Homemade scratch question

[centrarchid]

They can pick sunflower kernels right of the head and digest them just fine.

 

[Freerange Chick]

I had heard that corn can cause fatty liver disease in chickens. I'm wondering how much is too much? We a blessed and lucky to have 22 healthy chickens and I would like to keep it that way!

 

[centrarchid]

The fatty liver can come simply from too much carbohydrate in the diet. Only during periods of extreme cold do I keep whole corn inclusion rate up around 25% for any length of time. This is in addition to corn on the chick grower formulation used to base my diets on.

You can get such a problem whenever you have an imbalance in nutrients relative to what is needed.

 

[Freerange Chick]

The fatty liver can come simply from too much carbohydrate in the diet. Only during periods of extreme cold do I keep whole corn inclusion rate up around 25% for any length of time. This is in addition to corn on the chick grower formulation used to base my diets on.

You can get such a problem whenever you have an imbalance in nutrients relative to what is needed.

We have been mixing cracked corn or fancy scratch with layer feed. 50lb feed to 40lbs scratch/corn. They are free range all day everyday and get veg and fruit scrapes. Am I giving too much corn? They also get some scratch for a treat. It sure has trained them to come to me when I call.

 

[centrarchid]

We have been mixing cracked corn or fancy scratch with layer feed. 50lb feed to 40lbs scratch/corn.  They are free range all day everyday and get veg and fruit scrapes.  Am I giving too much corn? They also get some scratch for a treat. It sure has trained them to come to me when I call.  

Once you are in the realm of free range nutrition with laying hens I base it on egg production and overall appearance of hens. If they are performing and look good then the foraging is making up for shortfalls of your feed mixture.