The Urban
Chicken Podcast has a
thought provoking episode on fermenting store bought chicken feed to
increase the nutritional content which also helps digestion.
We have not tried this method
yet, but it sounds like an easy and cheap way to increase the health
and vitality of your flock. Step one would be to fill a 5 gallon bucket
with the amount of food you normally hand out. Don’t use
metal…plastic or glass works best. Soak and re-soak the feed until
it’s saturated with good water. Step 2 is to keep a couple of inches of
water on the top to keep out air. Step 3 would be to wait a few days
and do your own taste test to see how your chickens take to it. Leave a
small amount in the bottom to help the next batch get going if you
choose to continue the experiment.
Listen to the whole episode
for deeper information. She actually interviews two different people,
both with real world experience on fermenting feed for chickens. Image
credit goes to Leigh Edwards. Please leave a comment if you have
any experience fermenting feed for chickens.
Should I ferment our chicken feed
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About The Author
Anna & Mark
Anna Hess and Mark Hamilton are a pair of back-to-the-landers who have been homesteading for over a decade.
Well I just started out with chickens this year so take my experiences in light of that.
I have just started soaking/fermenting my feed for chickens and goats. I found that both animals devour the soaked feed. It is also easier to contain in one area. the down side is that you have to provide more feed every day instead of with grain you can make a feeder that will hold enough for a few days.
I do think that the soaked grain does last longer (animals eat less of it – though one goat eats it quicker and wants more – meaning it likes it more then dry grain).
So I would say try it. Just start soaking a bit of grain and see how the chickens like it and then go from there.