Hi everyone! We got a great question in the comments below from a viewer that we think is important to address. The question was “Where does the protein come from” in our fermented grain. I should have touched on that in the video--protein content is important in chicken feed! I typically use 50/50 mix of wheat berries and barley. Wheat and barley both have a base protein content of around 14%, but fermenting can significantly increase the usable protein in these grains (studies have found the increase is as much as 5%). So, if you are looking at protein content of 18-19% vs. commercial layer feed around 16%, it is comparable. Some folks add other things to their fermented feed, like alfalfa and sprouts, to get their protein intake up to over 30%. I prefer to allow the hens to range and catch bugs, worms, and other small critters.
Hahaha! I watch a video recently where they afixed a chicken to the the front of a speed boat with a cute little helmet cam....she captured perfect, still, and cinema-quality footage! I love it! Almost as good as chickens in pants!
From what I know of malting, this would be like a first process to bring out the sugars to be more completely fermented, correct? I think that would definitely be something to try, if you were willing to have several "in process" batches going through the different stages. Plus, you would need some sort of way to dry, like in a kiln or oven, in order to malt correctly. I could definitely see this on a very small scale (just in your kitchen for a few hens) or a huge scale (some sort of commercial operation). It's a good idea-you should run with it!!! Thanks for watching!
I typically use a 50/50 of wheat berries and barley. Some people like to use oats in rotation, but I find that this is more expensive and much less often found non-GMO (which is important to me). Wheat and barley both have a base protein content of around 14%, but the fermenting process significantly increases the usable protein in these grains (studies have found the increase is as much as 5%). So, if you are looking at protein content coming in around 18-19% vs. commercial layer feed around 16%, it is comparable. Some folks add other things to their fermented feed, like alfalfa and sprouts, to get their protein intake up to over 30%, but I prefer to allow the hens to range and catch bugs, worms, and other small critters. Hope this helps. Great question, and thanks for watching!
Great question. My experience has been that my hens eat about half as much of the fermented in volume in order to feel "full". So, that math might be about right for you. What I would recommend you do, however, is start introducing the fermented to their diet slowly while backing off of the regular feed. You could feed the fermented as a "bonus" feed to start, maybe in the afternoon if your first feed is in the morning. Watch how your birds react to the fermented, and if they like it, continue to increase the amount while still decreasing the old feed. At some point when all signs are positive, switch your feeding schedule to feed the fermented in the morning and the old feed in the afternoon (less and less as time goes on). You can decide whether you want to have some of the regular feed on hand for occasional "bonus" snacks or even go to a scratch grains / sunflower / cracked corn mixture just for a snack. Ultimately, your hens will tell you how fast and how much by their attentiveness to the food. I hope this helps!
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Hi everyone! We got a great question in the comments below from a viewer that we think is important to address. The question was “Where does the protein come from” in our fermented grain. I should have touched on that in the video--protein content is important in chicken feed! I typically use 50/50 mix of wheat berries and barley. Wheat and barley both have a base protein content of around 14%, but fermenting can significantly increase the usable protein in these grains (studies have found the increase is as much as 5%). So, if you are looking at protein content of 18-19% vs. commercial layer feed around 16%, it is comparable. Some folks add other things to their fermented feed, like alfalfa and sprouts, to get their protein intake up to over 30%. I prefer to allow the hens to range and catch bugs, worms, and other small critters.
Your birds look healthy and well cared for!
Thanks! These girls are thriving, though they could do without temperatures in the teens right now!
Such happy chickens!
lol! We love to treat these girls well! They take good care of us on the "egg side" of things!
Gyroscopically stable chicken head go brrrrrr
Hahaha! I watch a video recently where they afixed a chicken to the the front of a speed boat with a cute little helmet cam....she captured perfect, still, and cinema-quality footage! I love it! Almost as good as chickens in pants!
I think if you malt the seeds it will be better
From what I know of malting, this would be like a first process to bring out the sugars to be more completely fermented, correct? I think that would definitely be something to try, if you were willing to have several "in process" batches going through the different stages. Plus, you would need some sort of way to dry, like in a kiln or oven, in order to malt correctly. I could definitely see this on a very small scale (just in your kitchen for a few hens) or a huge scale (some sort of commercial operation). It's a good idea-you should run with it!!! Thanks for watching!
where is there protein coming from
I typically use a 50/50 of wheat berries and barley. Some people like to use oats in rotation, but I find that this is more expensive and much less often found non-GMO (which is important to me). Wheat and barley both have a base protein content of around 14%, but the fermenting process significantly increases the usable protein in these grains (studies have found the increase is as much as 5%). So, if you are looking at protein content coming in around 18-19% vs. commercial layer feed around 16%, it is comparable.
Some folks add other things to their fermented feed, like alfalfa and sprouts, to get their protein intake up to over 30%, but I prefer to allow the hens to range and catch bugs, worms, and other small critters.
Hope this helps. Great question, and thanks for watching!
Sir. I have to give 5 kg dry feed per day for my folks. Is it ok to ferment 2.5kg food and is that enough or equel to 5kg?
Great question. My experience has been that my hens eat about half as much of the fermented in volume in order to feel "full". So, that math might be about right for you. What I would recommend you do, however, is start introducing the fermented to their diet slowly while backing off of the regular feed. You could feed the fermented as a "bonus" feed to start, maybe in the afternoon if your first feed is in the morning. Watch how your birds react to the fermented, and if they like it, continue to increase the amount while still decreasing the old feed. At some point when all signs are positive, switch your feeding schedule to feed the fermented in the morning and the old feed in the afternoon (less and less as time goes on). You can decide whether you want to have some of the regular feed on hand for occasional "bonus" snacks or even go to a scratch grains / sunflower / cracked corn mixture just for a snack.
Ultimately, your hens will tell you how fast and how much by their attentiveness to the food. I hope this helps!