How to Ferment Chicken Feed For Healthier Hens and Eggs
Last Updated on April 20, 2025
Come learn how to ferment chicken feed, plus with why fermented feed is so great for your chickens’ health! It’s quick and easy to make, and can actually help save money. Then, you’ll reap the rewards with more nutritious eggs too!
We’ve been making fermented feed for our chickens for years, and I have yet to meet a bird that doesn’t prefer fermented grains to plain old dry food. Your flock will love it!
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RELATED: If you’re new to raising backyard chickens, come learn what can chickens eat (and can’t eat) – including healthy treat ideas, boredom busters, our DIY flock block recipe, and toxic foods or plants to avoid.
What is fermented chicken feed?
Fermented chicken feed is simply regular chicken feed that has been allowed to ferment by soaking in water for a few days under the right conditions. During that time, beneficial lactobacillus bacteria naturally found in the environment (including on chicken feed) converts starch and sugar into lactic acid bacteria (LAB). This encourages the formation of gut-healthy probiotics while also lowering the pH to prevent growth of harmful bacteria – much like making homemade sauerkraut.
Fermented can be offered as a primary food source or as an occasional treat. When our chickens are molting or otherwise under the weather, we keep the fermented feed in ample supply! They need all the extra nutritional support they can get during those times.
4 Benefits of Fermenting Chicken Feed
1) Improved Digestion and Nutrient Absorption
Fermented chicken feed is easier to digest and increases nutrient absorption. In addition to being soft and gentle on their digestive system, soaking grains reduces phytic acid, an “anti-nutrient” naturally present that can interfere with the absorption of nutrients and minerals. Fermentation has also been shown to enhance the content of certain vitamins in foods, such as Vitamin B.
2) Added Probiotics and Immune Health
The ample probiotics found in fermented chicken feed are stellar for digestion, immunity, and improved gut health – which is directly tied to total body health. Research show that animals who receive a steady intake of probiotics through fermented feed have a more robust immune system than those on a standard dry feed diet.
For instance, this study found that the lactic acid bacteria in fermented chicken feeds lowers the pH of chickens intestines enough to ward off acid-sensitive bacteria like E.Coli and Salmonella. Meaning, chickens consuming fermented feed are less likely to develop infections and other diseases, and live longer, less complicated lives. For you, that means less stress and vet bills, and healthier eggs!
3) Better Quality Eggs
You know the saying “you are what you eat“? When your chickens receive superior nourishment, the eggs they lay for you are supremely nutrient-dense in return.
According to a study published in the Journal of British Poultry science, chickens that were fed fermented chicken feed showed increased egg weight, shell thickness, and shell stiffness over chickens on dry food. When chickens have nice firm eggshells, they’re far less likely to have issues with laying soft-shell eggs or becoming egg-bound; both of which can be life-threatening.
4) Save Feed and Money
Last but not least, making fermented chicken feed makes their food (and your dollar) stretch further! As the feed soaks, it expands in volume so your birds get full faster. At the same time, they digest more nutrients than ever! So, fermenting chicken feed is an inexpensive way to improve the nutritional value of basic dry feed while also consuming less of it.
Supplies Needed
- A container to ferment chicken feed in, such as a large glass jar, bowl or bucket. It should be large enough to hold a day or two worth of feed for your flock, plus extra room for water, stirring, and expansion. A quart or half-gallon mason jar worked well when we had just a handful of chickens. Now we ferment chicken feed in a 2-gallon bucket for our flock of 13.
- Chicken feed. You can ferment crumble, pellets, or whole grain chicken feed – including chick starter! We’ve found that whole grain feed holds up the best, as the others get more mushy as they expand. We use our long-time favorite organic layer feed from Scratch and Peck. You can even ferment scratch as a treat, though it shouldn’t replace their layer feed.
How to Ferment Chicken Feed
1) Mix Feed and Water
First, add enough dry chicken feed to the container for one or two daily servings for your flock. For reference, the average adult chicken will consume about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of food per day. For our Scratch and Peck mash grain feed, that equates to about 1/2 cup of food per chicken per day (weighed dry). We typically ferment enough to serve over the course of two days.
Next, pour water over the top so that the feed is fully submerged, plus a couple inches of room on top to expand.
How much feed should I ferment?
If you plan to offer fermented feed as their primary food source, do your best to estimate a day or two worth of feed for your flock size. To offer it regularly, you’ll need to start staggered batches every few days (date the containers) in order to have a finished batch available at all times. Or, to offer fermented feed as an occasional treat (with dry food still available), simply make one batch at a time; the amount doesn’t need to be exact.
2) Cover and Ferment
Cover the top of the container with a loose-fitting lid, plate, or other makeshift lid. It doesn’t need to be air tight! The goal is to prevent drifting mold spores from floating in, but allow fermentation gasses to escape.
Set the container in a location with moderate temperatures and out of direct sunlight for three to four days to ferment. Check and stir it each day. Add additional water if the feed has absorbed it all and is no longer submerged. Floating or exposed feed may mold!
By day or two or three, you should see small bubbles on the surface and/or within the feed mixture. It should smell slightly tangy, sour, and sweet – similar to yogurt or yeast. (Ours smells a tad fishy since the feed contains kelp meal.) The liquid will also get increasingly cloudy. If the fermented chicken feed develops mold or putrid odors, do not feed it to them!
While fermented chicken feed is safe to consume beyond day three or four, it gets increasingly sour and may become less palatable for your spoiled chicken’s taste buds.
3) Drain
If the fermented chicken feed hasn’t absorbed all of the water by serving time, you can either drain off the excess or reserve the liquid to jump start a new batch. Soaking fresh feed in already-fermented brine will actually put the next batch about a day ahead of schedule! However, I wouldn’t continue to use the same brine more than a couple times or it will become too sour.
However, the feed will spoil faster when it’s no longer submerged in its liquid “bath”. So if you plan to feed over the course of two days, simply scoop out half on day three and then drain/use the rest on day four.
TIP: If you have a large flock and would like to regularly make fermented feed, consider making a DIY self-draining bucket system! Drill many small holes in the bottom of one 5-gallon bucket, nestle it inside another 5-gallon bucket, and then fill with food and water to ferment. Once it’s done, simply lift the top bucket and the liquid will drain away into the lower bucket.
4) Feed
Now for the best part! Serve the fermented feed in a tray or dish that all of your chickens can eat from. For our current flock of 13, we usually spread it out between two wide shallow repurposed plant saucers so everyone has room to gather round and enjoy. I love listening to their happy little peck-peck-pecks on the tray!
Simple, effective, and worthwhile!
In short, making fermented chicken feed is an easy and inexpensive way to give your girls a boost! It can lead to healthier chickens, better quality eggs, and potentially lower feed costs. What’s not to love about all that? I hope you found this article helpful and interesting. If so, please spread the love by leaving a review below! Above all, I hope your chickens enjoy their new feed!
You may enjoy these related articles:
- Sprouted Seeds: A Health Treat for Backyard Chickens
- Top 10 Chicken Coop Supplies That Will Make Your Life Easier
- 10 Ways to Keep Chickens Cool During Hot Summer Weather or Heat Waves
- Tips on Caring for Chickens During Cold Winter Weather
- Feeding Chickens Eggshells or Oyster Shells for Essential Calcium
- Best Practices for Storing & Washing Fresh Backyard Chicken Eggs
- When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs? 5 Telltale Signs It’s Soon!
- Top 18 Chicken Breeds for Your Backyard Flock
How to Make Fermented Chicken Feed
Equipment
- Large glass jar, mixing bowl, bucket, or other container (BPA-free preferred)
Ingredients
- 1-2 servings chicken feed of choice (for the whole flock) including whole grain feed, pellets or crumbles
Instructions
- Check the serving recommendations for your chicken feed (e.g. 1/4-1/2 cup per chicken per day). Then, choose a large enough container to fit one or two daily servings of feed for your flock, plus some extra room for water, expansion, and stirring.
- Add enough chicken feed to the container for one or two days servings for your flock. We usually ferment enough to serve over two days.
- Pour water over the top of the feed. Add enough so that the feed is fully submerged and has a couple inches of room to expand.
- Cover the top of the container with a loose-fitting lid, plate, or other makeshift lid. It doesn’t need to be air tight.
- Set the container in a location with moderate temperatures for three to four days to ferment (such as out on the counter, in the garage, etc).
- Check and stir it each day. Add additional water if the feed has absorbed it all.
- After 3 to 4 days (our chickens prefer day 3) give them the fermented feed. If it hasn’t absorbed all of the water, you can either drain it off and discard, or reserve the liquid to jump start a new batch of fermented feed.
- However, the feed will spoil faster when it's no longer submerged in its liquid "bath". So if you plan to feed over the course of two days, simply scoop out half on day three and then drain/use the rest on day four.
- Repeat as desired, and develop a schedule. Since it takes a few days to ferment, some folks start staggered batches every couple of days (date the containers) in order to have a finished batch of fermented feed available at all times.
Deanna Talerico
Deanna Talerico (aka DeannaCat) is a garden educator and writer with over 15 years experience in organic gardening. She is a retired Senior Environmental Health Specialist, and holds a M.A. in Environmental Studies and B.S. in Sustainability and Natural Resources.
124 Comments
debi
I was just wondering if you ever have problems with it freezing? We are approaching winter, and where we live, it can get bitter cold. How do you manage feeding the fermented mash in the winter months without it freezing?
Thanks
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Debi, our location doesn’t typically freeze at all aside on the rare occasion. You may have to curb your fermented feed offerings during your winter months or you can try and customize a chicken water warmer to use for your fermented feedings? Good luck!
Rykiel Gibb
Can I use homemade feed?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Absolutely!
nicole
HI! Do you only feed them once a day with fermented feed? Do they eat it all at once? Or do you put it out in the morning and they come back and eat it throughout the day?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Nicole, we typically try and feed them enough of the fermented feed for them to consume in on “sitting” while still offering their typical dry feed as another option. You don’t want to let the fermented feed to sit out for too long throughout the day as it may mold in time. Hope that helps and good luck!
Rafael
We recently started fermenting chicken feed for 36-48hrs. pleasent smell and was eaten well by our 12 week old chickens.
However after 3 days of feeding several have bloody diarrea, with 3 mortality within flock of 20.
Has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks for sharing.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Rafael, that is too bad to hear about your chickens but I would look into other causes than fermented feed (especially so since it had a pleasant smell) as I don’t see that being the issue with your flock. If you are concerned about the fermented feed you can alternate feedings with dry food so they don’t always have fermented feed in their crops. Also be sure that the feed was fermented properly and that there is no mold present. Have you looked into worms or coccidiosis as that can come on quickly and can be deadly to chickens.
Rafael
Thanks; we will try again and hopefully obtain better results.
Chelsea
Hi! Thanks for the article!
Can you tell me which brand of chicken feed you use? I’m just curious!
Also, how long should you leave each feeding out for the chickens? If it’s not all consumed in a day, should it be discarded?
Should you essentially feed them in the morning and then discard the rest that evening if it’s not all consumed?
Also, if you make enough feed for two days, what do you do with the second feeding? Leave it in the jar still covered with water and lid until ready to use?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Chelsea, we use Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Layer for our hens. In regards to the amount of feed, I would try and get the amount of fermented feed down a little better so that their feed is gone by the end of the day. If there is still some left over at the end of the day, try fermenting a little less until you find the right amount for your birds. If you ferment enough for two days, just leave some submerged in the liquid to ferment another day or pour off the remaining liquid and store the fermented feed in the refrigerator until you are ready to feed your birds. Hope that helps and thanks for reading.
Susan
Can you give fermented feed to baby chicks?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Absolutely!
CJ Parcell
Can this be done with Chicken Starter?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi CJ, yes you can, although I would likely do it in moderation just because they are chicks.
CJ Parcell
I have been feeding this to the chicks since they were 3 weeks. They absolutely love it.
Thank you.
Chelsea
Question. I started fermenting feed for our flock about a week ago. Before when we placed the same amount of dry feed out it would last at least 24 hours. Now when I feed the same amount fermented, it’s gone in less than 12 hours. Is this normal? Should I give them more? It is not being consumed by other animals either as I’ve closely monitored it to make sure that wasn’t what was happening. I am also adding brewers yeast, omegas and garlic with their fermented feed. Thank you for your guidance!
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Chelsea, I guess your chickens really like the fermented feed! It is probably something new and interesting to your flock so they may be eating more than necessary? Chickens that eat fermented feed are supposed to eat less feed compared to dried as the nutrients are more available for absorption. I think you should stick to the recommended amount of feed per hen which I believe is around 1/4 cup (depending on the type of feed) and see if they continue to eat it all or return to the normal amount of feed. Let us know how it works out and what changes or doesn’t change in the next couple weeks. Good luck!
Lori Cote
My chicks and keets will be on shavings, what happens to whatever fermented feed falls in and is lost….afraid of mold or bugs….
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Lori, I would try and use a large plate or even a piece of cardboard if you have a larger flock to keep their feed container on to catch any of the feed that ends up falling overboard just to be safe. Afterwards it should be easy enough to remove any excess food before it finds its way into the shavings. Hope that helps and good luck!
Amanda
What feed do you use? I’ve been using pellets because it’s the only thing TSC carries, but it’s definitely messy and impossible to drain off most of the water without losing feed.
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hello Amanda, we use Scratch and Peck Naturally Free Layer feed. Hopefully TSC can special order it for you? Check in with other farm supply stores in your area if there are any, our hens definitely prefer it over pellets. Hope that helps and good luck!
Katie
How do you feed it to them? Do you put it in a slop dish?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Katie, we have a couple bowls that we use for this, not your typical chicken feeder. Good luck!
Katie
The weird grey/brown stuff that sits on top after 2-3 days (even with sitrring) – do they eat this too?
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hello Katie that is likely just residual stuff from the feed, you can add it with the feed or strain off the liquid before giving it to them.
Stephanie
Hello! We are new to the world of raising chickens and your blog is incredible! Thank you for the time and effort you pour into it. We are looking forward to starting our chickens on fermented feed but to piggy back on a previous question, with the feed going in bowls, will they not walk on it and waste food? Thank you for your thoughts!
Aaron (Mr. DeannaCat)
Hi Stephanie, your chickens may likely step on the bowl which could result in wasted food if they don’t eat it off the ground. Give them a trial run on the fermented feed and see how they handle it and if they end up wasting the feed or not. Good luck and hope your hens like their feed.
Stephanie
Thanks for the response and encouragement!