Feeding chickens wet feed?

[Mei&Popcorn]

Hello! For the past few weeks, I've been feeding my chickens wet feed as a change from dry feed. I heard that they get more nutritional value out of it when it is wet. I change it everyday. Is this OK? Will it grow mold in the course of a day? Is it any better than feeding chickens dry feed? It is wet feed - not fermented..

Thanks!

 

[Kevin565]

Are you feeding wet feed or fermented feed?

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

I feed them wet feed because fermenting the feed makes me a little nervous. But I would like to try fermenting!

So... is it OK?

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

Does anybody know...?

 

[nbenevento]

I don't know of any nutritional difference by pouring water on normally dry feed. It will not mold in one day though. In my opinion, it's a nice gesture for you to try to change things up a bit by wetting the feed but since you are having to change it every day, it seems like you are wasting a lot of money on feed you end up throwing away. If you don't care about that then go for it.

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

I don't know of any nutritional difference by pouring water on normally dry feed. It will not mold in one day though. In my opinion, it's a nice gesture for you to try to change things up a bit by wetting the feed but since you are having to change it every day, it seems like you are wasting a lot of money on feed you end up throwing away. If you don't care about that then go for it.

I don't end up throwing away much of the wet feed- and it actually saves money! Usually, my chickens spill half their feed and waste it, anyways... so wet feed does save me money.

 

[StephieSky]

I'm going to try wetting my chickens feed. Maybe with an apple juice and water mix. My chickens swipe their beaks through the dish of crumble like they're looking for something in the bottom of the feeder that isn't there. They do it on purpose. I'm using a dog kennel dish though so its probably 1/2 my fault. I keep meaning to stop off and get a chicken feeder with the holes, I just haven't. Tomorrow morning they're getting a dish of wet crumble for the day! Thank you for this

 

[ChickensRDinos]

There is nothing wrong with fermenting feed. I would recommend doing a little reading so you understand how the process works and what everything should look and smell like. But, if you like feeding a wet feed you might as well ferment and enhance the feed. Water alone will not add any nutritional value. You want to make sure you are buying ACV with the MOTHER in it.

Stephie - you might want to look into ACV if you are going to bother doing a mix. I am not sure apple juice will add much value as even the natural kinds are mostly just sugar.

This is a pretty good FF how to:

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

 

[StephieSky]

There is nothing wrong with fermenting feed. I would recommend doing a little reading so you understand how the process works and what everything should look and smell like. But, if you like feeding a wet feed you might as well ferment and enhance the feed. Water alone will not add any nutritional value. You want to make sure you are buying ACV with the MOTHER in it.

Stephie - you might want to look into ACV if you are going to bother doing a mix. I am not sure apple juice will add much value as even the natural kinds are mostly just sugar.

This is a pretty good FF how to:

http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/p/fermented-feed.html

Thanks I just read that. I'll have to re-read it again I'm sure. Its a lot to take in. I was going to use the apple juice because I still have winter apples and a juicer on hand. Liza is crazy about juiced carrots and apples lol I walk out the side patio slider and she's right there wanting to know what's in my cup even if she has to spint to find out LOL I love my chickens I didn't know chickens were natural born comedians! lolol

 

[Mei&Popcorn]

I'm going to try wetting my chickens feed. Maybe with an apple juice and water mix. My chickens swipe their beaks through the dish of crumble like they're looking for something in the bottom of the feeder that isn't there. They do it on purpose. I'm using a dog kennel dish though so its probably 1/2 my fault. I keep meaning to stop off and get a chicken feeder with the holes, I just haven't. Tomorrow morning they're getting a dish of wet crumble for the day! Thank you for this

That's exactly the same as me! I also use a dog dish - and the bottom of the coop is wire, so my chickens purposefully swipe their heads, side to side, flinging food onto the ground... and then, it attracts pigeons (eww!)