Fermenting Chicken Food

Why did the chicken cross the road?

To get to the bucket of fermented chicken food that I made for her!

Whether you have a small backyard flock of egg layers, or you run a large farming production, fermenting the food that you feed your chickens comes with a plethora of advantages. 

To name a few:

• It’ll save you money 
• Easier nutrient absorption/makes nutrients more bioavailable to your birds
• Saves you money
• Your girls will become fuller faster,  due to the food being easier to digest
• Saves you money
• Less to no food waste (I’m talking about that powder at the bottom of the feeder!)
• Creates probiotics to aid in healthy gut health, similar to yogurt
• Healthier chickens = healthier eggs for you!
• Oh, did I mention it saves you money?

The first reason I began fermenting my chicken feed was because I was trying to nurse a struggling hen back to health. She was having a difficult time growing new feathers and just seemed to barely be thriving. Along with an increase of protein in her diet (mealworms and seeds), I’d say she absolutely thrived on fermented feed and grew some of the prettiest feathers I’ve ever seen. 

The Quick & Easy Process

I have a relatively limited space for chickens in my small backyard homestead, so I have gotten away with using a quart sized Mason jar just fine. I’ve found this amount to be adequate for feeding 6 adult birds every day. But if you have a much larger flock, feel free to use buckets! Whatever you have on hand. 

Fill your container of choice just under halfway with chicken feed. Use enough water to then cover the food by double. 

Let your jar sit, covered loosely, and wait for the feed to absorb the water. It’ll expand as it begins to absorb it all.

If you find that after a few hours, you still have a ton of water sitting on top of the food, go ahead and pour the excess out. Consequently, if you find the food absorbed all of the water and is now exposed to air on top, top that baby off with some more water to keep it submerged. You’ll get a feel for it once you get the routine down, don’t worry. 

By day 3, you should have fermented chicken food ready to feed out! You’ll be able to see bubbles forming in and around little air pockets. You might be able to hear them popping as well. 

I have a lineup of 3 jars on my countertop so that I can have fermented feed for my girls every day. I feed one out, rinse it out, and start it over at the end of the line.

While 3 days is what I’ve found to work for me, your timeline may look shorter or longer depending on the environment in which you have your jars. Don’t give up! If you start seeing and smelling mold though, it’s best to toss that batch in the compost and try again. 

It really is as simple as that! Your girls are going to be so spoiled, healthy and happy.