Spent Grain

[naffolddog]

Chickens! And if there aren't any in London then it's about time someone had some - give a chicken a home today!

here: http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

[leedsbrew]

Mine goes in the garden waste bin (hope the council doesn't catch on!) If it's from a pale beer I make Treberbrot (german spent grain bread). It keeps quite well in the freezer. I usually have some in the deep freezer for an occasion where I want to make treberbrot but haven't brewed in a while!

[dopejack]

Don't feed spent hops to the dog though - apparently it can kill them.

How much would it take to finish off next doors Alsatian that doesn't stop f***ing barking?

[chivelegs]

There's plenty of chickens in London.

All my leftovers now get split between our two and the 18 up at the local allotment. Just put out a freecycle ad along the lines of

"Chicken Food Free to collector" and I'm sure someone will peck yer arm off.

[deadlydes]

Does anyone know if there is likely to be any drop in egg production when feeding spent grain?
It is quite high in protein so good in that sense, low in calcium but that is fed to them in grit so not a problem.
Just that i brew 100 l around once a month and that would go quite a way to feeding my 9 chooks.
and yeah i know a balanced diet is important.

Cheers

[weiht]

my wife's friend takes some from me and makes her own cosmetic stuff, apparently the japanese use them to exfoliate. N she says it works

[boingy]

Does anyone know if there is likely to be any drop in egg production when feeding spent grain?
It is quite high in protein so good in that sense, low in calcium but that is fed to them in grit so not a problem.
Just that i brew 100 l around once a month and that would go quite a way to feeding my 9 chooks.
and yeah i know a balanced diet is important.

Cheers

It's best given to them as a scratch feed in the afternoons so they will already have filled up on the layers pellets/mash in the morning. You also have to bear in mind that the spent grain has had most of the carbs removed/used so it is less calorific than standard grain. Our 3 get a frozen lump of grain (a double handful) about 3 afternoons per week to play with/peck at. On those days they probably eat 30% less pellets but the egg yield is not affected. I'm sure if you fed the grain exclusively then egg production would drop.

[Normski]

Does anyone know if there is likely to be any drop in egg production when feeding spent grain?
It is quite high in protein so good in that sense, low in calcium but that is fed to them in grit so not a problem.
Just that i brew 100 l around once a month and that would go quite a way to feeding my 9 chooks.
and yeah i know a balanced diet is important.

Cheers

Hi DD
I haven’t noticed any drop in egg production. It does go mouldy after a few days if left wet, so I try to drain it by, By putting about 1 Kg in a colander, leave it a day and feed them, then refill the colander etc.
My hens seem to like it, but get board with it after a bout 3 days. I chuck the rest in the composter.

As Boingy says, give it after they have been fed there normal diet, I'm sure if you fed the grain exclusively then egg production would drop. Cheers Norm

[seanipops]

The lady four doors up the road has chickens and a pig so it doesn't last long.

Bit like the beer really

[filet o fish]

been feelling guilty about chucking them in the bin, this thread inspired me to ask around if anybody wanted them so now have somebody who wants it for their birds