, white, even pink.

At times scum may appear floating on top of the liquid. Scum should not be confuse with mold. Unlike mold, scum is not fuzzy in appearance but is off white or cream in color. Scum can be removed using a rubber spatula and discarded. 

Discard any remaining feed at the end of the day.

Remaining feed indicates that to much fermented feed is being offered. Decrease the amount of grains being fermented by 1/4 cup until no fermented feed is present at the end of the day. 

Equipment

• 2 gallon food grade bucket

• Wooden Spoon

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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Keep in mind organic chicken feed in the form of whole grains can be consumed dry, soaked, or fermented. However, fermented whole grains are the most beneficial way to feed poultry.

Other Poultry Articles:

• Selecting the Best Chicken Breeds for Children
• A Respiratory Condition called Mycoplasma Gallisepticum
• Immune Boosting Herbs for Poultry
• Raising Turkeys on the Homestead
• Setting up a Chick Brooder -Bedding, Feed, and Heat Source
• Raising Ducklings – Brooder, Feed, and Heat Source
• Raising Ducks for Eggs | Top 13 Duck Breeds
• How to Make your Own Chicken Feed
• Prevent Coccidiosis in a Chick Brooder
• Naturally Treating Bumblefoot in Poultry

Not Quite Ready to Provide Fermented Grains as a Feed?

The process of fermenting is often intimidating, especially for newbies. Soaking whole grains for 24 hours is also beneficial and a healthier way to feed.

• Soaked grains plump up, allowing poultry to become fuller on a smaller amount of feed and aid in hydration.
• It improves the digestibility of whole grains by reducing the phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors found in grains.

The process of soaking feed for 24 hours is beneficial using whole grains. Pellet feed turns to mush, containing no beneficial, healthy qualities.

Still not convinced? A good whole grain layer feed, such as Scratch and Peck Feeds, can be fed raw, and a healthier option to providing pellet feed.

Additionally, organic chicken feed, which is locally sourced, is as good as poultry feed comes.