Noticed a huge difference after switching my flock to fermented feed about 3 months ago

I started fermenting their layer pellets back in June because I read it could save money on feed. I used a simple 5 gallon bucket with a lid, added about 4 cups of pellets and covered them with water, then let it sit for 2 days before feeding. The change in my girls is wild - their egg shells got noticeably thicker within like 2 weeks, and the yolks are a deeper orange now. Before fermenting, I was going through a 50 pound bag every 5 weeks, but now it lasts closer to 7 weeks because the feed expands and they eat less. My 6 Rhode Island Reds seem way more energetic too, and they scratch around more in the run instead of just standing at the feeder. Has anyone else tried this and seen their chickens poop less or have drier bedding? I'm curious if the fermentation cuts down on moisture somehow.

2 comments

2 Comments

troy43923d ago

Whoa, slow down there! I tried fermenting feed once and all it did was turn my run into a sticky, fermented mess that attracted flies like crazy. My hens wouldn't even touch the slop after the first day, and I ended up wasting money on a bucket of spoiled goo.

elizabeth_gonzalez23d ago

So you ended up with a science experiment AND a fly farm... nice work? Sounds like you accidentally made chicken soup for flies instead of feed, honestly.