Fermenting Chicken Feed & how we do it

[@Countrylifestlye]

I see a lot of homesteaders making there own mix. An honestly by 20 years of raising chickens I can tell you all you need is a good 18% feed with 6% crude fat. An your chickens will always be healthy an have a good immune. An yes you can ferment the feed.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Thank you for your encouragement, yes we also do have best results with the way we feed our Chickens.

[@wendyread1183]

Very well done video. Information was clearly presented. I have been fermenting my chicken feed off and on (currently off) but you've inspired me to start doing it again. Thank you.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Thank you for your very kind words, glad I was able to inspire you to get started again. So well worth doing it! Thanks for watching!

[@jms6605]

I also give them moringa leaves, they’re a super food, they love it, gives them all the nutrition, without buy extra supplies to add to feed.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I did too, but my trees never grow big enough here, it just is to cold. But there are so many ways to give the extra nutritional food that doesn't need to cost a arm and a leg.

[@animallivesmatter7483]

Can ducks eat those leaves do you know?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@animallivesmatter7483 I can't see why they couldn't eat it. It has lots of great nutrition.

[@johnstraley5299]

Outstanding, best one I have seen. Thank you.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching our Video!

[@jamesarnolds4350]

what does the minerals consist of?

[@kaggwassalongoyekoyada8667]

Thank you so much for your highly educative video!

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching our Video!

[@susanamedee1157]

Perfect. Thank you! 😃🐓

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

You are very welcome ! ☺

[@ravenslair117]

Danke fuer sehr Gute Infos!! ❤. Ich werde es heute probieren!! Mal sehen wie meine Huehner es moegen!!:) 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Sehr gerne doch :-) Hoffe es wird Ihnen schmecken und Ihr habt so gute Ergebnisse und lecker Eier wie wir.

[@denisvictornkundineza3684]

Thank you for nice video, I will try to do it.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

It is very easy ones you have started the process, you will be happy. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@pacapeople]

Thank you so much for sharing. You're an inspiration Petra! Keep up the great work. And my chickens say "Thanks!"

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching our Video !

[@fiveon40]

Great info, thank you!

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching our Video!

[@onemoredoll5791]

What are your ratios and what is the list? I started fermenting this past weekend their starter feed but they will be 18 weeks soon and want to start making their homemade food. I absolutely love your organization!

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I have a grain mix of 40-30-30 Wheat - Barley - Peas, they also get Flax seeds, Boss and a 30 % Mineral Mix. This is my personal base feed. I ferment the Grain and Boss, the rest is added just before feeding. I hope that answers your question. Thanks for watching our Video!

[@onemoredoll5791]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 Thank you!

[@threeblindmice369]

What is a list of all the items you had in the white containers please? Thanks 😊

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I am pretty sure I explained it all in the Video, but for you, Black Oil Sunflower Seed and the cracked Grain. These are the parts we ferment. After fermenting we add Kelp and a Mineral Mix and if we have them Linseed. Thank you for watching our Video !

[@threeblindmice369]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 my bad, I saw a few containers and thought each one had a different item, thanks for the explanation. 😃

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@threeblindmice369 OH no worries! I store a lot of different feed there, due to different animals we have. :-)

[@SilverFlint247]

Do you need to have an air tight lid? What is the duct tape thing on top of your white rona bucket used for fermenting?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

It not necessarily has to be airtight as long as the grains stay under the water surface. I cut the lid and glued some screen on top of it. Thanks for watching our Video!

[@jaimuszunner8773]

This video was great! I’d love to know what type of mineral supplement that was and also where you got those lovely containers from! Thanks for the awesome explanation, it was very helpful! ☺️☺️👍

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

It is a 35% Mineral Mix for Chickens that we can buy at the Feed Store. Since I don't know where you are located I sadly can't advice you more. Thank you for watching our Video !

[@PrayingFarms]

The white containers with yhe lids are from Ikea

[@melvinlee5684]

If I come back as a chicken, I would like to be yours! ❤

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

You are welcome to do so :-) Thanks for watching our Video

[@melvinlee5684]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 Cluck cluck cluck…..thank you!😀

[@rwilson2799]

Is there a reason you add the kelp and minerals after the fermentation process? my special made layer mix has it added in and I was hoping to try my hand at fermenting.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I do this just because it is easier to ferment, also while straining the fermented grain, most of the kelp and minerals are so fine that they end up in the liquid and not in the feed. Which in my opinion is quite a waste of it. This way they eat it all and nothing is left over. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@deborahrabon3365]

Love your video. Where are you located? And where do you get the grains etc that you put in your fermented feed? Thank you in advance

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

We have a Feed Store where we can buy the Grains, Mineral Mix, Kelp and everything else we add to our Fermented Feed, we are in Canada. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

LOVE your setup! I have 13 hens. How much grains should I add to the bucket before I put the water in. Thanks for sharing.

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Thank you very much! I give about 1/4 cup per Hen but that is the full amount of feed they get daily. They do have dry feed available but don't touch it. Depending on the size of your chicks you can adjust the amount. I find the best way to figure that out is starting with a smaller amount and if they finish it within 24 hours add more until they have something left. Than reduce again and this way you know exactly how much they eat a day. This also does change with the season winter they eat more and summer less because they forage. I hope that answers your question. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 Thank you for your response. I especially appreciate you sharing with me this feeding technique. I am a little confused about the feed though. When you say don't touch the dry feed, what does this mean??? Are you talking about the layer pellet or mash feed???

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@ImASurvivorNThriver You are very welcome. I should have explained that more in detail. I feed my chickens only fermented feed. But to be on the safe side they also have a feeder with the dry Grain Mix just like others have the pellet feed in a feeder, only that I don't use comercial feeding products at all. I do so, just in case something is wrong, lets say, the feed freezes in Winter- because the fermented feed is wet, and that happens every ones in a while, than they can eat from the dry Grain mix. This way they never go hungry. You can call it a backup plan :-) I fill this dry grain feeder ones every now and than because they barely eat from it, they prefer the fermented feed. I hope that makes a little more sense.

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 Thank you for your explanation! This is great! I love your mindset!!!

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@ImASurvivorNThriver Thank you for watching, glad I could be of help!

[@darrenbranch2421]

Like your process...You seem to be very organized. Btw..Where did you get your feed bins?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Yes I love it when things are organized, makes life so much easier ;-) The bins are from Ikea! Thank you for watching our Video!

[@noahadongo3462]

Great video have learnt a lot. i admire your humility You answered almost all questions. @@greatlittlehomestead1325

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@noahadongo3462 Thank you :-). I try to not miss any of them. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@animallivesmatter7483]

Did you say Kale or Kelp powder? What minerals are you putting in? I am going to try this and want to add the minerals what about calcium is it included with the mineral powder? My duck needs extra calcium is there a grain that has lots of calcium that you feed to your birds? Any advice on bumping up the calcium with a food source would be appreciated there is something wrong with my ducks eggs they are super tiny smaller than a chicken egg and if she lays a bigger egg it doesn't have a shell or I will see it in a different spot and its collapsed. I feed her duck pellets (doesn't really like to eat) she has access to oyster grit at all times and she gets her peas in the morning then fruit and or vegie snacks during the day (tomatoes, romaine lettuce, green leaf lettuce, watermelon, cantaloupe, millet seed, sometimes she will eat meal worms) and another snack when she goes to her house for the night. She goes crazy and eats the cat food when she can. Seems like a pretty good diet to me

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I use Kelp. And the Mineral Mix is called 35 % Mineral Mix for Chicken, no special name and yes it has Calcium in it and we have great eggs. I am sorry I can't help you out with your Duck we don't have them and I have no experience feeding them. I make the Fermented Feed for our Chickens. Thank you for watching our Video, and sorry that I can't be of more help for you!

[@fizzyfozbuzz874]

Do you wait for the seeds to sprout, also do you not drain the water after the initial 12/24 soak and then leave the seeds for a few days in the buckets?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

No this is not sprouting seeds it is fermenting seeds. While sprouting you drain the water after a certain amount of time depending on the seeds you use. And then you rinse the seeds twice a day. In this Video I explain how I Ferment Grain for the Chickens so when you Ferment you keep your grain mix covered below water surface for the entire duration, usually 3 days. I think you confused those two ways of improving the nutritional value of feed. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@aviseksarkar3314]

Could you tell me how many days to take a broiler chicken to prepare for full size with farmented feed and what is the final body weight?can we provide farmented feed to broiler chicken at night?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Your question is not that easily answered. First of all it all depends of the breed of your broiler chicken, especially regarding on the time they need to mature. There is just no exact answer to the outcome regarding your weight question. To many factors that play a role. But certainly you can feed your broilers fermented feed day and night. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@signaturerush]

Do you think if you put herbs that are good for chickens in the water the grain would absorb it?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I don't think so. I do give herbs as well and I just add them to the feed at feeding time. I don't ferment them, in Summer I feed them fresh, and during Winter dried. To extract all the beneficial properties of a Herb you would have to go a different way than fermenting. I can't seem to see it being harmful but I think it is not necessary. Ferment the grain and add the Herbs at time of feeding, fresh or dried. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@gdsssss]

In the first day you should add boiling hot water....It will help more...try it...

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Never heard about using boiling water, could you explain a little more and why you would do it. As of my understanding it would kill the beneficial bacteria so no fermenting takes place. But I might be wrong. I would love to learn more about it. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@gdsssss]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 We usually do it...We love to eat fermented rice which is boiled . And if you use boiling water the fermentation will be done with in 24-36 hours...and beneficial bacterias will developed after water become normal in temperature. Try once with lower quantity. Then reply. 👍

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Thank you very much for responding!! I will certainly try that right away tomorrow with the next new batch. And will report back! :-)

[@emilcapati6700]

Where did you get those containers and that jumbo strainer?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I got the totes from Ikea and the strainer I can't remember where I found that one. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@rwilson2799]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 I have seen strainers like those in Dollarama

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@rwilson2799 Yes, thank you for mentioning it!

[@chrisantusikimario6508]

How long does it take in hot climates such as 23 degrees Celsius? It's normally become sour in three days

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

well I can't answer that because I don't live in a hot climate but I do have my feed room in the basement so a pretty constant temperature year round. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@jansnyman1629]

Hi how many chickens do you feed with that amount of food

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Currently I feed 13 Egg Layers with it. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@docholiday5119]

3 full scoops in a bucket I can normally feed 3 piglets, 12 chicks, 7 laying hens, 1 rooster, 1 goose, and 12 ducks.

[@jayrodriguez4710]

How long can fermented food stay stored?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

It is not made for storage you want to feed it daily. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@tarbaris]

Why cracked grain vs. whole? Cheaper?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

No peticular reason, you can use whole grain as well. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@sonupoonia4307]

Will you please tell me that was that grains were whole or broken?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

I use cracked Grain, but you can use whole as well makes no difference at all. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@lamkharsati3103]

I have tried but my chickens won't eat because of the foul smell. What should I do?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

It shouldn't have a foul smell, it should smell fermented any off smell means something went wrong during the fermenting progress. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@margaretmakungu2761]

What type of grain do you ferment

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

Our Chickens get a Mix of Barley, Wheat and Peas as the base feed. Thanks for watching our Video!

[@signaturerush]

@@greatlittlehomestead1325 would you recommend corn?

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

@@signaturerush I personally do not feed corn at all. As of my knowledge it has very little nutritional value. So I stay clear of it. None of my animals get corn. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@librafever305]

Where is her farm located

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

We are located in Alberta, Canada. Thank you for watching our Video!

[@pcm9736]

You have used all grain, isn't it better to grind them all and then ferment

[@greatlittlehomestead1325]

You certainly could grind it and ferment, but I wouldn't you will end up with a mush and that is going to be difficult to strain. There is no difference in the fermenting process itself so no need for this extra step to be taken. Just my personal opinion. Thank you for watching our Video !

[@skylaborbit5633]

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