🐓 How to FERMENT Chicken Feed & Save MONEY! 💲🐓

[@ht8259]

Fermenting my organic chicken feed has been a game changer for my flock. Saves so much money, my girls love it & they seem actually healthier (heavier bodied & best feather plumage ever).

[@SimpleIdeaz]

Agreed. My girls love it and I mix my own feed. Fermenting got the price down to $. 50 a lb

[@ht8259]

@ wow that’s awesome, I would love to figure out the price on my feed too…. & what that would translate as to my egg prices

[@megmcginnis239]

I started fermenting a few years ago when Josh shared this then. Been a game changer. My hens are healthier too. In the rotation I sometimes add dried herbs in one, kelp in another and a clove of crushed garlic in the third. Thank you for the video and update on ideas. ❤

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I’m so glad that you’ve found fermenting a success!

[@SimpleIdeaz]

I started fermenting and the girls go nutz for it... Doubles the feed as well. I mix my own so I got it down to $. 50 a lb

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Wonderful!

[@desire4liberation]

i use mason jars for my 7 hens and since were below zero i feed them three times a day instead of once. Luckily we have amish grain store non gmo not far. great vid ty

[@berachahouse]

Do you feed them more or do you just divide up their daily ration?

[@desire4liberation]

@@berachahouse same amount...i divi it up into 3.

[@pamelab.4731]

A million thanks for sharing this in a simple format!! 🐓

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@autoflowerfarmer3326]

Great idea Josh on the heat pad and blanket.

[@countrylivin3633]

what a coincidence, I was thinking about this recently and then up pops the video. thank you for the information!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@ardenpeters4386]

North 40 buckets!!! love that store. so much to see!

[@alaskancookingmom]

Our chickens and ducks get the variety pack. Free feeders are full of crumble, crack/ferment/culture/sprout whole grains. They lay so much better when we offer the fermented and sprouted whole grains. Planning to add fodder to the list soon!!! Appreciate you sharing your experience and wisdom with us!

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I’m glad you have a great system for your chickens and ducks!

[@alaskancookingmom]

@HomesteadingFamily Learned a lot from you and yours, experimented a bit, too!

[@sukeyfrugalfrau]

Yup… we do that for our chickens… I have to do it inside because we get so much well below freezing temps in our corner of NE VT. We also give them beans and corn both of which we grow ourselves from open pollinated heritage seeds which of course we have saved ourselves.

[@wanderervii]

I would love to pick your brain about this, we are in your region and want to do something similar.

[@jasondaugherty4154]

I thought certain beans were poisonous to chickens?

[@melinda858]

I’m thinking of doing this to finish out our 3 steers ! 👍 Barley, oats molasses and fresh carrots . No soy or corn! Thanks!!!

[@balmoralwatersportscentere909]

Thank you

[@sandradelvecchio6894]

We were fermenting and it got so cold it froze in clumps within a half hour, so what they didn’t get immediately they weren’t getting. They just left it all. And thats rodent fodder. So they get dry now for a while.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Don't give up. A little bit is better than none.

[@jenm6836]

not sure how many animals you are feeding or what your set up is. for us we are feeding approx 16 chickens and i use a heated dog dish as large as i could find. we live in Wi and that works for all but a few days a year of the most extreme temps. good luck.

[@debbicornell1]

Been soaking grain for a couple years now. A. Lot less food waste

[@toddfriley9373]

What are your thoughts on sprouted seeds?

[@agb6330]

I’m going to buy a heated dog dish and see if that should keep it from freezing.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

I think it would be worth a try!

[@jenm6836]

that worked for me here in Wisconsin

[@SimpleIdeaz]

I bought one on Amazon and have it set to turn on and off with the temperature... Game changing

[@agb6330]

@ Oooh fancy one! I have one for their water, it just stays on.

[@jenm6836]

@homesteading family Josh. could you do a video on everything you feed your chickens. Is it just the grains you spoke of or do you supplement with any thing else like minerals, brewers yeast, calcium, etc. I know they free range in the barn in the winter at your place. Here we don't have a barn just a coop and the ground is frozen solid here in Wi, they seldom venture very far even though I leave the door open for them to do so. I have been fermenting layer mash for 10 years but want to start mixing my own feed and using the whole grains.

[@kellygardner6110]

We currently have 4 hens that do not free range. We keep a 5 gallon feeder bucket out for them and just keep it topped off with commercial feed that is not organic. I'm looking for ways to feed them organically and this seems do-able once I can source the whole grains. I have some questions though. 1. Is fermented grains enough for them, given that they dont free range? Or, are there other thinga we should be giving them alongside the fermented grains? They currently get snacks of freeze dried boonworms and then we give them commercially prepared scratch as a snack as well. Both of those are once per day right now. 2. Are fermentes grains something we could make up a batch of, say a 5 gallon buckets worth, and put the whole 5 gallon bucket of it out for them? Then just refill with more fermented grains as it gets emptied. Just trying to think through our normal schedule as we both work outside the homestead.

[@Herbhead369]

If it’s cold out on top of a warming matt to keep from freezing

[@kaylatucker1577]

Do you just use the grains? Or do other ingredients need added for complete nutrition?

[@bettypearson5570]

For many, on youtube at least, there appear to be more disadvantages than advantages of this practice. Every year or so there will be a number of youtubers doing videos on this touting how wonderful it is for the animals, cheaper, etc. but within months to no more than a year they have reverted to traditional feed again and they never mention it again. Im sure there are some who keep doing it but no one seems to talk about why it didnt work for them.

[@sibat777]

Very interesting, here in Uk we have quite a bit of chemical treatment in mains water including fluoridated so what r your thoughts on mains vs rainwater as a medium for this process? Obviously there is the problem of environmental contamination from the roof and atmosphere but I will be using a first flush diverter to minimise this in my rainwater catchment system. Thanks in advance

[@harlankraft578]

Here in the USA we have chlorine and Fluoride, both of these chemicals will inhibit the growth of the beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus. Not sure by perhaps letting the water stand in the sunshine for several days might reduce the harmful effects of the Municipal treated water? Well rain or spring water would be optimal! Add a little unsweetened yogurt that would be an alternative if you don’t have fresh milk or Whey! Hope this helps you!

[@valleyveggiehomestead]

I have a question, should it smell like vomit?? I've been fermenting in just water, but a store brought mixed grain, and after a few days the smell is very unpleasant but not rotten smelling. Not sure if I'm doing it wrong or if it's because it's a pre mixed grain (hard to source different types of grain where I live)

[@TheEssentialRanchersLife]

Can you soak a commercial pellet feed ??

[@boymama1623]

I have and they love it.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

It isn't ideal because it can turn to mush.

[@janfelshaw8217]

I have 12 chickens. That figures out to 3-4 lbs a day. That seems like a lot. I was wondering if that is dry or soaked measurements?

[@unaffiliated_x9279]

I thought the same. I've been doing this process for years. Typically a couple of (fermented) handfuls for a flock your size should be sufficient. I would double to triple that amount if it's the only feed you are feeding them assuming you are also free ranging them. Use your best judgment.

[@jcxm360]

Would you mind sharing where you get your grains if you get them locally here in North Idaho?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Send us an email at [e-mail] so we can get you that info.

[@judithcook6275]

How about a little container of skyr or yogurt to start? I don't have access to raw milk. Thank you for the information!!

[@kaylatucker1577]

Yogurt or apple cider vinegar with thw mother works too

[@sharonhuelsman]

I feed my chickens regular feed in the morning and then give the fermented feed in the afternoon along with their kitchen scraps or other “treats” (especially in winter). I keep two half gallon mason jars inside the house and rotate them. We use non gmo feed but not organic so I feel I am giving them some extra nutrients.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

It sounds like you have a great system going for your chickens!

[@The_Remnant86]

I wonder if my sourdough starter would get it going. I dont know how that yeast reacts with whole grain.

[@shannonmedford5477]

Do you just put full bags of ingredients and mix or is it proportional?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

You can buy and cracked grain layer mix and ferment that. The fermenting just doesn't work great with pellets as they become mush.

[@arlenevieau5284]

I know it's more economical to use whole grains, but can you ferment mash as well? Does it damage the other additives?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

The pellet feed will just go to mush. We use whatever whole grains are available to us, which is usually wheat, oats and barley. I always prefer a mix if possible.

[@ellens2476]

For my clarity, I thought in your last video you changed the water but you didn’t mention that at all. Have you changed your way of doing this or do I not recall it correctly? Thx, E

[@HomesteadingFamily]

You can add some of the liquid from the last bucket to get the new ferment going. You can mix that with the grain and fresh water.

[@tracymoorehead8523]

Hi guys. Carolyn I have your book , “ Gluten-free Homemade Bread” . I have been unable to find a recipe for pie-crust . . ( store bought varieties contain sugar). Is there something Im missing ; all I have found is a para on tips . No recipe. Thanks

[@josephg.3370]

👍

[@chab1rd155]

So can you just use a plain yogurt? If so, how much ( ounces) thank you!

[@VidarVildstige]

Can I use it for feeding ducks as well?

[@HomesteadingFamily]

Yes.

[@larateixeira4232]

Hi! Do you ferment the grains for your sheeps? Thank you.

[@HomesteadingFamily]

We do not.

[@MaryShmee]

Is it possible to use rice also or is rice a no no?

[@harlankraft578]

I cook older stores of rice they become weevil infested. The chickens love eating zee bugs! Lol

[@Norbingel]

I don't get it. SO many people say their chickens love it. Mine don't seem to. They eat it very hesitantly and if I give them the dry ones, they'll go nuts for that instead.

[@CatherineChhabra]

I have fermented the TS chicken scratch and they don’t like it. Am I doing something wrong?

[@41murphy2]

👋👍🥶🐖🐷❤

[@janfelshaw8217]

I have 12 chickens. That figures out to 3-4 lbs a day. That seems like a lot. I was wondering if that is dry or soaked measurements?

[@desire4liberation]

I have 7 hens I ferment in quart size mason jars. 1/2 full of grains then water to 1" below rim. that is enough for mine. always have dry available if they need tho

[@HomesteadingFamily]

You want 1/4-1/3 lb per day per bird of dry feed before fermenting.

[@sarahburns8498]

@@HomesteadingFamily Do you do more feed for meat birds? Thinking about implementing this with our Freedom Ranger birds this summer. Thanks!