Fermenting Chicken Feed

[ShellyinFTC]

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.

Thank you! I do sprout lentils and feed them as treats. All my girls love them! May I ask what kind of feed you purchase to ferment? You mentioned pellets. Is that what you ferment? If I don't add oyster shells, the egg shells were really thin. It doesn't seem like they eat the oyster shells free choice much. The one does, and her shells have always been good. The one feed I bought says to offer the oyster shells, so it doesn't have enough calcium on its own. Only the one chicken's shells were thin regularly with the new feed and oyster shells on the side. I've never seen her eat the oyster shells unless I mix them in. The third chicken, a barred rock, that was laying regularly stopped laying abruptly when I started the fermented food. I had mixed the new food with the old then switched to the new then started fermenting. She had a super thin egg shell and hasn't laid since. I don't know if they molt this young (29 1/2 weeks or so). She is super happy and social and eats well. I have found her feathers around. She is still fully feathered.

I'll go back to offering only the fermented food. They sure waste the pellets. I've tried a gravity feeder and now just using a bowl with a jelly roll pan underneath to catch what they throw out. Thank you for your feedback!

 

[ShellyinFTC]

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.

Bearcreekbees, what exact feed do you ferment? Do you worry about making sure it is organic/non-gmo? I bought corn free/soy free not only because we are all sensitive to them, but also because I read that chickens can't process them so they get deposited directly in their eggs. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

 

[bearcreekbees]

Bearcreekbees, what exact feed do you ferment? Do you worry about making sure it is organic/non-gmo? I bought corn free/soy free not only because we are all sensitive to them, but also because I read that chickens can't process them so they get deposited directly in their eggs. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I buy a variety of whole grains, mostly from local farmers, including wheat, oats, barley, triticale (all transitional but not certified organic); corn, field peas, and rye, plus sunflower seeds (all conventional except sometimes I buy non-GMO corn if it is available). I make a ration using some combination of 5-6 grains/seeds, which I ferment and then add animal meat/organs/fat to finish it. I vary the ingredients from time to time in order to give my flock a variety of nutrients. So, no, I do not worry about whether it is organic/non-gmo or not.

I do keep a bag of layer pellets on hand for times when I am not going to be at home to feed my flock 2x a day, but I do not ferment the pellets. I also do not ferment the sunflower seeds- those I add after fermenting. And, my flock has a buffet of supplements available in their coop at all times which includes kelp meal, grit, oyster shells, eggshell powder, Redmond #10 Fine (a salt/mineral mix), Redmond Conditioner when I can get it, and when I have it, a container of crushed crayfish, shrimp, lobster, and crab shells so I don't add any salt or supplements to the feed ration.

I have read reports which claim that soy can be detected in meat/eggs, I have read reports that say that "maybe" soy can be detected in meat/eggs, and I have heard anecdotal reports in which people claim that they have had reactions to soy and other allergens after eating meat/eggs. I have no idea what the truth is at this point. But since my family is not food-sensitive, and I don't sell my eggs, I am not concerned at this point.

 

[UpstateChickenDaddy]

Thanks for your detailed post.

I am feeding a homemade, wholegrain feed as well. Mine includes red and white hard wheat, BOSS, cracked corn, split peas, oats, and a nutritional additive. I feel like I am missing an ingredient but I can’t remember. I can attest to the fact that they just don’t like the peas. Everything else they love. But like you mentioned being picky over lentils, mine are picky over peas.

Anyway, my question is on fermenting. I have the big mason jars for that purpose. The few times I gave them the fermented they turned their beaks up at it. Is there a length of time you gave them to figure out what it was and that it was good to eat? Mine just ignored it and I would put out fresh every day. Just went uneaten.

 

[bearcreekbees]

Thanks for your detailed post.

I am feeding a homemade, wholegrain feed as well. Mine includes red and white hard wheat, BOSS, cracked corn, split peas, oats, and a nutritional additive. I feel like I am missing an ingredient but I can’t remember. I can attest to the fact that they just don’t like the peas. Everything else they love. But like you mentioned being picky over lentils, mine are picky over peas.

Anyway, my question is on fermenting. I have the big mason jars for that purpose. The few times I gave them the fermented they turned their beaks up at it. Is there a length of time you gave them to figure out what it was and that it was good to eat? Mine just ignored it and I would put out fresh every day. Just went uneaten.

This is so fascinating to me because my flock, and all of my previous flocks that were fed fermented feed, gobble it down like candy- even without the meat and fat added.

I don't (normally) use lentils (only if someone gives me some that they did not use, and in the past I have cooked those rather than fermenting them- maybe I should try adding some to my ferment to see if my flock will eat them that way), but I do use raw field peas and my flock gobbles those down right along with everything else in the bowl.

This is my technique, which I think is pretty similar to everyone else's?

First I make a mix of all of the grain, or whatever, that I want in that batch- I usually wind up with around 5 pounds. Then I weigh out approx. 1.75 pounds of the mixture and put that into a one gallon glass pickle jar. I add enough water so that the water level is approx. 4" above the level of the grain mix. Then I place a lid on the jar loosely- to keep bugs out but also allow any gasses to escape. I leave that for three days- so I have three jars going at a time, all at various stages.

On Day 3 I drain any excess liquid from the mix and place the grain in a large bowl. I then add whatever protein/fat I am using that day and mix that all in well. Then I take it out to the coop and divide HALF of the contents into three bowls (for eight birds). The remainder goes back into my fridge until later in the day. I usually go out around 2-3pm and empty whatever is left into the bowls so the birds get a good feed before going to roost.

The only thing different from how I have done this in the past is the addition of the meat/fat, but even when I did all grain my flock always ate it with gusto, so not sure why all chickens would not find it appealing.

I have not been making the fermented feed for the past few days- logistical issues- as I keep the grain out in the barn and haul small amounts in as needed. I am in the process of changing that process so that I have a few weeks worth in the house- and I ran out in the middle and have been too busy to stop and go out to the barn to get more. So for a few days my birds have been eating pellets- they are not enthusiastic, and these are the same pellets they have "always" eaten prior to starting on the fermented mix.

One observation that I have made- my grain mix frequently includes 25-30% wheat. I often see wheat in the bottom of the feed bowls after everything else has been eaten- including peas. I have not yet figured out whether the wheat is the least favorite ingredient, and therefore left for last, or if it is just that it is the smallest of the grains and sifts down to the bottom through the other grains. They always eat it, but they don't eat it all first thing.

But you are talking about split peas, which I have never used. I use whole FIELD peas, which are different, but hard to imagine that they are all that different, so not sure. Nutritionally they are pretty similar, but maybe there is something that chickens don't like about the split peas? I might have to try some of those in my mix to see if my birds will eat it.

 

[bearcreekbees]

Thanks for your detailed post.

I am feeding a homemade, wholegrain feed as well. Mine includes red and white hard wheat, BOSS, cracked corn, split peas, oats, and a nutritional additive. I feel like I am missing an ingredient but I can’t remember. I can attest to the fact that they just don’t like the peas. Everything else they love. But like you mentioned being picky over lentils, mine are picky over peas.

Anyway, my question is on fermenting. I have the big mason jars for that purpose. The few times I gave them the fermented they turned their beaks up at it. Is there a length of time you gave them to figure out what it was and that it was good to eat? Mine just ignored it and I would put out fresh every day. Just went uneaten.

Question- when you feed the fermented grain is that all you are offering? Or do they have other feed available?