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Scratch supposed to effect egg production?

post #1 of 5
6/16/07 at 4:24pm
Thread Starter 

I would like to know why you shouldn't feed your hens too much scratch.               
           I feed my four free range chickens a small bucket - full every day, and they're fine.
We used to feed them poultry pellets, but they didn't like them very much.                                                                       
After that, we tried some scratch and now they're just fine.                         
           I would like to find out some more information.


Edited by joebwe25 - 6/17/07 at 9:19am
8 Chickens: Henny (SLW), Mary Ann (BR), Daisy (EE), Butternut (BO), Bluebell (EE) Marigold (EE), Phyllis (Diller); Bearded Golden Laced Polish, Peepers (Welsummer).

Ik hou van mijn kippen!
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8 Chickens: Henny (SLW), Mary Ann (BR), Daisy (EE), Butternut (BO), Bluebell (EE) Marigold (EE), Phyllis (Diller); Bearded Golden Laced Polish, Peepers (Welsummer).

Ik hou van mijn kippen!
Reply

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post #2 of 5
6/16/07 at 4:36pm

Scratch grain is lower in protein and essential amino acids than a laying ration.  It won't harm the hens, but will lower egg production.  How much???  It depends on what the hens have access to to try and supplement their protein deficiency, i.e bugs, worms, etc.

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post #3 of 5
6/16/07 at 5:08pm
Thread Starter 

They mostly peck around the yard the whole day eating bugs and worms.
When they do eat scratch it's usually at night when they go to bed.

8 Chickens: Henny (SLW), Mary Ann (BR), Daisy (EE), Butternut (BO), Bluebell (EE) Marigold (EE), Phyllis (Diller); Bearded Golden Laced Polish, Peepers (Welsummer).

Ik hou van mijn kippen!
Reply
8 Chickens: Henny (SLW), Mary Ann (BR), Daisy (EE), Butternut (BO), Bluebell (EE) Marigold (EE), Phyllis (Diller); Bearded Golden Laced Polish, Peepers (Welsummer).

Ik hou van mijn kippen!
Reply
post #4 of 5
6/16/07 at 5:23pm

I also wondered why... my girls get some scratch cut with black oil sunflower at the end of the day to get them back in their yard.  They are all eating copious quantities of bugs during the day so I really can't see the protein thing being a problem even though they are not laying yet.

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post #5 of 5
9/10/08 at 8:34pm

Does anyone out there have any direct experience with it cutting egg production, or have long term experience to share? Mine get whatever they can catch in the yard all day and are too young to lay, but I'd like to know personal experience before too much longer...they really like scratch and really don't like pellets or crumbles much.

 

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 (`-.     _.-∫⎠̸   I dream of a society in which no one questions a chicken's motive for road crossing. 

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     ㄟ_ . /       

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               ৲(⎠    ~Renée~ *MyHints* NPIP&AI 48-0346 Incubation Cheat Sheet ~t~ SickPage ~f~

 (`-.     _.-∫⎠̸   I dream of a society in which no one questions a chicken's motive for road crossing. 

ㄙ*` (_.}  ,' Orp~Amerau~d'Uccle~Konza~Aubergine~Silkie~BantyCochin~Chantecler~Marans~Rock~Pea

     ㄟ_ . /       

      _/  \ _ O

 

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