How and Why to Feed your Chickens Fermented Feed 

Isaac owusu Kusi 3x? You can & should feed fermented feed as their staple from day one until they die.

Great job!

Yes you are correct. Prebiotics are so important as well. My Organic Coop Kelp has prebiotics in it too. amzn.to/3EkpBvR #ad

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?

Happy to help

Hi Justine

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.

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.

Yes for sure!

Yes I do. Check my blog. www.fresheggsdaily.blog

+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.

Cyndi Daves Oh you can some ACV,but it will ferment just fine without it. I do add ACV to their water.

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.

+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.!♡

Sure yes you can feed both the fermented and dry, or switch off days. It will benefit both broilers and layers.

Yes you sure can use it with commercial flocks. It might not increase laying, but it should decrease your feed costs.

Yes I do in the winter.

I do, and yes the guineas also love it.

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.

I would give chicks grit any time they are eating anything other than regular chick feed.

thank you

I have used 5 grain scratch just fine 1/3 crumbles or pellets to 2/3 grain

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!!!!

Yes of course.

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!

Wonder why Lisa hasn't answered this question.

Awesome, you're a star

No. You can't buy fermented feed. You have to do it yourself.

TERRI DONEY for future viewers: anything can be fermented.

+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.

Yes, absolutely.

@@FreshEggsDaily thank you will start this next week when I go buy feed

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

Francine Rossoni about half a cup.

Yes it sure can!

Laurie Flores Sure you can do that.

That's how I seen in done on Guam

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!

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.

Absolutely.

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.

Cyndi Daves Yes you sure can. Mine love it.

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...

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.

Both growing fodder and fermenting grains amplify the nutrients in the feed.

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.

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?

I've never read that... Sugar will speed it up. I would feed the yogurt separately.

You need to let tap water sit overnight.

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.

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

It's really good for them. www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2015/03/how-to-save-money-fermenting.html

+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

No.

No I have blue and lavender Ameraucanas.

If you're fermenting I would use regular oats or oat groats. Otherwise, rolled is what I add to their regular feed.

Now! From day one really.

@@FreshEggsDaily that could save me lot of money. Thanks 👍 god bless you sister

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

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

I use glass. I don't like to use plastic if I can help it. You never know what's leaching out.

Lisa I would only ferment a regular daily ration. So 1/2 cup per hen or less.

Yes baby chicks can eat it too. They should absolutely be eating less fermented feed because of the increased energy and nutrients it provides.

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.

That's a great idea!

+Major Greenz or does it hurt the fermentation ?

It will keep the mash from fermenting.

It hurts the fermentation.

Not sure what you're trying to say here?

Sajc Emmanuel, fake news.

Yes do your own research as distilled water is healthy!

LOL! Yup, usually.

I'm surprised. It's so good for them.

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? 😆