How and Why to Feed your Chickens Fermented Feed
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- Learn more about how to make fermented chicken feed and why it's so good for your chickens.
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Lisa | Fresh Eggs Daily
I've actually been fermenting feed for quite awhile. You're so right about using less to feed them and they love it!
My 4 week old pullets loved the fermented wheat sprinkled with #2 grit they had today. Thank you very much for the information on fermenting!
Very cool! I'm definitely going to try this! I love keeping my chickens happy!
I made this earlier this week for my girls and after serving, the first minute they were inspecting it. Afterwards they can't get enough of it. They absolutely LOVE it! I use Scratch N Pecks
Great job!
THIS VIDEO IS AWESOME!!! I think i might do this 3 times so my chickens will be happier and healthy so they lay nutritious and delicious eggs.
Isaac owusu Kusi
3x? You can & should feed fermented feed as their staple from day one until they die.
I pour the water in with the feed. Chickens love it. No waste. The jar gets rinsed and poured into another batch.
I have just enjoyed your video, i have a farm ,, farming with joshe,, and i will try to ferment the grains for my chicken , duck, as well as pigeons and see how it goes ,, thanks alot,
I can ferment it over night by using whey from Kefir Milk. I also make Kefir Milk some times so I use its whey to ferment the grains in just 12-16 hours. And before cleaning it and making a new one I take one cup of that water and then add it in new grains and fresh water and the cycle continue. I am seeing increased size in eggs of my australorp chicken after feeding them this. I will also advise to feed your chicken lots of green with this. Because probiotics also need prebiotics that are found in Green vegetables.
Yes you are correct. Prebiotics are so important as well. My Organic Coop Kelp has prebiotics in it too. amzn.to/3EkpBvR #ad
Is that what's often referred to as sour mash? This is interesting to me... though I've never done it... I always felt that fresh is best, but much of what you've said here will lead me to further research. Thanks for sharing! I've been involved with poultry science for a very long time, it's always fun to come across something new.. well apparently "old" :)
Yes I believe so. And yes, fermenting is such an old practice making a bit of a comeback
I am not impressed with my Poultry Science class (of course many many years ago) as they never mentioned it, not even in passing. Maybe because that class was geared towards large flock management and not so much the back yard flock. I'm glad you are out there sharing... I'll have to subscribe to your channel! VERY interesting.. thank you Lisa.
***** ok
We did this last year when it got really cold (below freezing). Our chickens loved it, we never had a decrease much at all in our egg production followed with a warm, clean coop of course.Thanks for the advice.
I also add apple cider vinegar, if I dont have any of my home made vinegar-- this accelerates the fermenting process so it is finished in 1.5-2 days. I only use whole grain to maximize the nutritive value that is activated in the fermenting process.
Rosie Mroczynski . My question as I have a big bag of popcorn expired and my chickens are very young , do you think 🤔 is good idea to ferment the popcorn grain and feed to my young chickens 🐔? Please help me. Thank you 😊
Can I feed fermented feeds to rooster chick
Great stuff, can this be fed to day old cornish × . Also can this take them to 8 weeks without any other supplements?
Sincerely thanks for your help...... more power
Happy to help
That's great. Thanks, Lisa!
Thank you so much - I have just been 'left' alone in my paradise, 40km from the nearest shops, and with no transport. I've been here for a year, with Mr Angry, but, because of the 'fear factor' I have only let the property about 10 times. I do have chickens, and I have 3 months of feed. if this works well, I may have 6 months of feed, so again: Thank You so much - I may make it through to spring now
Hi Justine
I am very very thankful for this video,
if you want yo have the nutrients remain in the grain be sure to only use whole grains.
I was wondering if i made 4 gallons of this at a time how I would store the food until I was ready to feed it to the chickens. Thanks for taking the time to teach us ....
You need to make just what they'll eat in one day. You can't' really store it long term.
@@FreshEggsDaily What do you mean by that. It takes three to four days to ferment it? How can you do only one day's worth. I have two days worth in a five gallon pail and what is not fed on day one is left to ferment for one more day. Please explain.
@Welcome To My Farm Yes it works better for me to use five gallon pails and what is left for the second day from a bucket can just continue to ferment.
Thanks buddy cheers Ricky 💃🕺🎵🎶🐈⬛🎸🦃🍀👌
awesome
The old timers used to ferment feed for hogs too.
do you have guinea fowl? also DIY food options
I do, and yes the guineas also love it.
Hi Lisa, I'm sorry i made a mistake when I asked about B.O.B. I meant C.O.B. = Corn, Oat, Barley. I buy C.O.B. for my horses and I give some to my chickens and ducks w/t grass pellets and the barley pellets. Can C.O.B be fermented w/t grass pellets and the barley pellets? what do you think?
Yes for sure!
Thank you. I will try that. Can I also add beans to the mix? Once they will soften, the chickens should be able to eat them. Have you ever tried to add the beans? Thanks.
+My frugal life Dried beans contain a toxin that is destroyed by cooking or sprouting. Not sure if fermenting would kill it. That would be something to look into for sure though.
Always fermented my pig and poultry feed. Especially the pig liked to get a bit tipsy. I used wine yeast as a starter and kept it going all year. Seems so self evident that chickens will thrive on soft and semi sprouted feed with good bacterial action going on. Why let them waste all those calories with that gizzard working overtime?
Absolutely.
good idea
Thats good fermented foods chicken.. se mine iam from indonesia
Thanks so much! My birds are only 8 weeks old today, so when can I make some 'brew' for them? Should I wait for them to start laying? Thanks again!!
Christopher M Whatever feed you currently feed you can ferment :) Some people start their chicks on fermented feed so they never know the dry stuff.
Chickens eat 2-3 oz a day regardless of the fermenting process. If they eat less something is wrong. That is why I tell folks to not only feed fermented feed as a whole feed but rather as a supplement. Which is why I have my gamebird feed an I just mix it with my fermented feed as a 1/3 ratio
Chickens will eat only until they reach their energy/nutrient level for the day, so the more nutrient-rich fermented feed means they'll eat less of it. Chickens should never be given game bird feed. It's way too high in protein...
Read all the Comments and response. Great lesson learnt.
The grains we have here are
Cereals are
Corn (yellow and white)
Millet
Sorghum
The bean (legumes) are
Beans
Soya beans.
Which can I combine and mix for fermenting? Thanks.
Hi I am Linda Hayden, I am a small breeder of 50 years! I have been sending ur link to all of my clients! I probably have sent ur link to over 300 clients! Me I make my fermented feed in a tin trash can! Many more poultry than u! Lol about 80 poultry year round! Its a bit different on my level of poultry breeding! How ever its the same concept !
I have buyers that come over from 3 states! I guarantee all my poultry's sales! I have been fermenting for years! Learned it from my farm family! But here in ky..in July & August it goes bad quickly! I also have a blend of products u can buy box store! Perfect! And save u money! U are great! I just add my experiences to yours!
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much I appreciate that.
Lisa, how often are you feeding your chickens fermented food? Every day? Weekly?
+Amy Boyd Not as often as I should! Between moving and the speaking and working on a new book - I've gotten lazy, but you could feed it every day. I would say a few times a week would be optimal though. Like everything else in life, best in moderation.
Great info! I have some chicks arriving in a few days. Below you stated that some folks use fermented feed for they chicks. What kind of grain should I be fermenting for the chicks? Mash? Many thanks, Lisa
+Francine Rossoni You can ferment chick starter feed. Cracked grains and seeds work as well.
+Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily Thanks for a speedy response, Lisa. I'll try fermenting the chick starter.!♡
Loved your video, one question do you still give them scratch feed?
Yes I do in the winter.
Thanks for the great advice I'm going to try this out I have five birds and they usually go through 40 pound bag scratch impact fee pretty fast how much would you recommend I feed my birds
I would figure on a bit less than they normally eat since it's so nutrient packed, they will tend to eat less and you can't save it for the next day like dry feed.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MY Chickens GOT SO Drunk Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cornelius brown for other viewers: Fermentation of grain does not produce alcohol.
lol The reason I re-watched this video was because mine smells alcoholic although it has a nice white yeast on the top of the fluid. They love it all the same!
Not possible. You're not making alcohol.
what do you do with the liquid that is drained and not discarded?
Jasmine Cherie your can either drain the liquid and give your chickens the grains and start a brand new batch ,or scoop out the grains and start another batch with the same liquid.
@@FreshEggsDaily Hi there can i add the liquid to normal water in their drinker. Like a cup of fermented water to a liter of clean water as an example
@@YASIENALEXANDER Yes I suppose you could. If you have ducks, you can just give them the whole thing - they'll drink the liquid too.
good good good
Hello! Great simple video with awesome info. I have a question...can you or when should you start feeding this to new chicks?
Sure you can give this to baby chicks right from the start. The probiotics created by the fermentation is really good for them. Just be really careful it doesn't mold or go bad. Be sure the feed is completely covered with water and stirred regularly, and only mix up enough for that day. Important for all chickens but especially the little ones.
Lisa ...thank you!! I’ve just started my first batch!!! Thanks again.
My chicks started eating it slowly but now eat it quickly! I also made Apple Cider Vinegar and they loved eating the fermented apples as well! Thunks again!
OH that's awesome! Love it!
Thanks! Very nice video. I would personally not use distilled water though. You can do your own research, but distilled water is very unnatural and unhealthy. Get a Berkey Filter. They are awesome. You can purify your own water for dirt cheap.
Sajc Emmanuel, fake news.
Yes do your own research as distilled water is healthy!
Hi Lisa, I'm from South Africa and organic feed seems impossible to get right now. Can I use a feed that is 95% GMO free?
Yes of course.
Tap water works fine.
You need to let tap water sit overnight.
Hi Lisa. Really like your information on the video. Do you grow fodder also?
Yes I do. Check my blog. www.fresheggsdaily.blog
What is the best whole grain for broilers
Lisa, can i feed this FF to my ducks also?
Cyndi Daves Yes you sure can. Mine love it.
Will they start laying bigger eggs?
No.
Would you recommend this method with Cornish Cross meat chickens on poultry pasture in chicken tractors?
I will be getting 30 real soon.
Also, could I feed the fermented and dry separately?
Thanks
Sure yes you can feed both the fermented and dry, or switch off days. It will benefit both broilers and layers.
Hi Lisa, can this work on commercial layers? And would the laying percentage be affected?
Yes you sure can use it with commercial flocks. It might not increase laying, but it should decrease your feed costs.
Are the oats regular old fashioned oats?
If you're fermenting I would use regular oats or oat groats. Otherwise, rolled is what I add to their regular feed.
wondering if I gave some fermented "whole wheat" to my four week old pullets if I would need to ad grit? Also wondering the percentage of increase in digestibility & increase in protein?
I would give chicks grit any time they are eating anything other than regular chick feed.
thank you
Has anyone tried fermentation on pullets during their early
stages of life, say their first 2 weeks? I’m wondering if it would be a smart
move to try with chick starter food. I have 20 pullets arriving this coming
Friday. It creates Natural Probiotics; I wouldn’t think you could ask for much
more than that.
Yes, I have fermented cracked grains for my chicks. You're right, it's very nutritious for them and they LOVE it.
on day old pullets, should you just make up what they can eat in a day so it doesn't spoil? How often can you feed young pullets fermented chick starter, is every day OK?
+James Heasley Yes do only what they'll eat in one day. I would give it a few days a week.
Thank You!
When the pullets were one week old they didn't like the fermented "chick starter/grower" I offered them. I had to through it away
Do you have to buy grains individually or can you use the chicken scratch that comes with a little of all of it in it?
I have used 5 grain scratch just fine
1/3 crumbles or pellets to 2/3 grain
The feed store by me doesn’t have grains for chickens but do have rolled oats for horses can I use this type of grain with chicken scratch and crumble?
Yes, absolutely.
@@FreshEggsDaily thank you will start this next week when I go buy feed
Does fermented feed affect layer chickens?
It's really good for them. www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2015/03/how-to-save-money-fermenting.html
Hi I have a few questions. How often do you feed them fermented feed? Why the cheesecloth? I know I use it to keep the fruit flies out of my personal ferments but wouldn't the fruit flies be a desirable addition to the feed? I plan on using your feed recipe when I get my chickens next week and am not sure about the additives and herbs with fermented feed. Do you add them and just ferment the entire batch or do you just ferment the grains then add the "extras" just before feeding? I'm really excited to start my pullets off right (my city allows 3 female and no males) so thanks in advance!
I would switch it off with regular feed. The cheesecloth is so ir can breath. A solid lid can cause it to explode.
+Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily +Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily wow thanks! Great to know you switch off. I wasn't sure if I should do this to all their feed or if like humans it should be more like a condiment/treat :-) oh yes, I know not to use a lid lol I just mean would it be okay to leave the top open without the cloth? In my personal ferments I use a cloth cover to prevent fruit flies but I would think they would be a welcome addition or are there other health risks with doing that? Your videos have been so helpful, thanks... And I just found your blog I really appreciate all the information you are sharing thank you so much!!!!
so sprouting is the same?
Not really. When you sprout seeds, you rinse and refill the water each day. So they don't ferment, they just start to grow.
got it
How is this nutritionally compared to grain fodder?
Both growing fodder and fermenting grains amplify the nutrients in the feed.
Lisa, is this also used with grower feed? My babies are 8 weeks old.
TERRI DONEY for future viewers: anything can be fermented.
+Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily Do i need to make this their regular feed.THANK YOU!!!
Wonder why Lisa hasn't answered this question.
Lisa, I realize this post is a over a year old but can you tell me, do you use any scratch grains or just organic scratch and feed. I personally can't afford the organic stuff so I don't use it. However, I thought I might try my hand at fermenting so I thought I would start out with a bag of organic scratch grains. This might make it more affordable to use the good organic stuff.
You can use any scratch grains or whole/cracked grain chicken feed. The fermentation is going to boost the health benefits of whatever you use. I agree that organic is probably better, but more expensive, so whatever you can comfortably afford is just fine. One thing to note, your chickens WILL eat less if the feed is fermented, so the organic feed will go further and end up costing less in the long run than it would to feed unfermented feed. Just something to think about.
Do I feed the fermented feed daily and how much? I have 25 birds.I love your blog! It is so helpful! I put my grains in the drink Saturday and the darn things are expanding like mad! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving....
You can feed fermented feed every day. I would say start with about 1/2 cup per hen and then reduce the amount from there if they dno't eat it all.
Hi Lisa, Please help. I'm in South Africa and the only chicken feed we have is GMO. It works great fermented but I'd like to know if fermenting GMO for long enough time, takes it back to organic?
No sorry.
If there's a flour mill near by u might be able to by whole grains from them- that's what I do and its all organic. Also if u have "bulk food" in your stores-here I can buy whole grains there as well. I also cook millet and an "ancient grain" ,( its a mix of wild rices and other grains i dont recognize)for my hens as well as oatmeal, cornmeal, farina, ect. I've tried teff, lentils and quinoa but they don't like it. There's alot of foods u can use that u might not of thought of. My hens LOVE split peas and sprouted sunflower seeds. Good Luck and stay safe!
Just a question:
Are the expensive commercial feeds we buy fermented?
Thanks.
No. You can't buy fermented feed. You have to do it yourself.
Hi lisa, tell me, can I ferment Chicken feed mash grain that has a small % of fish meal in.
Awesome, you're a star
can you use filtered rain water from a rain catchment system?...thank you...
Laurie Flores Sure you can do that.
That's how I seen in done on Guam
Is it okay to ferment feed in a plastic container?
I use glass. I don't like to use plastic if I can help it. You never know what's leaching out.
Hi Lisa can GMO feed be fermented ,we south Africa cannot get organic non GMO feed for chickens .
Yes it sure can!
Is that a sapphire gem ameraucana???
No I have blue and lavender Ameraucanas.
Hi LIsa! how much dry chicken food should I feed "PER CHICKEN"?
Francine Rossoni about half a cup.
Hi Lisa, can i use grass pellets and barley pettlets to make fermented feed and can i add B.O.B. to the pellets to make this FF recipe of yours.
why do you not use ACV mothers, like i have seen in other FF recipes? just curious.
Cyndi Daves Oh you can some ACV,but it will ferment just fine without it. I do add ACV to their water.
this is… acceptable 😁! pretty uncommon for me cause i love chickens they are so cute! I make them small pies out of backdoor material and and cakes or salads so this is a good vid but i still think i pie would have been good… (cause other people feeds their chickens COMMONERS food when i say commoners food i mean regular pellets)
That's a great idea!
I used filtered tap water! Is this bad, should I start over?
+heather griffin I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure it looks and smells okay.
+heather griffin my ro filter takes out the chlorine as well as the dissolved solids so if yours is like that it will be fine i would think
Honestly, if you can see your chickens didn’t pay much mind to the feed. If you see mine eat you’ll be amazed. But it all depends how you feed them.
Not sure what you're trying to say here?
can i add yogurt to make fermentation faster?
I've never read that... Sugar will speed it up. I would feed the yogurt separately.
Sorry, One more question, LIsa......if I feed my chickens 1/2 cup dry chicken food per bird then how much would I feed them if feeding Fermented food? thanks
Francine Rossoni chickens won't overeat, so no worries about that. they will eat less when the feed is fermented, so I would experiment and reduce the amount then give them a bit more if they finish it.
Hi again, Lisa!! Can I ferment the pelleted food?
I would start with 1/2 cup and see how much is left at the end of the day and then adjust accordingly.
When can we start giving chickens these fermented feeds? My chicken is 2 months old.
Now! From day one really.
@@FreshEggsDaily that could save me lot of money. Thanks 👍 god bless you sister
is there a certain brand of organic grains you prefer?
I've used both New Country Organics and Scratch & Peck and like them both. Depends on which you might be able to find locally. I don't think either has nationwide distribution yet.
That's the problem I'm having. I cant find a place where I live that sells larger bags of organic grains.
And that's part of my question. I can't find organic scratch. What if I use the regular scratch? I'm thinking the water will draw out the poisons? Then dump the water?
so if i've understood right you don't have to change the water during those 3 days? and can you re-use that water? thanks
RIght. You don't change the water, just stir it. I would start a brand new batch, after cleaning out the container well.
another question, can i use whey from my cheese instead of water? thanks
I don't know about that. I would just give the whey to your chickens to drink as is. They should like it.
my chickens definitely do not eat less of this :/
also how is this for chicks or younger birds?
or other animals for that matter...... pigs? goats?
Yes baby chicks can eat it too. They should absolutely be eating less fermented feed because of the increased energy and nutrients it provides.
To put it simple,,that stuff that you throw out is better for you.
LOL! Yup, usually.
Dont do cracked grain or corn use whole more healthier
I tried giving my 10 week old hens fermented feed but they wouldn't eat it. Any advice? Thanks
Oh just like any new feed or treat, you need to offer it a few times before someone gets brave enough to try it!
Ok thank you. I will keep offering it to them. Just bought your book and I can't wait to receive it. 😃
twinny12009 molasses to the mix
How do you keep chicks from walking all over the feed plate?
They really don't. They have plenty of room elsewhere to play.
I gave up on feed plates because they get so excited and throw it around like drunken sailors anyway, so I have what I call a "feeding bed". In short, its where I chuck all their feed types into a raised garden bed and they can make as much mess as they want within that raised garden bed, kind of like a giant feed plate👍.
It's an exciting experiment because what they don't devour sprouts as the food scraps, dry feed and fermented feed and also the fermented juices have created an incredibly fertile pit of soil, that not only attracts heaps of bugs and larvae of all varieties but also made a very potent microbiome for the chickens to muck around with.
In my experience you don't, but that's not a bad thing. I have them on shavings and their feet are alright
How many chickens does that feed?
Lisa I would only ferment a regular daily ration. So 1/2 cup per hen or less.
Bill boothe flash backs
so chlorine in the water will hurt chickens?
+Major Greenz or does it hurt the fermentation ?
It will keep the mash from fermenting.
It hurts the fermentation.
hi,, pls hire me as your worker,,
My chickens won’t eat fermented feed ..
I'm surprised. It's so good for them.
Chickens can eat anything, this is not the only method, nor the best.
me like ❤
i like your mane, lisa
stirring a fermentation? that's a first considering fermentation is the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen.
this is fake news / misinformation / clickbait
I'm guessing you've never fermented grains? Every guide and article I've read about fermenting chicken feed requires stirring it daily. And it's how I've been fermenting feed for my chickens for over a decade, stirring each batch.
Curious? How is this clickbait?????
@@FreshEggsDaily it will take you a few seconds to google "define fermentation" and see the truth.
@@richardcarroll8081 You do you and Ill do me. I've been feeding my chickens and ducks fermented feed for almost 12 years.... My oldest ducks will be 12 next month....
Gaslighting on a petty level? Over chicken feed? Weird.
I have watched about 5 fermenting feed videos and they all do this same process.
@@FreshEggsDaily It's not click bait. It's good info. Maybe he meant cluck bait? 😆
Small amounts of alcohol are a good thing. Once upon a time, not that long ago, any person living past 100 drank a little and smoked a little. True.