Fermenting feed: How to support your chickens' nutrient supply

Health begins in the gut

A balanced diet and a functioning gut are essential for your chickens' health. But how does the digestive system actually work in our feathered friends? And what role does fermented feed play in this?

How the digestive tract of chickens works

Digestion works differently in chickens than in mammals. Chickens belong to the class of birds – which, as we know, do not have teeth to chew food, but rather a toothless beak. This represents the first part of the digestive system, where food is selected via the beak. Their diet is diverse, as chickens are virtually omnivores. This includes green fodder, fruits and vegetables, grains, insects, and worms.

The ingested food then travels through the esophagus into the crop. This is where the next step of digestion takes place: the food components are softened and temporarily stored.

The pre-digested food then gradually enters the chicken's stomach. This consists of two parts: The glandular stomach prepares for further digestion with the help of enzymes and gastric juices. The food is then ground up in the gizzard. This is done with the help of specially ingested stones, called grit, which grind the food. If your chickens have regular access to the outdoors, they will peck at the stones in their surroundings themselves. If your chickens are kept in coops, they should be offered grit, such as quartz or mussel shells.

Intestinal health of chickens: Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine

The feed then enters the chicken's intestinal tract, which consists of the small and large intestines. The majority of digestion takes place in the small intestine. This is where the necessary nutrients are absorbed, which is why an intact intestinal flora is all the more important for chicken health. The large intestine, on the other hand, opens into the cloaca, where the urinary tract and the anus connect. Both feces and urine are excreted through the cloaca.

What's special about chickens is that their short digestive tract gives them a fast metabolism. This means that the food they eat isn't stored for long, but rather digested quickly. Overall, chickens' digestive systems are designed for the efficient absorption of nutrients from their food. Therefore, these birds can only meet their nutritional needs if they eat enough throughout the day.

What role do microorganisms play in the intestinal health of chickens?

This makes intestinal health all the more important. Several factors are crucial for this. On the one hand, clean water and sufficient hygiene in the coop are important. On the other hand, optimal feed quality and the necessary vitamins and minerals are important. This also means, however: If the intestines of chickens are not in balance, they are more susceptible to pathogens. Various processes take place in the chicken intestines to absorb the nutrients from the feed and convert complex carbohydrates. The primary help here is the countless microorganisms that colonize the intestines and thus support digestion. The entirety of these organisms is also called the intestinal microbiome. These important organisms form, for example, a film on the intestinal mucosa to make it more difficult for pathogens to penetrate the intestinal wall. The intestinal microbiome therefore influences the digestion and health of your chickens. A stable intestinal flora is therefore essential, especially in the birds' first weeks of life. Probiotics can have positive effects here. These are special bacterial cultures that, among other things, lower the pH value in the intestine and thus create a stable environment for the important microorganisms and support the barrier function of the intestinal wall.

Our tip: With the KE herbal extract You add numerous wild herbs to your chickens' feed that are currently missing from our meadows, and the herbal biology they contain influences the intestinal environment.

What is fermented food and what are its benefits?

This is where a tried-and-tested method comes into play: fermenting feed. This promises a longer shelf life and additional nutrients. Fermentation comes from the Latin ( fermentum ) and means "fermentation." Lactic acid bacteria, which occur naturally in food, ensure the anaerobic metabolism of carbohydrates. This produces lactic acid. This improves shelf life and prevents unwanted bacteria from contaminating the food.

Fermentation simultaneously creates probiotic microorganisms that can support balance in the chicken's gut. This not only improves the nutritional value of the feed, but also allows the food to be better absorbed by the chicken's stomach, making it easier for the birds to digest. Furthermore, the protein content increases and new nutrients are formed, including B vitamins and vitamin K2. Fermented feed also supports the formation of stable eggshells.

So, there are several reasons to ferment chicken feed. But it doesn't have to be expensive; on the contrary: Fermentation almost doubles the amount of feed. By the way: Fermentation also works for many foods for us humans, such as sauerkraut.

Fermented feed for chickens: How it works

And what kind of feed is suitable for this? Whether it's fruit and vegetable scraps or grains, basically any feed suitable for chickens can be fermented. It's important to ensure that the feed is free of mold or other contaminants. It also shouldn't be too large so that the chickens can easily peck at it.

And this is how it works:

1. Fill a large, cleaner jar or bucket with a ration of feed (for example, wheat)
2. Fill the container with lukewarm water (2:1) and mix well so that the food is completely covered with water
3. If necessary, fish out any grains floating on the surface
4. Leave the container at room temperature for three to five days and stir two to three times daily (refill water if necessary)
5. After three to five days, the feed can be fed to the chickens

Fermenting feed for chickens: What you should pay attention to

If the fermenting mixture is stirred regularly and kept covered with water at all times, mold cannot form. As long as the food is in the liquid, it will also keep for a fairly long time, although over time it will become too acidic for the birds.

The feed should have a slightly sticky consistency after the fermentation process. Some of the fermentation liquid may need to be poured off. You can then even use this as a starter culture for the next ration. Mixing some fresh fruit, vegetables, or herbs into the fermented feed will make it easier for the animals to transition to the new diet. However, it should be fed quickly, as without the fermentation liquid, it won't keep as long.

A balanced diet supports healthy intestinal biology

To ensure your chickens' immune systems are intact and they lay eggs with strong shells, a stable intestinal microbiome is essential. Especially during molting, the birds require enormous amounts of energy to renew their feathers and generate egg production. Due to their intensive metabolism, chickens have hardly any energy reserves and therefore depend on an ideal nutrient supply. Fermented feed is easier for the birds to digest and improves nutrient absorption thanks to the probiotic microorganisms. The addition of the KE herbal extract in the fermented feed or drinking water is also an optimal addition to your chickens' feed.