Fermented feed provides many advantages for chickens, such as improved digestion and greater nutrient absorption. The fermentation process also softens pellets so that they’re less harsh on crops and gizzards.
Feeding fish is a straightforward process that only takes three or four days. Just make sure that daily, you give the feed a stir, open it to let out any gas, and add water as necessary.
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How to Make Fermented Chicken Feed
Fermenting chicken feed can be an excellent way to add probiotics into your flock’s diet, while providing an added flavor sensation! Just keep in mind that fermentation takes some time; temperature plays an integral part in how quickly it takes place.
Crack and mix cracked grains, seeds and legumes such as pumpkin or sunflower seeds, quinoa or any other whole grain or protein supplement feed you would like to ferment (pelleted feed is not suitable). Place half the ingredients into your bucket halfway up its sides.
Add water as needed to keep all feed submerged. After three or four days you should begin seeing signs of fermentation; bubbles on the surface indicate this! Drain any extra off and save for future batches (it will speed up fermentation process!). Use only dechlorinated water since chlorine kills bacteria.
Ingredients
Feeding your chickens fermented feed requires extra work and time than simply leaving out dry grain, but the results make it worth your while! Fermentation boosts nutrient availability dramatically while improving digestion for improved absorption and providing your flock with natural probiotics to promote immunity.
Attain this by naturally gathering wild yeasts and cultures in a moist food source (chicken feed), where they break down sugars and starches into lactic acid that allows good bacteria to flourish while suppressing bad ones – leaving behind nutritious food that will nourish and sustain your flock!
Fermented food also makes the poop drier, which is useful in managing moisture levels in your coop and is a much less expensive alternative than probiotic supplements available from feed stores. Regularly feeding your chickens fermented food can save both money and vet bills!
Preparation
Once fermented feed has been exposed to air for three to four days, its surface should begin to be bubbly with bubbles resembling porridge texture. Be mindful not to leave out longer as this could result in mold growth forming on it.
Scoop the crumble, pellet, or scratch mix your flock prefers into a bucket or other container and cover it with dechlorinated water before stirring to combine. This method can serve as either an addition to their regular diet, or simply a delicious daily treat!
Calculating how much chickens consume each day and dividing this number in half when measuring feed for fermentation will allow you to determine how much can fit into one container.
Be sure to use only filtered or dechlorinated water, as chlorine prevents healthy fermentation. Alternatively, allow tap water to sit out overnight to absorb chlorine – this process will save money while simultaneously making your flock healthier!
Storage
Fermenting chicken feed is easy and can be accomplished using almost any type of feed, from whole grains, pellets, oats, seeds and crumbles to crumbles and crumbles. All it requires is a container with lid large enough to contain all your fermented feed; unchlorinated tap water (or tap water left out overnight for chlorine evaporation); chicken feed itself and an acid-rich solution like tap water containing undissolved chlorine molecules; plus metal containers are best avoided as their high acidity reacts with metal containers creating reactions which spoiling your results.
Leave the jar covered and stored somewhere cool or warm, for three to four days. Be sure to stir it frequently so as to keep all of the feed submerged in water, with bubbles near its surface as an indicator that fermentation is taking place properly. Eventually, when your feed has finished fermenting properly, drain off any extra liquid and feed it directly to your flock.
