Fermenting Chicken Feed

[ShellyinFTC]

Hi, everyone!

I am new here. I have been reading posts for a while and have started fermenting my chicken feed. Thanks for all the great information!

Initially, I fed my chicks a mash starter feed that had some corn but was soy free. I later gave them a mash layer feed that contained corn but was soy free.

I had read about fermenting their feed, and I wanted to try pellets to have less mess, but I also wanted some whole grain. I bought some Modesto Milling organic corn free soy free layer pellets that has ground limestone and Eden Feeds non-gmo whole grain layer feed that suggests supplementing with calcium. Initially, I added the feed on the side then mixed it with the remaining mash until the mash was gone. I then offered the 2 new feeds mixed to get them used to it then began fermenting. I offer oyster shells on the side and sometimes mix them in with the fermented food. My girls' egg colors are varied, the egg quality varies, and then the laying frequency fluctuates. A couple eggs have been really speckled, one with what looked like blood spots. One hen seems to have stopped laying, and one hen doesn't seem to like the fermented food. 2 hens haven't started laying yet (from what I can tell). The picky eater hasn't begun laying yet, but she's only a 25 1/2 week old lavender orpington. I do offer dry on the side, but they pick out the lentils and throw the pellets everywhere. They also get some free range. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried making the fermented food fresh each day, letting it ferment for 3 days before feeding, as well as the backslopping method. My one picky eater doesn't like either. I've been tempted to remove the dry food altogether.

Also, I just noticed my pellets have hydrolyzed yeast. Is it okay to ferment with that ingredient present? I appreciate any suggestions you have to offer!

On a side note, why does it say hatching under my name? I tried to delete it but couldn't.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes, you can ferment feeds containing hydrolyzed yeast. It actually makes it easier to ferment. Hydrolosis is a process by which water is used to break something down into component parts - in this case, releasing vitamins (like the B Complex), breaking proteins down into amino acids, and freeing other nutrients into more digestible, more bioavailable, forms.

and it says "hatching" under your name based on your your trophy score. I have a "couple" more posts than you, have picked up a couple trphies, and have traded in the hatching tag for a series of others.

Actually, it now says you are "in the brooder". Congratulations!

 

[ShellyinFTC]

Thank you for your reply! That is helpful on both. Regarding the yeast, is it okay to ferment 3 days still?

 

[Debbie292d]

Here's how I ferment grains. And when you see flax listed, that is sparingly. It gums it up otherwise.

I make a batch of around 20# dry to put in my quart jars.

1/2 part Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve (get from Chewy) to 1/4 part hard red winter wheat and 1/4 part whole oats (get from our local feed mill in 50# bags), a tblsp each of chia seeds and flax.

Day 1: I fill one jar half full of the grain mix, then add non-chlorinated water almost to the top. I stir that and cover it with screened lids I bought on Amazon or can rubberband cheesecloth around the top. It has to breathe but keep out gnats or flies. Set out of the sun. I mark my jars with the day of the month I prepared them with a perm magic marker. That scrubs off with a scrunchy.

Day 2: I fill the second jar the same way as above. I stir the first jar and add water to cover it so it won't mold.

Day 3: I fill the third jar same as above, Stir the 1st and 2nd jar.

Day 4: I drain the first jar and serve in silicone loaf pans. (They usually can't tip those over.)

If you don't want it every day, just start it any day you want and know that on the 4th day, you'll be serving it.

You can use other grains and change this up to suit yourself or your chickens.

 

[ShellyinFTC]

Thank you so much! What do you store the mixed dry feed in?

 

[ShellyinFTC]

Here's how I ferment grains. And when you see flax listed, that is sparingly. It gums it up otherwise.

I make a batch of around 20# dry to put in my quart jars.

1/2 part Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve (get from Chewy) to 1/4 part hard red winter wheat and 1/4 part whole oats (get from our local feed mill in 50# bags), a tblsp each of chia seeds and flax.

Day 1: I fill one jar half full of the grain mix, then add non-chlorinated water almost to the top. I stir that and cover it with screened lids I bought on Amazon or can rubberband cheesecloth around the top. It has to breathe but keep out gnats or flies. Set out of the sun. I mark my jars with the day of the month I prepared them with a perm magic marker. That scrubs off with a scrunchy.

Day 2: I fill the second jar the same way as above. I stir the first jar and add water to cover it so it won't mold.

Day 3: I fill the third jar same as above, Stir the 1st and 2nd jar.

Day 4: I drain the first jar and serve in silicone loaf pans. (They usually can't tip those over.)

If you don't want it every day, just start it any day you want and know that on the 4th day, you'll be serving it.

You can use other grains and change this up to suit yourself or your chickens.

View attachment 3986752

Thank you so much! What do you store the mixed dry feed in? Do you only feed the fermented food? My chickens waste the dry feed and eat the peas out. I've been feeding fermented food daily, but I've given dry food on the side. Today I dumped some of the fermented food on the ground, and Lavender, my picky eater, ate all that I dumped out right away. I was surprised.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yes, it three days is normally safe in your environment, 3 days is fine.

and I use(d) 5 gal buckets with the snap on lids (mostly affixed) when I fermented feed - but I was feeding a relatively large flock (its smaller now, see my sig, below). I just kept them lined in my barn, one bucket a day. It would be about 1/3-ish filled w/ feed, add water, to about 4/5ths, stir, mostly lid. Each day, one bucket emptied, one restarted.

I didn't find it worth the effort. Others do.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much! What do you store the mixed dry feed in?

Sorry I just saw your question. I bought 3 bins meant for dog food from Petsmart online, but think they only sell the smaller ones of those now. If you look up bins for dog food anywhere you'll find something. In the coop we've got these I would have used too but those other ones were on clearance. You want to be sure they are airtight.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much! What do you store the mixed dry feed in? Do you only feed the fermented food? My chickens waste the dry feed and eat the peas out. I've been feeding fermented food daily, but I've given dry food on the side. Today I dumped some of the fermented food on the ground, and Lavender, my picky eater, ate all that I dumped out right away. I was surprised.

No, I don't just feed fermented, it's like a treat a couple of times a week. Now with winter coming, I'll start it up daily and have three jars lined up on my counter.

 

[bearcreekbees]

Thank you so much! What do you store the mixed dry feed in? Do you only feed the fermented food? My chickens waste the dry feed and eat the peas out. I've been feeding fermented food daily, but I've given dry food on the side. Today I dumped some of the fermented food on the ground, and Lavender, my picky eater, ate all that I dumped out right away. I was surprised.

I use galvanized metal trash cans to store feed and grain in. I used to be able to get them for $13 each- they are 2-3x that now but still well worth it. I keep mine in the lower level of a 2 story barn, so they stay clean and dry and last for many years. I am using a set now that I have had for over 15 years and they are still going strong, so I guess worth the investment. They keep critters out and nothing can chew through them to get to the feed, which can be an issue with plastic containers.

I am feeding fermented whole grains every day, but I use animal meat/organs/fat almost every day, although some days I use insects instead of animal parts.

I never feed the whole grain mix dry because it is too easy for the chickens to scratch through it and dump what they don't want or don't like- although I'm not even sure if mine would do that- I just read about other people's flocks doing it so I just avoid trying altogether. I keep a bag of layer pellets on hand so I can give those to my flock if I have to be away from home and can't be around to feed the fermented feed, or if I forget to set up a new jar (it happens), or whatever.

I do not include lentils in my homemade ration but I have heard many people say that their chickens do not care for them. I think that fermenting might help- cooking definitely helps, but I would not even try to feed them raw. If some of your birds really won't eat the lentils then I would replace them with something that they will eat. Field peas or maybe split peas, both are very close to the same nutrient profile as far as fat and protein, not sure about the amino acid profile but it is probably close as well. I have heard that some chickens don't eat the field peas but I ferment the whole grains for my birds and they eat every single grain of whatever mix I give them.

If you have picky birds and you want them to eat the fermented feed, then take away any dry feed and give them only the fermented feed. If you still want to offer dry feed then wait until they have finished the fermented feed and then offer some dry food afterwards. I am not sure I would do both, not routinely. There have been a few times when I did not have enough grain handy to make a full batch of fermented feed so I gave them what I had and then offered some pellets later in the day just to make sure that they did not go too bed hungry- and I picked up any leftovers when the flock went to roost, so they had to start over the next day with more of the fermented feed.

I would not add oyster shells to the feed, especially if you are using a commercial layer ration that already has calcium in it. Just offer them free choice on the side- they will eat them if they need them.