What is difference between scratch and peck feeds vs regular chicken feed?

[happy duck]

I have ducks and was wondering what is the difference? I am soon going to start buying NON GMO, organic feed, but wanted to look into scratch feed before going and buying. Also does scratch and peck feed come in NON GMO and Organic?


Also off the point.....scratch is different from scratch and peck feeds because it is a treat for chickens right?

 

[R2elk]

I have ducks and was wondering what is the difference? I am soon going to start buying NON GMO, organic feed, but wanted to look into scratch feed before going and buying. Also does scratch and peck feed come in NON GMO and Organic?


Also off the point.....scratch is different from scratch and peck feeds because it is a treat for chickens right?

Regular chicken feed is formulated to be a complete food for chickens. Scratch and Peck is a brand name which comes in a number of different formulas. What formula of Scratch and Peck you choose will determine whether or not it is appropriate for your flock. Scratch is a high fat mostly cracked corn and grains feed that was designed to be thrown on the ground to get chickens to scratch around in the dirt. Scratch does not even come close to being a complete food and should only be fed as a treat in small amounts.

 

[snow5164]

Look at protein percentages
And fat percentages,

As said above scratch is a treat like candy , not a complete diet

 

[snow5164]

No .. scratch and peck is a name brand for chicken feed
( apparently I’ve never seen it)...”..scratch “ is a mix of grains for treats

 

[Kiki]

Scratch and Peck is a brand name.
https://www.scratchandpeck.com

Just "scratch" is not a complete feed...it is a treat.


Feel free to use my Google sheet to compare complete feeds and scratches:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1upDVFXEQPK8PUIF6Sj3Bt5CUQfX1PlTEhg799sDT-qM/edit?usp=sharing

 

[Kiki]

That spreadsheet is pretty impressive!

Thank you. I made it for everyone here on BYC.

 

[Miss Lydia]

@happy duck I don't know what part of the country your in but check out NatureCrest they have NON GMO 16.00 a 50lb bag here. They are out of Alabama

 

[GC-Raptor]

It would be the other way around too?

NO
A NON-GMO grain like wheat, rye, barley or oats may be sprayed with a chemical pesticide, or grown with a chemical fertilizer, unless it is ORGANIC.

Corn, soybeans, canola, and cottonseed most likely is Genetically modified, if grown in the USA, unless it is labeled NON-GMO. But It still may have been sprayed with a chemical pesticide or grown with a chemical fertilizer, unless it is labeled ORGANIC.
The only way to be sure you get both NON-GMO and no chemicals is to look for ORGANIC.
I hope that clears things up. GC

 

[GC-Raptor]

are there any other brands that sale this kind of feed....the feed not ground up type?

The only COMPLETE Organic feed that's NOT ground into a Mash, Pellet, or Crumbles, that I know of is Scratch & Peck© brand.
GC

 

[Kiki]

I have Southern States near me, but I can't find the ingredients of their different feeds online. Does anyone know where I can get that information?

Actually most feed ingredients change depending on the time of year and what is available so many companies do not list exact ingredients but they do list their guaranteed analysis which does not change.
You can find that info here:

https://www.southernstates.com/catalog/c-1225-poultry.aspx
Which is where I got the exact info for my Google sheet mentioned already a few times here.