Does spent grain make good chicken feed?

**Beerbeque** · 04-21-2009, 01:06 AM

I'm almost as new to all grain brewing as I am to raising chickens. My three hens are developing quite a big appetite and I'm wondering if spent brewing grain makes good chicken feed, or is it already too spent as to be very nutritious. Do any of you guys have any knowledge or experience with this?

Bokonon · 04-21-2009, 01:07 AM

It is fantastic chicken feed.

Also makes good bread and dog biscuits and I'm sure there are tons of other things I haven't tried yet.

I know of many breweries that give/sell their spent grain to farmers for feed

ewbish · 04-21-2009, 05:49 AM

Yep. The mash process leaves most of the feed value intact. And gives the grain a sweet flavor that they go nuts over.

SourHopHead · 04-21-2009, 05:50 AM

Farmers take all they can get from the local breweries here. Pick-up 2-3 times a week like clockwork.

roylee · 04-21-2009, 12:46 PM

Our chickens crowd the fence on brew day. I wouldn't feed 'em the hops, but the barley produces double-yolkers.

Boulderbrewer · 04-22-2009, 04:42 AM

Our chickens and ducks love the spent grain, I wish the goats liked it. I have never seen it give double yolks in the last eight years though. FWIW

**AZ_IPA** · 04-22-2009, 04:43 AM

chickens and goats love the spent grain here...

roylee · 04-22-2009, 11:50 AM

the "double-yolker" comment was just a yolk. sorry.

**Homercidal** · 04-22-2009, 01:47 PM

Goats don't like barley?? Goats eat anything! Even usually stuff that ain't food!

I have just dumped my first two batches onto the composte pile, but my dogs dont' seem to want to eat it. I guess my efficiency is just too good!

**Cpt_Kirks** · 04-22-2009, 02:04 PM

It's good "people feed", too.

I always get a few bites of the spent grain in my MLT. I like the taste, it's hot, and it is kind of an efficiency test. If the grain is sweet, I did a crappy job of sparging.