A few years ago, we had 350+ layers and found a wild rice processing place that gave us their machine and floor sweepings. We ended up with about 800 lbs. of free, good feed for the hens. We soaked 3, 10 gal., 1/2 full buckets twice a day for them. Doubled the feed and soaked up about 3/4 gal. water. Chickens loved it, was very nice on the pocket book, their production was impeccable. They still got their rolled corn before lights out and people loved our eggs. A lot of times we ran out of eggs for selling, just from our house. Anyways, love your videos guys, very informative!
Just a thought, as I think you’re wasting the final days water when you drain your bucket. You should make a stand that you can place the drinking bucket above the new days bucket and let the nice strong probiotic water from the final day drain into the new first day as this will significantly expanded on your fermentation process.
Just did our first batch of grain for our girls. They loved it! We have an older hen that hates anything but corn in the grain. She actually ate everything! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
As your wife makes cheeses what about putting the whey into the feed. My grandma did that and she said it was good for the hens and economical use of waste
Growing up on a dairy farm we would wash out the milking machine with fresh water keeping the first few gallons and storing it in drums turning it to curd and whey which was then fed to the pigs (best pork ever!!) and the chickens would come RUNNING to get a treat
@philliphall5198 It could go off if used too often but, yes, I agree that the water from the fermenting process shouldn't be wasted. So much nutrients such as probiotics are just being thrown away. Just put it out in a separate container for the chickens. I'm sure they won't ignore it, or, as you said, you can put it in grains that will soak it up, but don't resoak it too many times. As a treat, you could also use cooked rice or cooked pasta, both cooled, of course, as a treat to soak it up. Or, just serve it up without draining.
Thanks Homesteading Family! I've been doing something close to this, only sprouting the grains instead of fermenting, 5 days, I'm going to try fermenting after sprouting! so 7 days, possibly 5 times the food for the chickens, my dogs and me! E buying food grade barley & wheat from our local Co-op.
I'm looking into both fermenting ( which this vid was great for ) and gleaned some additional good thoughts in comments.. but also thinking of sprouting .. my idea is to use black plastic grow trays ( like for seedlings) and put holes into one and set it into one without holes so it can drain a bit.. ....and to build a rather high edged frame/s that can be placed around the combined boxes that will have hardware cloth on top so that they can only eat the tops of the plants which I can continue to water ( hopefully)... I live where there is nothing green in winter so I'm going to try grow lights I usually use to start plants in early Spring..
Grow Russian Comfrey bocking #14. It's perennial and 20-30% protein. 100-120 tons per acre. Livestock love eating it and it can really lover your feed costs even more. Malted grain is full of enzymes and extra sugar. I raise mealworms to add fat and protein to my bird feed.
I've lined my flock fence run with comfrey they love it. purple flowers not wild yellow. It's nickname from Indians is knit bone used all over world for tea. Illegal here in states but in South used like hay. 22-37% protein. Chickens sheep. Plant next to fruit trees will fertilize them 10 ft. Tap root. Used as poultice also/ burns. Do your research. ..
Thanks for thorough info video. Last week I fermented my pellets and it did make a messy mush, but the girls went crazy for it. I just bought cracked corn and wheat scratch and am going to ferment it. Thanks again. 😊
We just got some chickens (& a couple of ducks) this spring. Fall is now approaching, and as it does, I'm wondering how does this process work/what does it look like in the winter months? I'm sure you get very similar weather to me - I am right beside you in Montana - specifically subzero temps. I assume you move your buckets into a climate-controlled area so that they don't freeze. If so, where do you put them - do they need to come inside the house or a slightly heated garage? What is the lowest the temperature can be outside for the grains to ferment outside, then at what temperature do you move them inside (assuming that's the case)? Thanks in advance!
Just a little from our experience. If your chickens aren't totally free range, or given other protein, scratch alone is not enough protein. but even bigger is that premixed poultry feed has extra calcium in it. This can be solved by keeping oyster shell available free choice. They sell a calcium carbonate as an oyster shell replacement. it doesn't stop soft shell eggs. Oyster shell does.. We have found a nongmo ground poultry feed mix we are very happy with and ferment for 24 hrs... we could have done longer in the winter but in the summer that seems to work best for us.
Great video, what I do is strain the fermented grain with the perforated bucket inside a clean one, so I use this to start the new batch, also to spray the mulch inside the cop to soften the straw and help the composting process...
I leave the same water and keep topping with water as I go. No need to change the water and is much quicker fermentation keep lid on. Incidentally you maybe surprised to know you can consume the corn as well. We call it kaanga pirau, ( fermented corn ). The aroma is like parmesan cheese and obviously there is a process and cooking cooking method. It's absolutely delicious.
I do a daily soak in the house of corn, wheat, whole oats, and sunflower with ACV and the hottest tape water (well water no chlorides) as the starter and set it next to the wood stove-. It gets topped off with table scraps, left overs that aged out, cooked cracked eggs and egg shells. They Love it.
I do this with a mix of corn, red wheat, and oats (couldn't get barley locally). Birds love it and egg production is double of what the chicken pellets got. Birds LOVE it.
Great video! I don't think stirring or dumping is necessary since lactobacillus is an anaerobic bacteria, it does not need oxygen to survive. Most lactobacilli tolerate oxygen but some strains may grow poorly in the presence of oxygen which slows down the fermentation process. That being said, the bucket should be tightly closed with an airlock to let the gas escape and keep air out...
Very efficient little set up. I’ve fermented grains for a while and my chickens got nuts when I give it to them. My chickens have crushed grain on hand at all times and they get fermented grain as a treat. I also grow the grain in my veggie patch as green manure when nothing is growing in there at that time. Very cost effective and so very simple
anew beinging which part? Green manure is just another name for cover crop, as in when the typical growing season is over, you plant green manure or cover crop. It's used to rejuvenate the soil, but in BB's case, they're also using them for feeding the flock.
I do continuous ferment like with my kombucha. Large 3 gallon container in the house. I take grain out to feed - about 1/4 of it - and add back fresh feed. Cover with water and stir well. Once a week, I add a TB of ACV. Keeps the ferment going well - nice and bubbly - and I don't need to wash. I just scrape down each time and when I think it needs it, I wash the whole container. My container is glass.
It was really neat watching this after you guys answered my questions on chickens on Sunday. Thanks for the cool ideas! By the way, I personally do not have any chickens right now. I just really like information gathering.
Nice! I use juice pitchers with lids. I find the handles make for easy refilling and straining. The lids have strainers and the containers soak enough for a few days feeding. If you get the lighter ones you can see how many grains are left from the outside and refill. :)
That is so interesting the main cost of raising is feed .I know my 20 could eat 2 bag a month .As you show would cut that down a great bit .Thank you for sharing really interesting and on keeping them healthy .
So true chicken feed starts to add up over time .And the amount spent VS buying gets near the same as buying .But healthy is the key word as to hormones and many other added to feed and who knows on chicken farms with so many being raised .I had some and they have a short life span there feet start to give the trouble after 9 months then they can not walk .Geno is set that way is a I can fig .Or breeding in the blood line .So I will take a yard chicken over any raised in houses any day .We have game hens and such they are great layers and survive lean not overweight look healthy also .So has to be good for eating I would think .Found your video very good thank you o much we will be getting more soon and will use this in raising them .
@charles foster - you probably accidentally got meat birds. They're bred to grow fast and to be butchered at 8-12 wks. Some try to keep them as pets and they usually die of heart attacks or broken legs before 1 yr.
When I ferment apples for apple cider vinegar, I place a coffer filter over the jar to keep bugs out and allow air in. In this case I guess you don’t need to keep bugs out.
My hens wouldn't eat the mash or pellets but would pick out the cracked corn, oats, sunflower seeds, etc. that was mixed in.... until I added water to the mash and pellets and they crowded around and gobbled it down! Who knew?
The wheat berry or most grains have a coating that protects it during digestive process in hopes of being excreted in manure and having a good nutrient dense start in life.
I’m with you on this. I wish someone would break it down to what “grain” or “grains” are they using and how much of each. Sometimes I watch these videos and afterwards I feel like I just have to the best I can and throw a little of this and a little of that, pour water over it and hope for the best 🤷♀️. I have been giving my hens stuff from the feed store which I get pellets, scratch, oysters shells and grit. I would love to improve my skills with caring for my hens but sometimes the pros just assume we already on their level of hen skills. I’m one of those few people that need step by step instructions. They can call one of their videos “Chickens for Dummies “. I would definitely watch it.
Yeah, I liked the idea of starting the fermentation with water from a mature bucket. I did something similar to this with my fishtanks. The process of stabilizing the water takes time. You can shortcut the process by "seeding" with water from an established tank.
@ff - meal worms are dried, no parasites. If your chickens spend anytime outside, they're eating more parasite infested wild bugs. Add DE or pumpkin seeds to their feed and/or regularly deworm them with fenbedazole.
You can also start a soldier fly larvae container. The larvae contain 40% protein and you can just create a compost bucket that allows the adults in to lay their eggs. Free chicken food
One other step that you might like to consider, is as you are draining the last bucket allow some way of catching the water and reusing it, as a starter culture, for bucket number one. Just a thought.
Don’t add so much water and feed it all to them. I ferment to a soupy mixture and feed it all, no water drained or wasted. They peck the feed trough clean everyday. I also leave a little in the bucket and add some homemade fruit vinegar to start my next batch as a great started
Love your Family’s videos! Thanks for taking the time to share them. What type of whole grain do you use and does the type of grain need to be rotated?i.e. wheat for a bit then switch to barley
Hello, I am brand new to owning chickens (I get mine at the end of May). They will be backyard chickens, I don't have a lot of land for them to move around to find their own protein, so i will be making my own feed for them versus buying "layer feed." After reading your information about fermenting your feed, I would like to try this as well. My question is can I ferment all my feed ingredients?? Here is what I plan on putting in my chicken feed: Whole black oil sunflower seeds, whole corn, whole oats, and flax seeds. Thank you for your time and advice.
Can you do this process with a fresh milled grain that has molasses added to it? I buy my grain and bulk from a local feed Mill but would love to try this method!
When making your own feed mixture, what are the best grains (for fermenting)... making sure that they're getting enough protein? I am such a newbie, bear with me 🙄😀
From another video, one guy said his recipe was Black oil sunflower seeds, rolled oats, barley, scratch grains and catfish pellets (they're high protein and vitamins). His ratio to mix was one 50lb sack each and half the sack of catfish pellets.
When making fermented feed, many people on backyardchickens forum use the regular feed they give the chickens. So, i use their layer feed. 1/4 cup per bird. Glass jar, cover with filtered water, lose cover and let sit for a couple days. Dont let fermented feed sit out for chickens over night. Only serve what they will eat in one day.
At the last of your video you said that the eggs will be heavier, and have thicker shells..... ---- I hatch my eggs and am wondering if the THICKER egg shell will drop my chicken hatch rate. Any thoughts on folks who have experience with this would be appreciated. BTW... have about 75 hens eggs that I use for hatching.
We are just getting started with egg laying chickens and meat chickens…. We will also have 2 free range heritage turkeys and 2 geese. Can we start them all as day old chicks on fermented feed? How do we decide which ingredients to choose?
Where we live we don’t have organic chicken feed available to us at a reasonable price we’re willing to pay, so we use a non-GMO scratch mix (for even further cost savings). If you have organic quality feed available that you can afford, then this would be our recommendation. However, we’ve found that if you can allow your chickens to free-range, or if you keep them in a portable chicken tractor, this is even better and you can get away with a lesser quality food because they’re getting plenty of nutrients from bugs and other vegetation.
Just curious wouldn't it be good to capture the water so that any nutrients that's in it you could use to water the animals with as well, I mean sounds like you have a few animals that will need fresh water daily anyway? But just curious.
Hey Josh, I know I could just ask you this in person but I thought I would ask here so others could see your answer too! What do you do in the winter with the freezing factor of the water? Is there enough warmth generated from the ferment to keep the buckets from freezing? Thanks!
+Jessica Miller - Hey Jess! This will certainly freeze in freezing conditions. You either have to take it inside to keep it fermenting and non-frozen or just go back to feeding non-fermented grains and resume in in the Spring. 😁
Just a thought, what about adding fat to the mix in winter, would it help the grains separate easily as the chickens peck at the grains? I did this a couple winter ago using sheep fat and am thinking of doing that with the fermenting I'll be doing this winter.
@homesteadingfamily Hi I have one question if I have access to a bunch of grains oats and stuff from my local brewery after they're done using it is that enough food or do I have to give other stuff and I am also fully free ranging them too
What grains do you feed your chickens? We've had chickens for only 8 months. Been feeding them pellets. They are doing great, egg shells are nice and thick. BUT your way does seem better for them and cost wise.
So I just get five gallon buckets and lids and put scratch grain in the buckets and cover with water stir it a few times a day and let it sit for 3 days ?
When you say “grains” do you mean “scratch” with wheat, barley, oats, and corn? I feed a bit of that, but mostly layer crumble. When you’re feeding these fermented grains, do you no longer need to feed any crumble? Do they get enough protein?
Thank you so much for sharing that wealth of information. I was wondering though--what is their feed? Is it like oats or corn or something on those lines? Do you buy it at a feed store or could you make your own?
So when you say you cut the cost, is that because you give them less feed than you were before? We fill the feeders and they take what they want, so we don't really pay attention to how much we put in, they just have free choice. So, if I put in fermented seed, will they just take less and the food in the feeder will last longer? Also, how often do you wash the buckets out and what do your recommend we clean them with? FYI- we use non-gmo layered local grain. Thank you!
+Laura Dodds That right Laura - They reduced their consumption by a ton when we did this, saving us a lot of feed (and there by money!). We just rinse well with fresh water to clean the fermenting bucket and put more grains right back in... any leftover fermenting grain or liquid just acts as a starter for the next batch. If you are feeding in a feeder you will want to be sure that it is empty and rinsed each day... we toss our feed out on the ground so the chickens can scratch and peck - their natural eating method!
Joanne Richartz city water prevents fermentation unless you off gas the chlorine 12-24 hrs. Some water is treated with different chemicals that do not offgas, I read one or two vitamin c tablets per bucket treats that. Or collect rainwater.
We tried fermenting feed for our chickens and pigs a while ago and they didn't exactly like it (especially our pigs). I'm thinking maybe I was doing something wrong.. Anyhow, we are going to try fermenting feed again. We also somewhat free range around our pond area and use organic feed, both scratch and pellet as well as wild bird seed as well as give them meal worms. Thanks for the video. Have you also done a ferment video for your pigs?
I have heard people say that if it's too fermented then animals don't like it. Maybe it tastes too sour for them. I wonder if a shorter ferment would work better. In the summer in Arizona everything ferments about twice as fast or even three times as fast. I would have to change the ferment time vastly depending on the temperature outside to affect the flavor.
A few years ago, we had 350+ layers and found a wild rice processing place that gave us their machine and floor sweepings. We ended up with about 800 lbs. of free, good feed for the hens. We soaked 3, 10 gal., 1/2 full buckets twice a day for them. Doubled the feed and soaked up about 3/4 gal. water. Chickens loved it, was very nice on the pocket book, their production was impeccable. They still got their rolled corn before lights out and people loved our eggs. A lot of times we ran out of eggs for selling, just from our house. Anyways, love your videos guys, very informative!
Thanks for sharing this anecdote. Could you tell me more about your daily process of fermenting and feeding birds?
@@katieuncutwaters3452 me too
Thanks for your story,can you share more with me please.
Could you tell me about your process and feed mix by chance? I'm building my flock up and am expecting to have 100 layers before the end of the year.
How much fermented grains do you give each chicken per day?
Just a thought, as I think you’re wasting the final days water when you drain your bucket.
You should make a stand that you can place the drinking bucket above the new days bucket and let the nice strong probiotic water from the final day drain into the new first day as this will significantly expanded on your fermentation process.
I was curious about that as well.
Yes, my chickens go crazy for the "juice", so I give it to them in a bowl...gone in minutes!
Matthew, great thought! I'll be doing this. I hated the idea of wasting so much water. Thank you.
Drunk Chickens are Happy Chickens LOL ;)
Can you break it down dummy terms for me lol im getting lost a little in video im new to this i have 4 chickens lol
I miss videos like these. I like the pantry chat and others but I love the one where youre out in the yard actually showing what youre doing.
Just did our first batch of grain for our girls. They loved it! We have an older hen that hates anything but corn in the grain. She actually ate everything! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
How are the meat chicks doing ?
As your wife makes cheeses what about putting the whey into the feed. My grandma did that and she said it was good for the hens and economical use of waste
Full of proteins
I love this. It seems that also that there is so much water making/cleaning the cheese. So this is another great way to whey.
Growing up on a dairy farm we would wash out the milking machine with fresh water keeping the first few gallons and storing it in drums turning it to curd and whey which was then fed to the pigs (best pork ever!!) and the chickens would come RUNNING to get a treat
Put the bucket with holes on top of the next new bucket and RECLAIM the fermented water to start your fresh grains with!
I agree with that
@philliphall5198 It could go off if used too often but, yes, I agree that the water from the fermenting process shouldn't be wasted. So much nutrients such as probiotics are just being thrown away. Just put it out in a separate container for the chickens. I'm sure they won't ignore it, or, as you said, you can put it in grains that will soak it up, but don't resoak it too many times. As a treat, you could also use cooked rice or cooked pasta, both cooled, of course, as a treat to soak it up. Or, just serve it up without draining.
Voila 👍
I heard from a chicken farmer that the water is healthy and should be added to their diet along with the fermented food.
My Barredrocks and wyandots (12 total) are about 6+ weeks old. Started making my mash by the Qt jar. 1/2c oats, 1c crumble, a drizzle of molasses.
Thanks Homesteading Family! I've been doing something close to this, only sprouting the grains instead of fermenting, 5 days, I'm going to try fermenting after sprouting! so 7 days, possibly 5 times the food for the chickens, my dogs and me! E buying food grade barley & wheat from our local Co-op.
I'm looking into both fermenting ( which this vid was great for ) and gleaned some additional good thoughts in comments.. but also thinking of sprouting .. my idea is to use black plastic grow trays ( like for seedlings) and put holes into one and set it into one without holes so it can drain a bit.. ....and to build a rather high edged frame/s that can be placed around the combined boxes that will have hardware cloth on top so that they can only eat the tops of the plants which I can continue to water ( hopefully)... I live where there is nothing green in winter so I'm going to try grow lights I usually use to start plants in early Spring..
I love the smell! I’ve been fermenting scratch for years to get my girls in the coop but will try the chicken food the same! Tx for sharing!😊😊
Grow Russian Comfrey bocking #14. It's perennial and 20-30% protein. 100-120 tons per acre. Livestock love eating it and it can really lover your feed costs even more. Malted grain is full of enzymes and extra sugar. I raise mealworms to add fat and protein to my bird feed.
I like more information about this.
I've lined my flock fence run with comfrey they love it. purple flowers not wild yellow. It's nickname from Indians is knit bone used all over world for tea.
Illegal here in states but in South used like hay. 22-37% protein. Chickens sheep. Plant next to fruit trees will fertilize them
10 ft. Tap root. Used as poultice also/ burns. Do your research. ..
Thanks for thorough info video. Last week I fermented my pellets and it did make a messy mush, but the girls went crazy for it. I just bought cracked corn and wheat scratch and am going to ferment it. Thanks again. 😊
I love the way you and your wife explain things.
We just got some chickens (& a couple of ducks) this spring. Fall is now approaching, and as it does, I'm wondering how does this process work/what does it look like in the winter months? I'm sure you get very similar weather to me - I am right beside you in Montana - specifically subzero temps. I assume you move your buckets into a climate-controlled area so that they don't freeze. If so, where do you put them - do they need to come inside the house or a slightly heated garage? What is the lowest the temperature can be outside for the grains to ferment outside, then at what temperature do you move them inside (assuming that's the case)? Thanks in advance!
Been doing just for my chickens, but you said ducks and turkeys and now, man I am gonna be a fermenting queen!
I was thinking the same thing!!! We have both ducks and chickens! Yay for fermentation!
Thank you so much for helping me take better care of my little homestead and my family. God bless!
+jacquelyn hiers - So glad we can help other... thanks for the encouraging words😉.
Thanks Josh for sharing how to do this.
Just a little from our experience. If your chickens aren't totally free range, or given other protein, scratch alone is not enough protein. but even bigger is that premixed poultry feed has extra calcium in it. This can be solved by keeping oyster shell available free choice. They sell a calcium carbonate as an oyster shell replacement. it doesn't stop soft shell eggs. Oyster shell does.. We have found a nongmo ground poultry feed mix we are very happy with and ferment for 24 hrs... we could have done longer in the winter but in the summer that seems to work best for us.
Great video, what I do is strain the fermented grain with the perforated bucket inside a clean one, so I use this to start the new batch, also to spray the mulch inside the cop to soften the straw and help the composting process...
Rodrigo Garcia
Very well done! Keep the fowl videos coming! We are in our 50's and just getting started!
Inez Vasquez never too late! Felicidades!
Inez Vasquez
Same here, Inez! Good luck! We’re loving it although it’s hard work!
I leave the same water and keep topping with water as I go. No need to change the water and is much quicker fermentation keep lid on. Incidentally you maybe surprised to know you can consume the corn as well. We call it kaanga pirau, ( fermented corn ). The aroma is like parmesan cheese and obviously there is a process and cooking cooking method. It's absolutely delicious.
I do a daily soak in the house of corn, wheat, whole oats, and sunflower with ACV and the hottest tape water (well water no chlorides) as the starter and set it next to the wood stove-. It gets topped off with table scraps, left overs that aged out, cooked cracked eggs and egg shells. They Love it.
I do this with a mix of corn, red wheat, and oats (couldn't get barley locally). Birds love it and egg production is double of what the chicken pellets got. Birds LOVE it.
Do you do equal
Parts? Thx
Specificly what grains? Have you tried growing wild grains and seeds?
Wheat for winter is what I do
I'm putting my sprouted wheat and barley water on my lemon,orange and lime trees they love it
Great video! I don't think stirring or dumping is necessary since lactobacillus is an anaerobic bacteria, it does not need oxygen to survive. Most lactobacilli tolerate oxygen but some strains may grow poorly in the presence of oxygen which slows down the fermentation process. That being said, the bucket should be tightly closed with an airlock to let the gas escape and keep air out...
Great info!!!! 👍
Lactobacilli are just one kind of probiotic, I believe the one helps prevent yeast infections. I would hope we could get more than the one species.
Very efficient little set up. I’ve fermented grains for a while and my chickens got nuts when I give it to them. My chickens have crushed grain on hand at all times and they get fermented grain as a treat. I also grow the grain in my veggie patch as green manure when nothing is growing in there at that time. Very cost effective and so very simple
can u please explain this to a newbie-thanks
anew beinging which part? Green manure is just another name for cover crop, as in when the typical growing season is over, you plant green manure or cover crop. It's used to rejuvenate the soil, but in BB's case, they're also using them for feeding the flock.
Busy Bumblebee what kind of grains do you grow?
I use hard white wheat berries to grow a cover crop, then let the girls in to till and eat it.
I do continuous ferment like with my kombucha. Large 3 gallon container in the house. I take grain out to feed - about 1/4 of it - and add back fresh feed. Cover with water and stir well. Once a week, I add a TB of ACV. Keeps the ferment going well - nice and bubbly - and I don't need to wash. I just scrape down each time and when I think it needs it, I wash the whole container. My container is glass.
Denise Rollick what is ACV?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Denise Rollick, What is TB?
@@lindajohnson2950 tablespoon
Do you cover your jar?
Do you have a recipe for your poultry grain mix?
It was really neat watching this after you guys answered my questions on chickens on Sunday. Thanks for the cool ideas! By the way, I personally do not have any chickens right now. I just really like information gathering.
How do you feed the fermented grain to the chickens? In a container, scattered on the ground, etc.
We dump the grain into a container.
Use rain water. Tap water often has treatments add with can effect the fermentation process.
Informative video, thanks. I only have six hens so will use coffee cans. Wanted to see you feed the fermented grain.
Now I know what I’m going to do with my coffee cans. I only have six hens too. Thanks for the tip.
Nice! I use juice pitchers with lids. I find the handles make for easy refilling and straining. The lids have strainers and the containers soak enough for a few days feeding. If you get the lighter ones you can see how many grains are left from the outside and refill. :)
@@emgreen2159 p
We have 10 chickens. Coffee can?
@@algonquinwoman1921 the cans coffee comes in to ferment the grain.
That is so interesting the main cost of raising is feed .I know my 20 could eat 2 bag a month .As you show would cut that down a great bit .Thank you for sharing really interesting and on keeping them healthy .
+charles foster - Yep... we all want to take great care of our stock, but it can get expensive if we don't look for healthy alternatives!
So true chicken feed starts to add up over time .And the amount spent VS buying gets near the same as buying .But healthy is the key word as to hormones and many other added to feed and who knows on chicken farms with so many being raised .I had some and they have a short life span there feet start to give the trouble after 9 months then they can not walk .Geno is set that way is a I can fig .Or breeding in the blood line .So I will take a yard chicken over any raised in houses any day .We have game hens and such they are great layers and survive lean not overweight look healthy also .So has to be good for eating I would think .Found your video very good thank you o much we will be getting more soon and will use this in raising them .
@charles foster - you probably accidentally got meat birds. They're bred to grow fast and to be butchered at 8-12 wks. Some try to keep them as pets and they usually die of heart attacks or broken legs before 1 yr.
What if you put a rack and pan under the draining bucket and use it to add to the starter bucket along with fresh water??
Can you do the mixed feed like this also? I have Oats, Sunflower Seeds peas and Flax all mixed in with my scratch.
When I ferment apples for apple cider vinegar, I place a coffer filter over the jar to keep bugs out and allow air in. In this case I guess you don’t need to keep bugs out.
My hens wouldn't eat the mash or pellets but would pick out the cracked corn, oats, sunflower seeds, etc. that was mixed in.... until I added water to the mash and pellets and they crowded around and gobbled it down! Who knew?
The wheat berry or most grains have a coating that protects it during digestive process in hopes of being excreted in manure and having a good nutrient dense start in life.
If you soften the grain like that will the chicken need as much grit to grind the grain up in the gizzard
?
I started fermenting, it smells so sweet like baked bread, yum! What amount of fermented grains should be fed for each hen?
He goes over this in the video.
We do this with our broiler chickens. Really cuts down on feed costs, less feed in the poop
Can you ferment sunflower seed or millet, milo, oats, etc? Where can we find a list of which seeds can be fermented for your birds?
I’m with you on this. I wish someone would break it down to what “grain” or “grains” are they using and how much of each. Sometimes I watch these videos and afterwards I feel like I just have to the best I can and throw a little of this and a little of that, pour water over it and hope for the best 🤷♀️. I have been giving my hens stuff from the feed store which I get pellets, scratch, oysters shells and grit. I would love to improve my skills with caring for my hens but sometimes the pros just assume we already on their level of hen skills. I’m one of those few people that need step by step instructions. They can call one of their videos “Chickens for Dummies “. I would definitely watch it.
Yeah, I liked the idea of starting the fermentation with water from a mature bucket. I did something similar to this with my fishtanks. The process of stabilizing the water takes time. You can shortcut the process by "seeding" with water from an established tank.
Grain fed chickens are healthier and they actually get the nutrients they need. Good video on stretching feed. Keep up the good work! Thank you.
Small poultry feed pellet line for sale: th-cam.com/video/mAKiJm9QwYk/w-d-xo.html
Lol . Grain fed chickens are not! That’s not their native good.
@@nadezhbg5653 I wanted to make meal worms etc for chickens, but I realized they are contaminated with parasites and dangerous bacterias
@ff - meal worms are dried, no parasites. If your chickens spend anytime outside, they're eating more parasite infested wild bugs. Add DE or pumpkin seeds to their feed and/or regularly deworm them with fenbedazole.
You can also start a soldier fly larvae container. The larvae contain 40% protein and you can just create a compost bucket that allows the adults in to lay their eggs. Free chicken food
One other step that you might like to consider, is as you are draining the last bucket allow some way of catching the water and reusing it, as a starter culture, for bucket number one. Just a thought.
Don’t add so much water and feed it all to them. I ferment to a soupy mixture and feed it all, no water drained or wasted. They peck the feed trough clean everyday. I also leave a little in the bucket and add some homemade fruit vinegar to start my next batch as a great started
Amen! We use WAY less feed and the birds get their fill. Plus the nutrition is better...too many benefits to not do it. Thank you!
Love your Family’s videos! Thanks for taking the time to share them. What type of whole grain do you use and does the type of grain need to be rotated?i.e. wheat for a bit then switch to barley
I would love to know what to purchase as well
Thanks for the video. how many times a day do you need to feed the chickens? Thanks again
Once a day
i will often pour kombucha on my feed and give them the whole fruits if i ever use any
Hello, I am brand new to owning chickens (I get mine at the end of May). They will be backyard chickens, I don't have a lot of land for them to move around to find their own protein, so i will be making my own feed for them versus buying "layer feed." After reading your information about fermenting your feed, I would like to try this as well.
My question is can I ferment all my feed ingredients?? Here is what I plan on putting in my chicken feed: Whole black oil sunflower seeds, whole corn, whole oats, and flax seeds.
Thank you for your time and advice.
Can you do this process with a fresh milled grain that has molasses added to it? I buy my grain and bulk from a local feed Mill but would love to try this method!
Yes, molasses will actually help it along!
Can we feed the fermented grains along with the liquid fermented? I really wish to know if it is good to do this.
When making your own feed mixture, what are the best grains (for fermenting)... making sure that they're getting enough protein? I am such a newbie, bear with me 🙄😀
My question also.
From another video, one guy said his recipe was Black oil sunflower seeds, rolled oats, barley, scratch grains and catfish pellets (they're high protein and vitamins). His ratio to mix was one 50lb sack each and half the sack of catfish pellets.
When making fermented feed, many people on backyardchickens forum use the regular feed they give the chickens. So, i use their layer feed. 1/4 cup per bird. Glass jar, cover with filtered water, lose cover and let sit for a couple days. Dont let fermented feed sit out for chickens over night. Only serve what they will eat in one day.
How do you determine how much to feed? I have 6 hens
Do you keep lids on your bucket throughout the day or do they remain open?
In order to expedite the process of fermentation is it alright to add something like yeast.
At the last of your video you said that the eggs will be heavier, and have thicker shells..... ---- I hatch my eggs and am wondering if the THICKER egg shell will drop my chicken hatch rate. Any thoughts on folks who have experience with this would be appreciated. BTW... have about 75 hens eggs that I use for hatching.
Thanks for the video.
Question...is the 1/4 to 2/3 pound of feed per day before you ferment or after?
Yes I needed this answer
What do you do in the winter time so this does not freeze? Do you just bring it inside or is their something different you do for the cold?
+Dustin Moon You have to bring it into a protected spot so it doesn’t freeze...
We are just getting started with egg laying chickens and meat chickens…. We will also have 2 free range heritage turkeys and 2 geese. Can we start them all as day old chicks on fermented feed? How do we decide which ingredients to choose?
Where do you get the grain? We get the mash and pellets from the grainery
What kind of grains? I just have oats. Will they need other grains as well?
Where we live we don’t have organic chicken feed available to us at a reasonable price we’re willing to pay, so we use a non-GMO scratch mix (for even further cost savings).
If you have organic quality feed available that you can afford, then this would be our recommendation.
However, we’ve found that if you can allow your chickens to free-range, or if you keep them in a portable chicken tractor, this is even better and you can get away with a lesser quality food because they’re getting plenty of nutrients from bugs and other vegetation.
I soak my whole corn for chickens and gravel also
Good if you have access to non chlorinated water as well. Not sure if your house is connected to rain catchment or not?
Just curious wouldn't it be good to capture the water so that any nutrients that's in it you could use to water the animals with as well, I mean sounds like you have a few animals that will need fresh water daily anyway?
But just curious.
Great demo and explanation - thanks!
Do you use heaters to keep the buckets from freezing during the winter, or do you only ferment feed during the warmer months? Thank you!
Why wouldn't you keep the water, to use for bucket 1 again, and only add extra water to fill the bucket up?
Still wondering that in 2020
That’s a great idea.
I reuse the water and it smells like it ferments faster . Witch is good in the winter time I also add fresh water when needed
I imagine that would work. I reuse liquid from vegetable ferments all the time.
Kinda like saving a sourdough started for the next batch.
Lacto boost from the bucket you are draining to use as feed. In cooler weather that will boost the start.
Check your local breweries! They will give you their left over grain that is fermented so they don't have to pay to get rid of it
I wonder if it gets the chickens drunk?🤣
Is regret no nutrients in tge water???
Thx. Blessings, julie
Our heifers got tipsy from eating corn silage .. it was made of horse corn , the whole plant thrown in a silage pit
Hey Josh, I know I could just ask you this in person but I thought I would ask here so others could see your answer too! What do you do in the winter with the freezing factor of the water? Is there enough warmth generated from the ferment to keep the buckets from freezing? Thanks!
+Jessica Miller - Hey Jess! This will certainly freeze in freezing conditions. You either have to take it inside to keep it fermenting and non-frozen or just go back to feeding non-fermented grains and resume in in the Spring. 😁
Homesteading Family Thanks Josh!
Just a thought, what about adding fat to the mix in winter, would it help the grains separate easily as the chickens peck at the grains? I did this a couple winter ago using sheep fat and am thinking of doing that with the fermenting I'll be doing this winter.
Thats a great question. Thanks for asking on here so we could see too.
I use heat lamp to keep water so I set it under light also in metal can
Do you use fermented grains also for chicks?
Do you put lid on ? I see lot do so whats do's an donts bout covering
How do you feed it to the chickens? In a pile on the ground in a pan or a feeder?
Up to you. We place in a ground feeder.
Are u using layer pellets for fermentation?
What about the last bucket with the holes in it. Drain that water over the first bucket . Use that as a starter. ?
@homesteadingfamily Hi I have one question if I have access to a bunch of grains oats and stuff from my local brewery after they're done using it is that enough food or do I have to give other stuff and I am also fully free ranging them too
it would probably be good to add some willow shoots as its a natural rooting hormone
What grains do you feed your chickens? We've had chickens for only 8 months. Been feeding them pellets. They are doing great, egg shells are nice and thick. BUT your way does seem better for them and cost wise.
Make ferment from their pellets that you already feed!
So I just get five gallon buckets and lids and put scratch grain in the buckets and cover with water stir it a few times a day and let it sit for 3 days ?
what chicken feed are you using exactly, what specific grain? I just buy a bag starter grower....but I'm not sure if I can ferment that.
Valerie Jackson you can ferment any feed
When you say “grains” do you mean “scratch” with wheat, barley, oats, and corn?
I feed a bit of that, but mostly layer crumble. When you’re feeding these fermented grains, do you no longer need to feed any crumble? Do they get enough protein?
Thank you so much for sharing that wealth of information. I was wondering though--what is their feed? Is it like oats or corn or something on those lines? Do you buy it at a feed store or could you make your own?
I mix whole corn, oats and black sunflower seeds. I'd like to find rye and barley to add as well.
Chicken feed! I buy layer pellets from Tractor supply company
@@jennrimkus does the layer pellets disintegrate into mush?
@@SweetLifeBakery yes it does
Good day sir. I'm just asking if we ferment the chicken feeds how many % there egg production for the layers
OK, LETS GET REAL HERE. THE CHICKS LOVE THE BUZZ THEY GET.
So when you say you cut the cost, is that because you give them less feed than you were before? We fill the feeders and they take what they want, so we don't really pay attention to how much we put in, they just have free choice. So, if I put in fermented seed, will they just take less and the food in the feeder will last longer? Also, how often do you wash the buckets out and what do your recommend we clean them with? FYI- we use non-gmo layered local grain. Thank you!
+Laura Dodds That right Laura - They reduced their consumption by a ton when we did this, saving us a lot of feed (and there by money!). We just rinse well with fresh water to clean the fermenting bucket and put more grains right back in... any leftover fermenting grain or liquid just acts as a starter for the next batch. If you are feeding in a feeder you will want to be sure that it is empty and rinsed each day... we toss our feed out on the ground so the chickens can scratch and peck - their natural eating method!
So helpful. Thank you! Starting this weekend! Can't afford these hungry spring ladies!
Laura Dodds ь
What do you add for extra protein in the winter when your birds are not getting bugs?
What is the difference between using well water and city water. Does it affect the affect the probiotics
Joanne Richartz city water prevents fermentation unless you off gas the chlorine 12-24 hrs. Some water is treated with different chemicals that do not offgas, I read one or two vitamin c tablets per bucket treats that. Or collect rainwater.
Will the fermented water hurt the birds? Should I offer the fermented water? If not, is it good for the garden? Composter? Any other uses?
We tried fermenting feed for our chickens and pigs a while ago and they didn't exactly like it (especially our pigs). I'm thinking maybe I was doing something wrong.. Anyhow, we are going to try fermenting feed again. We also somewhat free range around our pond area and use organic feed, both scratch and pellet as well as wild bird seed as well as give them meal worms. Thanks for the video. Have you also done a ferment video for your pigs?
I have heard people say that if it's too fermented then animals don't like it. Maybe it tastes too sour for them. I wonder if a shorter ferment would work better. In the summer in Arizona everything ferments about twice as fast or even three times as fast. I would have to change the ferment time vastly depending on the temperature outside to affect the flavor.
Thanks mate 👍 ya rock 💪 ya saving me money and make me 🐦 healthy Aussie Aussie Aussie oiy oiy oiy 😀
Can you tell me what your chicken feed is made of? And what portions of each grains you use. Tha ks
Could this be applied in a gravity style feeder? Does the fermented feed need to be eat completely due to mold?
Thanks!