10 Foods to Ferment for Chickens

Soon after I began fermenting my chickens’ feed, I began experimenting with what I could ferment.  The fermentation process makes nutrients more available, increases digestibility, and promotes beneficial bacteria throughout the digestive tract, so I knew that it wouldn’t hurt to try fermenting foods that I already provided as treats.  (Read about the benefits of fermented feed here.)

When experimenting with additions to their food, I always kept the proportion the same as what I would feed them normally.  For example, a day’s meal of nothing but fermented sunflower seeds would be too high in fiber.  Instead, I used at least 85% regular ration, whether layer or grower, and no more than 15% extras.

I’ve been fermenting my feed in a deep plastic dish pan, although the plastic is not ideal because it can leach into the feed.  Ceramic, glass, or stainless steel would be better.  I put in a few scoops of feed, some extras, and fill it up to about ½” from the top with chlorine-free water.  (I use a filter on my faucet, but you can also boil your water or let it sit out overnight.)  I mix it all together to a soupy consistency.  As the grains absorb the water, it becomes thicker, like hot cereal.  I like to put a lid on it to keep it as anaerobic as possible, and I serve it to my chickens after two or three days, once the smell changes from sweet to sour.

Here are 10 foods you can ferment for your chickens:

1. Layer or grower feed: When you hear about fermented feed, it usually means just that.  Your regular feed can be fermented.  Take a look at the basic directions here.

2. Scratch grains: Whole, dried grains do very well.  Oats, wheat, corn – whatever you feed as scratch grains can be fermented.

3. Conventional supplements: If you add poultry conditioner, flax seeds, kelp, fish meal, or any other supplement to your regular feed, these can also be mixed into your ferment recipe.

4. Sunflower seeds: My chickens love BOSS – black oil sunflower seeds, sold most commonly for wild birds.  Soaking and fermenting will soften the shell and make them that much more delectable.

5. Dried alfalfa: Alfalfa is a great green food that you can provide during winter which also has a high amount of protein.  You can buy cubes or pellets of alfalfa at feed and pet stores to add to your ferment.

6.  Grasses and clovers: Farmers have been creating silage by fermenting grasses for hundreds of years.  Clippings of the plants your chickens like best make a great addition to your feed, either fresh or dried.  Try dandelion, comfrey, nettles, clover, or chicory.

7. Vegetables and fruit: Your chickens love your bits and pieces fresh or fermented.  Toss some to your chickens while fresh and add the rest in well-chopped bits to the ferment to provide a wider nutrient profile.  They would love the cores and bruised parts of your apples and the ends of your garlic cloves.  (Apple seeds can be poisonous in large amounts, so I usually remove them.)

8. Grains and flours:  In my kitchen, I sometimes use flours like ground chickpeas or flax seed meal or cook steel-cut oats or wild rice.  When these ingredients get old or I find an old bag with a few scant tablespoons left, these find new life in the ferment.

9. Crushed egg shells: A great calcium supplement from the flock, crushed egg shells are an ideal candidate.  The fermentation process will help to break down the shell and make it more digestible.  I don’t bake or treat my shells in any way; I just crush them in a cloth with the bottom of a cup and shake them in.

10. Hard-boiled eggs:  Shells and all, I toss hard-boiled eggs into the ferment and crush them with a potato masher!  I did try adding them raw once, but it made the mix mold rather quickly.  But, hands-down, my chickens’ favorite food of all time is fermented hard-boiled eggs.  Yum! 🙂

I have not tried to ferment meat or insects.  I’m pretty sure that bugs get into dry feed all the time and have probably been fermented before with perfectly fine result.  I may toss in some mealworms one of these days just to see how it goes.  I have also not included whole beans, although I have fermented ground beans.  Whole beans would probably require a longer fermentation period and would benefit from presoaking.

Traditionally fermented foods such as yogurt or fish paste or sauce is also very well-received by chickens, as is apple cider vinegar with the mother.  To be safe, a good rule of thumb would be not to add anything to a fermented feed that you would not feed unfermented.

So, what have you been fermenting?

Fermented Feed Posts:

#1: Fermented Feed

#2: Fermented Feed v2

#3: Science of Fermented Feed

#4: Microorganisms at Work

#5: 10 Foods to Ferment for Chickens (this post)