3 Ways to Ferment Chicken Feed: Water, Whey & Sourdough Discard!

Tips for success!
*5 gallon buckets work great for chicken feed fermentation
*While vinegars are good for chickens, too much acidity isn't so great. Make sure to take into account how much vinegar per chicken if you happen to go that route.
*You can ferment a variety of feeds including regular pellets, crumble, scratch, oats and seeds.
*Fruit flies love ferments, keep this in mind particularly during the summer months.
*keep feed fully submerged to prevent mold growth
*Add crushed egg shells for a calcium boost!
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#chickenfeed #savemoney #homesteading

[@AcresOfAdventure]

Great video! Nice job explaining and it’s nice to save on feed wherever you can. Keep up the good work!😃

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Fancy to see you guys here! I appreciate this so much thank you! Definitely need to find ways to stretch the dollar, that's for sure! Have you guys tried this? You have a great platform to share with your chicken audience, make a video doing this too!

[@rhonaanderson3820]

I've only had chickens for about 6 weeks, but read up lots about chickens before getting them. So I do ferment chicken feed for them. The first time I gave them it, they didn't seem all that interested, but now they go straight for it. 😊🐔🐔🐓

[@backtonature433]

Awesome 👌

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

So smart to do some research beforehand!! So great they go right to it now! Some chickens need a little coaxing or at least an understanding like a toddler that if they don't eat dinner, they will be hungry...lol. They figure it out😅

[@maryguay908]

Very well done

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thank you!

[@MtnGrandma]

Love this idea and stretching feed while providing healthy foods for the chickens! Thank you for sharing! The cat liked it too!! And your baby is adorable!!! 😊❤

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Awe thank you so much!! Yes we like to get creative with how to stretch the dollar and keep the animals happy!! 🥰

[@MayfieldRanch]

Aww he is so cute. The oils probably hold on to the dirt. Great idea! I do have dry chicken feed that gets wasted.

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thank you! That's definitely probably the case with his wool, it's so funny. He always looks like a dirt ball. Lol.

[@HomesteadOnAPrayer]

They definitely seem to love it! I have fermented my chickens’ feed from time to time, but I’ve only tried water - I’ll need to give the other methods a try too! I actually haven’t done it at all in a while, so this is a good reminder to start another batch!

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Reminders are always so helpful! Yay! Definitely try the other ways also, it's a great way to use them up! Thanks for being here Jennifer!

[@back40ranch]

Yes, ive only used water to. Im going to try this out when i get the time

[@littlefootranch4410]

So awesome! I've only ever fermented feed with water! I'll have to try the other ways too! Thanks for sharing!

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Definitely let me know what you try! I love to hear feedback and ideas!! Thanks for watching!

[@DawnRaeB]

Nice to meet you on Yogi Hollow's live tonight. I look forward to watching more of your videos. I haven't fermented feed yet but it's something I want to try.

[@farmfresh_USA]

Here from the live too ❤️

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thank you so much for watching and for jumping over here to join in our shenanigans!! Happy to have you!!

[@back40ranch]

Hello from Three Rivers Michigan! I was fermenting our chicken feed for a while but got to busy to keep up with it. It really does stretch the feed a lot longer

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Hello!! It's definitely can take a little extra time but if you get in a routine, it's not a huge issue. I have yet to find that routine lol 😆

[@back40ranch]

@@AHomesteadingHustle haaaa dont feel alone

[@TheOldSwedesFarm]

I've heard it's a good money saver. It's just not practical for 60 hens. I don't have the time or containers! Fun video.

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thanks Rich!! We have over 60 hens also but I'd like to get in a routine to do this. I usually do it occasionally but it really is so helpful and good for their bodies. It really doesn't take much time, just a few quick steps. 😁

[@farmfresh_USA]

Aww

[@bellamonet19]

I've seen farmers with large flocks use the 10 gal bucket from lowes or whites to ferment

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Yes we use the 5 gallon buckets from menards usually. I have another fermenting feed video using that. This was a small scale to sample 3 methods in this video. 😁

[@bluebirdhomestead]

That sounds like a great idea, I have never tried to do this before. Good to know how to do it! Thanks for sharing! -Cara

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

It really does help stretch the feed! Plus they love it and it's good for them! Triple win!! Thank you for watching Cara!! ❤️

[@TheNorthBranchWI]

Your chickens look happy about what you're doing haha I need to start fermenting feed, I want to expand my flock this year so this video is perfect. Just have to keep the cats out lol

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thanks Evan!!! They really dig it! Let me know of you do it! Yes the cats definitely want In on this...ours get so chubby in the winter because they steal chicken snacks 🤣

[@BARBSCOUNTRYHOME999]

WOW.. They love it.. We have considered fermenting our feed and after watching this I might give it a try! I don't like the cold weather but that snow sure looks beautiful. Great video ☺️

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

They totally dig it!!! Let me know if you do it!! The snow really is pretty, but it is a big mess lol

[@wildpuffintube]

Looks yummy definitely would try it

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

They really dig it!!

[@backtonature433]

Thanks for sharing,gotta try soon on my chickens 🙏🤗🤗🤗

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Definitely do and let me know what they think! Thanks for watching Ram!

[@backtonature433]

@@AHomesteadingHustle I will soon 🙏🤗🤗🤗🙌🙌🙌

[@farmfresh_USA]

Loved the live chat with #yogihollowfarm

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Thank you!!

[@MayfieldRanch]

I’ve done this with hog feed but never thought about it for the chickens

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Try it! Let me know how it goes!

[@simpleacrehomestead]

👋

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

👋👋

[@KowalskiMountain]

Hey friend…. Have you ever used fermented grain for Cornish cross broilers? How do they do? How about fermenting pelleted grain?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Hi Barbara-Sue! I have not done this for meat birds but you definitely could. Their appetite is so high, that I'd probably do smaller batches and feed just a little at a time. Pellets and crumbles just turn to a pile of mush so not all chickens like that but I have done it.

[@KowalskiMountain]

@@AHomesteadingHustleI’m thinking of trying it but none of the videos I checked feed broilers. They eat so much, I was hoping it would help the feed bill. Thanks… great video

[@brittanyfabiano8387]

We also ferment our feed. Do you also use grain with them? Or do you soley feed scratch grains? We do just water and leave a little to kick start the next batch. We only ferment and use layer pellets, so we have an ongoing cycle. We ferment in a bin that locks and do 25lbs a night that is put into bins the next night to feed the next day which wld mean feeding on a full day 2. I am going to try the sourdough starter to see if we can stretch it a bit more even. Right now we use 1/2 less feed by fermenting and have around 230 birds. (Duck, geese, guinea, turkey, chicken)

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

We do a mix of scratch with sunflower, oats, peas as well. We feed a pellet in the winter but in the summer we fully free range and supplement with the whole grain mix. I've fermented all if it before and prefer the whole grain ferment better than the pellet for texture. The sourdough starter is a great addition! Let me know how it goes!

[@saburimvano3514]

Can I feed fermented food on broilers?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Absolutely! Yet because they aren't wires with an 'off' switch, I'd do little bits at a time

[@wendykruk1288]

How much do you think each chicken would need I did this before but my chickens always seemed super hungry after?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Good question! I think need and want when it comes to chickens is very different. Chickens are wired to constantly eat and forage. What climate are you in? Are they free range?

[@wendykruk1288]

@AHomesteadingHustle im in Maryland Temps are not too bad we had a one really cold cold front but other than that not bad.They have a pretty big open run but they don't have total free range, when I tried this it was warm tho and there was more to forage. I was just wondering if you might knew if there was any kind of ratio to chicken, like a cup per the number of chickens or something. I don't want to over feed but want to make sure I'm giving enough.

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

In the winter when they aren't able to grab bugs and such, I think the normal feed estimate is like 1/2-3/4 cup per bird per day. Because fermenting feed has the nutrients readily available for absorption and the liquid increases the volume, they should eat on the lower end of that. Their body won't have to work so hard to break it down which means their appetite should be lower as well. In the summer when they have free range access, I'd probably just offer this as a treat rather than daily to encourage foraging. Does that help answer your question? Let me know what you decide to do! 😁

[@wendykruk1288]

@AHomesteadingHustle yes that's perfect thank you so much!!

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Fabulous! You're welcome!!

[@orlandoorozco2592]

Ferment, feed for chicks, will be okay?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

For baby chicks? I haven't done it for chicks yet because it does cause the grain to bulk up and they don't typically have grit while suoer little to help break it down. I would probably wait til they are a few months old. That's just an opinion though.

[@michaeldunn8825]

Do you feed commercial feed as well

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

We do buy the commercial brands from tractor supply sometimes but not often. I prefer local or small privately owned companies if possible.

[@Primerose172]

Can i feed fermented food to 3 weeks old baby chicks?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

You can indeed, but at that age, they are likely on a crumble or pellet, when fermented turns to mush. Easy for them to eat, but if they aren't great about wiping their beak or they are wiping on bedding that will stick to them, it could pose as a possible issue. Just watch them to see how they do. No issues, then feed away!

[@Primerose172]

@@AHomesteadingHustle thanks for your valuable reply. I have one more question what isthe different between fermenting chicken feed and soaking for few hours? I thout soaking also increasing the volume of the feed and soaking doesnt require chlorine free water also.

[@BeverlyFest]

I just added some sourdough discard/water to my chicken feed to start this process, however I realized that my sourdough starter is made with Bleached white flour. Is this ok to use with chickens?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Hi Beverly! While I usually choose unbleached flour, we definitely have had bleached flour with no issues. The way I see it is, if you put it in your body, the chickens should be just fine. 😁

[@BeverlyFest]

@@AHomesteadingHustle thank you 😁

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Absolutely! Let me know if they love it!

[@krickette5569]

Can ducks also eat this fermented feed?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

We do allow our ducks to eat this if they want to but they often don't. It would be totally fine for ducks though. Any animal will benefit from some fermented feed. Ducks can take in too much protein on chicken feed though which is what this is, so keep that in mind. It's too hard to seperate our ducks from the chicken feed but if they are taking in too much, you can tell because their tail feathers will start to curl.

[@krickette5569]

@@AHomesteadingHustle I thought ducks needed a lot more protein than chickens?

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

I guess it depends what your ducks are used for is what I was told. We don't eat our ducks so their protein needs are much lower. We also don't have females, so laying eggs is not a thing for us. The males we have eat a lot and will plump up really quickly on high protein diets. I'm actually not super experienced with ducks and the needs of different breeds of them. What kind of ducks do you have?

[@krickette5569]

@@AHomesteadingHustle I have 30 ducks and we don't eat them either. I got the first 6 as a present from my hubby and I was hooked. They are hilarious and keep me laughing. I started with Ancona and Cayuga and have now added Khaki's, Swedish, and Mallards. I mostly feed corn but at least a couple times per week they get non medicated chick starter for protein purposes. They are also free range and get a lot of what they eat from being out and about on the farm.