Benefits Of Fermented Feed To Chickens, Preparation And Feeding
Welcome to Nagro, in this article we will walk you through all you need to know about Fermented Feed, including the benefits of Fermented Feed to Chickens, How to Prepare Fermented Feed, How to Serve Fermented Feed to Birds, and many more.
If you have ever heard of feeding fermented feed to Chickens but you don’t really know what it’s all about or you are just hearing it for the first time, the fermented chicken feed has many advantages and can help you save money.
Many chicken farmers are interested in learning more about the production of fermented feed and how to feed it to chickens to increase performance. Some farmers wish to quit using premixed poultry feed for their flocks or look for ways to improve digestibility because it’s important for using raising livestock.
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Commercial livestock producers and researchers were searching for substitutes to increase animal development and productivity ever since the European Union banned antibiotic growth promoters until the fermented feed was discovered to be safe for both animals and people.
What is Fermented Feed?
Any feed that has undergone natural bacterial or yeast processing (fermentation) is referred to as fermented feed. Before the feed is given to the birds, it ferments for a few hours or days.
To ensure a thorough breakdown, it is preferable to let the feed ferment for at least 3 days. Because they contain a lot of good bacteria and/or yeast that the birds would benefit from, fermented meals are also known as probiotics.
Feed that has been fermented and fed to hens enhances intestinal health, which increases digestibility and makes it easier for the animals to absorb the feed’s essential elements.
Benefits of Fermented Feed to Chickens
1. Reduces feed intake and feed cost
Feed digestion is facilitated by soaking and fermentation, which also makes nutrients more easily accessible to chickens. As a result, feed intake is decreased (by 30 to 50 percent) because the chickens are satisfied more quickly.
It has been discovered that hens enjoy eating fermented feed, which also reduces feed waste. This occurs as a result of the stream being compressed. The financial advantage of this is that you can reduce your feed costs by 30 to 50 percent by consuming less feed.
2. Improves the health of birds
Improved bird health is one of the benefits of fermenting feed. Probiotics help birds’ immune systems and fight off illness. According to research, giving poultry animals fermented feed can help lower the number of harmful germs, such as salmonella and campylobacter, in their digestive systems, particularly in their gizzards and crops.
3. Firmer and less-smelly poop
Birds fed on fermented feed have firmer and less-smelly feces. When the poops of your birds are more solid, you spend less on changing beddings or litter and cleaning is easier.
4. Increases growth rate
A higher feed conversion ratio results from the fermented feed. When they consume fermented meals, birds have a reduced feed conversion ratio. Both the growth rate and weight gain of meat animals like broilers and turkeys have improved. The efficiency of egg production in laying birds improves. These occur as a result of the birds’ easier and quicker digestion and conversion of the meal, allowing them to employ the nutrients for critical bodily processes and production.
5. Increases eggshell thickness and egg weight
The yolks and eggshells of eggs from chickens fed fermented feed are always larger, heavier, and thicker. This might be a result of the high digestibility, availability of essential nutrients, and increased mineral absorption.
6. Increased protein intake
The availability of the nutrients in the feed was increased through fermentation, as was already mentioned. The availability of crude protein and phosphorus to the birds’ digestive systems is increased by soaking and fermentation.
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How to Make Fermented Feed
- Get food-grade buckets and fill them with feed to about two-thirds full.
- Pour water into the containers and allow the feed to be fully submerged in water by 1 inch. Stir the water and feed.
- Place the lids on the containers but don’t cover them too tightly to allow the gas to escape when fermentation starts.
- Check the bucket after 12 hours to see if the feed has absorbed the water and if it is covered by water. If it is not covered, add more water and ensure the feed is submerged and covered. This is very important to prevent mold risk.
- Place the buckets in a warm environment because fermentation is faster at a warmer temperature. Also, leave content for three days or more for proper fermentation.
- Stir the content every day and look for signs like a pleasant sour smell, the smell of yeast, bubbling, or white film. Those are signs of fermentation. If you notice a putrid or rotten smell or see green moldy growth, discard the content. It is not safe for your birds.
How to Serve Fermented Feed to Birds
- Ensure the fermented feed is well-drained before serving. You can use a strainer or sieve.
- Spread the feed on feed troughs or feeders. Ensure you serve the birds what they can finish in 20-30 minutes. Wet or fermented feed molds quickly when left in the feeders and moldy feed is dangerous to poultry birds.
- Allow your birds have access to clean water.
- You can feed your birds with fermented feed every day. It is safe to do so.
