It is so easy to make your own homemade fermented chicken feed and I’m going to show you how to do it. You will get better eggs, save money on feed, and boost your chickens health by giving them natural probiotics.
What are the benefits of fermenting chicken feed?
There are so many benefits to fermenting chicken feed and I’m going to tell you all about them. Improving the health of your chickens is the number one thing that I love the most. We have a few chickens that have been having some health issues. This was an additional step that I took to boost their immune system.
Fermenting chicken feed increases the bio availability of the nutrients in the feed and it is full of natural probiotics. It makes the food more digestible and that way your chickens can absorb more of the nutrients the food is providing.
During the fermentation process it produces additional vitamins including vitamin A, B12, and K2. Fermented foods are one of the most beneficial things we as humans can eat, so why not feed fermented food to our chickens too?
If all those reasons weren’t enough to convince you, I saved the best for last.
You will save money making fermented chicken feed!
During the process of the fermentation it increases the feed volume and your chickens will consume less then they would if it was dry. Another pro is they love the taste of it and will waste less. There is nothing that bugs me more then coming outside and seeing dry chicken feed spilled all over the ground. My chickens don’t leave a speck on the ground when I feed them their fermented feed.
What type of chicken feed can you ferment?
You can ferment any kind of chicken feed including pellets, crumble, grower feed, non-medicated chick feed, etc.
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Extra “toppings” you can add to your homemade fermented chicken feed are:
Recipe for how to make: Homemade fermented chicken feed here:
Step 1: Get a jar/ container & add chicken feed
That amount of chicken feed that you add is up to you. The serving size for each type of feed is different so check your label first. If you want to add in any additional ingredients this would be the time. You will be adding one part chicken feed to two parts water. I add 1 cup of feed to a jar and 2 cups of water. You want to make sure you have enough room left in the jar/ container for it to have enough room to expand.
Step 2: Add the water to the chicken feed.
The type of water you use is important. You don’t want to use clorinated water. If that is the only kind of water you have, you can leave the water out on the counter in a bowl or cup for 24 hrs uncovered and the chlorine will evaporate. Using well water or purified water is best.
Step 3. Stir the chicken feed and water together really well and let the fermentation process begin! ( add extra water each day as needed)
Put it in an area at room temperature and not in direct sunlight. Place a lid on loosely to let the gases escape and put something under it in case it overflows. You will want to give it a good stir once or twice a day and make sure the feed stays below the water to prevent mold from growing. I like to stir mine in the morning and at night to make sure the bubbles aren’t pushing up the feed above the water so mold can grow. As I mentioned, you might need to add extra water as needed. Since the feed is absorbing the water you want to ensure there is enough water in the jar for the feed to stay submerged.
Step 4. Once the fermentation process is complete, pour off excess water and store it in the fridge.
Depending on the climate that you live in, it will determine how many days it takes for the chicken feed to ferment fully. If your environment is on the colder side, anywhere below 68 degrees celsius it can take up to 4 days for your homemade fermented chicken feed to reach it’s full potential. You will start to notice bubbles apear on day three or four and notice a strong yeast smell.
If at any time it smells off or rancid, discard it and start over completely. I myself have never had a batch go bad but it doesn’t mean it can’t happen.
The image above shows chicken feed that is ready to be stired, drained, and put into the fridge to be stored until ready to use. I make a new batch every few days so the already made fermented chicken feed isn’t sitting in the fridge for too long.
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Until next time,
Ellen
So neat! I didn’t know you could ferment chicken feed but I can see how it pays to invest that time in boosting the nutrition they’re getting.