Blosing101
In the Brooder
What is the best way to give my chickens their scratch? Mix it with their laying crumbles, give it free choice, or throw it in their run as a treat and snack? Or all the above lol
Scratch...With or without laying feed?
- Thread starter Blosing101
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All of the above will work. I like to give it as a snack. I only give it in the winter to help keep them warm.
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Blosing101
In the Brooder
Thank you Rock Home Isle!!! I am new to raising chickens so this is all a learning process!!!!
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They can use it as an additional energy source, especially when temperature is low. Be careful with this approach when using a typical layer feed as such diets are formulated to provide as little protein as practical when the feed is the only nutritional source without compromising egg production. The problem you can run into is that consuming too much scratch grains can dilute the intake of nutrients the scratch grains are low in (i.e. protein, vitamins, minerals).
bigt447
Chirping
- Jul 10, 2015
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I throw my hens a little each day on my sandy soil. They then get some grit along with the high carb snack. I use oats, sunflower seed and song bird seed most often.
I do not mix it with feed or give free choice, because chickens will eat the scratch grains before the layers feed. They should eat 90% feed to get the vitamins and minerals added to feed. They don't add supplements to scratch. I give my 5 hens 3/4 cup of 50/50 mix of scratch and layers feed twice a day scattered on the ground. GC
Scratch is a treat...Very high in fat. I toss it out as a treat to do a head count while free ranging.
I would say it is high in energy, with most of the energy in the form of carbohydrates.
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