How to Make Fermented Chicken Feed for Healthier Hens

Inside: Maybe you want to try to ferment chicken feed for even better feed for your chickens. Better for their health, and better for your budget.

If you're raising backyard chickens, you know how important nutrition is to their health, egg production, and overall happiness. A great way to boost your flock’s gut health, improve nutrient absorption, and even save money on your feed bill is by making fermented chicken feed.

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How to Make Fermented Chicken Feed for Healthier Hens

This simple process uses the power of natural fermentation (much like sourdough bread or lacto-fermented foods) to improve the quality of your chicken food—without adding chemicals or complicated steps. Whether you're caring for meat chickens, egg layers, or even baby chicks, fermentation offers real health benefits for your birds and your homestead budget.

Let’s walk through the fermenting process, step-by-step.

Why Ferment Chicken Feed?

Fermenting chicken feed has gained popularity among chicken keepers for some excellent reasons:

Increases beneficial bacteria (like lactic acid bacteria) in the chickens’ gut
Improves chickens’ intestinal health and supports their immune system
Reduces the presence of bad bacteria, including E. coli and other acid-sensitive pathogens
Makes nutrients like protein, B vitamins, folic acid, and phytic acid more bioavailable
Leads to thicker shells, heavier eggs, and even improved egg weight and shell weight
Helps reduce feed costs by requiring less feed per serving
Naturally increases water intake as chickens consume more moisture with the feed
Creates a natural barrier in the gut, reducing health issues
Cuts back on feed waste

For many, it's the cost savings and boost in chickens’ health that make this a good idea—especially during winter months or when feed prices spike.

What You Need to Ferment Chicken Feed

Whole grains, pellets, or crumbles (preferably organic)
A container: large mason jars, a 5-gallon bucket, or food-safe ceramic or glass jars
Dechlorinated water or filtered water (avoid straight tap water if it contains chlorine)
Optional: apple cider vinegar with the “mother”

Full disclosure: Whole grain feed holds up best during the fermenting process, while crumbles may turn to mush.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Fermented Chicken Feed

Step 1: Add Feed to a Clean Container

Start with the amount of dry feed your flock eats in 1–2 days. If you're new to this, it's a good idea to start small for your first batch.

Place the feed in a clean glass jar, bucket, or another non-metal container (fermentation is slightly acidic, and metal can corrode).

Step 2: Add Enough Water

Pour in enough water to fully submerge the feed. Leave a few inches of water above the feed, since it will swell. Make sure there’s room for stirring and expansion. If you’re using city water, let it sit out overnight to allow chlorine to evaporate—or use dechlorinated water or filtered water.

Check the water level daily and top it off as needed.

Step 3: Cover and Ferment

Loosely cover the container with a lid, towel, or plate. It should not be airtight. This allows wild yeasts and healthy probiotics to work while letting fermentation gasses escape.

Keep the container at room temperature (ideally 65–75°F).

First day: Stir well and check the smell and water content.
Second day: You may see bubbles forming—this is normal!
Third to fourth day: The mixture should smell tangy and slightly sour, like yogurt or sourdough.

At the end of the day, you'll have a fresh, nutrient-rich fermented mash ready to serve.

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Optional: Balance With Apple Cider Vinegar

If the mixture gets too sour or yeasty, stir in 1 tablespoon of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar per gallon of feed. This helps rebalance the pH and maintain a healthy colony of good bacteria.

Feeding and Storage Tips

Scoop out only what you’ll feed for the day.
Rinse the rest of the feed or stir daily.
Avoid contamination—use clean tools!
Don’t let it sit more than 5 days. By the second batch, you’ll know how much works for your large flock or small one.
Discard any feed that smells rotten or develops mold (not to be confused with the sour, tangy scent of good fermentation).

You can start a new batch every other day to keep a steady supply going.

Is Fermented Feed Right for You?

It’s a great way to improve your chickens’ health, lower your feed budget, and reduce consumption of feed. But—fermented feed isn’t for everyone.

If you're overwhelmed or short on time, don't stress. Even feed soaks (a quick overnight water soak) provide some nutritional benefits without full fermentation. Try fermenting when you can, and give yourself grace.

Good luck with your first time trying fermented feed! Your hens will thank you with healthier eggs, stronger shells, and bright, clucky energy.

Whether you're raising meat birds or pampered egg layers, adding fermented feed to your flock's routine is one of the best ways to promote healthy chickens, improve their gut health, and stretch your feed dollars.

Once you get the hang of the process of fermentation, it becomes second nature. And who knows? You might just start fermenting your own chicken feed like a pro.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fermented Chicken Feed

Should I ferment my chicken feed? Fermenting chicken feed makes nutrients more readily available, feed requirements lessened, and less waste since the chickens love it.

Can chickens eat fermented feed every day? You can use it simply as a tasty, healthy treat for your flock, you can make it strictly their diet for the entire day, or you can do a combination.