Chicken bald back

[Chicken shack]

My neighbour ferments mixed corn for about 3 days and feeds this to her chickens. She said that it has more nutrients and is better for the chickens. Saves money, she spends far less on food than I do. What are you thoughts on this Do any omleteers do this

Edited January 19, 2015 by Guest

[mullethunter]

I've sprouted mixed corn and given it o them after 7 days when the shoots are about 3" tall. The girls did like it but not as much as I'd thought they would. In fact Shelley ignored the sprouts and just ate the grain.

 

Sorry that's probably not much help but I thought I'd share

[Redwing]

I've sprouted wheat and alfalfa before but wouldn't leave the grain in the same water for three days but I suppose as her chickens are thriving it cant be harmful

[mullethunter]

wouldn't leave the grain in the same water for three days

 

Not sure I'd be keen on that either - when I've sprouted I rinse the grains / sprouts with fresh water twice a day.

[Chickabee]

This got me interested, so I googled it. Here's one article -

 

 

What the heck is fermented feed and why on earth would you want to give it to chickens?

 

Fermentation has been used for hundreds of years by many cultures to preserve and enhance foods. If you have ever consumed cheese, yogurt, sourdough bread, wine, beer kimchi or sauerkraut (just to name a few) you have eaten a fermented food.

 

The fermentation process uses naturally occurring bacteria to partially break down the food, improving its enzyme content and increasing its levels of vitamins B, C and K. It also makes food more digestible, and boosts the "usable" protein level by about 12 percent.

 

The other benefits to using fermented feed:

Feed consumption and waste will drop by 1/2 to 3/4 (this will save you money)

Poultry on a diet of fermented feed are generally healthier and less likely to contract disease

There is almost zero waste as chickens don't scratch through it, kicking it out of the feeder

Stools become more solid and many people report less smell in the coop and run!

Egg yolks of eggs laid by hens on fermented feed will become noticeably larger, and shells will be more solid.

 

Don't think I'll be doing it myself, but sounds very Interesting