5th Annual BYC New Year's Day 2014 Hatch-A-Long

[chicken pickin]

So my husband bought grains which looks like scratch and I was told to keep my hens and Rooster all on layer feed and that them grains looking like scratch are more like a candy. What's your input on this. I currently have both the grainy scratch and layer feed mixed together. Could this be a future issue for either my hens or my Rooster?

Scratch is more like candy. I offer scratch only as a treat. I have trained my chickens to the sound of scratch being shaken in a plastic container. They know the sound means they are getting scratch and they come running fast. This is a good tool if you free range and need to call back chickens that are wandering too far or cant be found or if you feel like getting them back into their pens easily.

 

[KristyAnn]

oh got it. Honestly they have become completely un interested in scratch now and gorge on things other than it so I may have to switch to worms for their candy or just hold them off the scratch for quite some time so they come to me like you say. I may have spoiled them. Uh oh

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Roosters should have Grower. Many early Rooster deaths are caused by calcium poisoning.

I think I had owned chickens for about 6 months when I found this out. But now I won't buy layer.

So my husband bought grains which looks like scratch and I was told to keep my hens and Rooster all on layer feed and that them grains looking like scratch are more like a candy. What's your input on this. I currently have both the grainy scratch and layer feed mixed together. Could this be a future issue for either my hens or my Rooster?

From what I have read, during the grazing weather, scratch can be like candy but still have its uses. Many people toss scratch down on the deep litter to encourage their chickens to turn the litter. During the winter or colder months, many people use scratch or corn or Cay. pepper to help keep their chickens warm. I'm going to try some next week and see if I notice a difference.
As for mixing the two together, it lowers the overall protein and calcium levels. I think layer is about a 16% protein and a 3% calcium. I think scratch is about a 7% protein and calcium is not typically included. a 50/50 mix would end up with a 12.5% protein and a 1.5% calcium. That puts the calcium more in line with the rooster's needs but the protein low. Maybe toss some scrap animal protein out for your birds until the mix is gone.

okay thanks! well my grower feed is coming in on Friday so I'll pick that up and switch my girls over

I wish i knew that before. everything i read said that at 22 weeks you can switch to layer pellets and I didn't realize the extra calcium could hurt them. I guess from now on I'll feed grower feed since I'll have a mixed flock after this hatch. hopefully I didn't hurt them! Thanks again! I learn so much from this site! Will they eat the extra calcium if they need it?

I use oyster shell and as long as the hens have a way to get to the container they will eat it as needed. But once in a while a meaner hen will block a lower order hen and I have to put out two oyster shell area's. I also toss crushed egg shells out for the hens.

 

[Aphrael]

Well I did my day 7 candle tonight, with mixed results.

RIR/EE - 3 of 3 have strong bouncy little kidney beans with eyedot.

Lav Orp - 11 of 13 showing development. Some have very visible embryos others I could only see the veining. Guess the babies were hiding in those. The last 2 appear to have blood rings, but will leave them for now just to be positive. So not bad at all on those.

SFH - Only 4 of 12 showing any veining and it looks really strange. Maybe because the air cells are still really loose and sloshy. The other 8 all look to be clears.

Again, I'm leaving them all just to be positive.

The air cells on the Lav Orp and EE look to be right about where they should be so far according to the chart. So for now will keep humidity at the 30-40% I've had it at.

Here are some pics of the suspected blood ring ones.

 

[ronott1]

So my husband bought grains which looks like scratch and I was told to keep my hens and Rooster all on layer feed and that them grains looking like scratch are more like a candy. What's your input on this. I currently have both the grainy scratch and layer feed mixed together. Could this be a future issue for either my hens or my Rooster?

Mixed flocks should have grower for feed with free choice oyster shell calcium. The same feeding scheme should be given to molting flocks. Layer is commercial and is for laying pullets and hens.

You can give them all layer but the Rooster would not get enough protein and too much calcium. The same is true for molting hens. They need more protein to grow feathers.

 

[chickengirl1193]

I think I had owned chickens for about 6 months when I found this out.  But now I won't buy layer.

From what I have read, during the grazing weather, scratch can be like candy but still have its uses.  Many people toss scratch down on the deep litter to encourage their chickens to turn the litter.  During the winter or colder months, many people use scratch or corn or Cay. pepper to help keep their chickens warm.  I'm going to try some next week and see if I notice a difference. 

As for mixing the two together, it lowers the overall protein and calcium levels.  I think layer is about a 16% protein and a 3% calcium.  I think scratch is about a 7% protein and calcium is not typically included.  a 50/50 mix would end up with a 12.5% protein and a 1.5% calcium.  That puts the calcium more in line with the rooster's needs but the protein low.  Maybe toss some scrap animal protein out for your birds until the mix is gone. 
I use oyster shell and as long as the hens have a way to get to the  container they will eat it as needed.  But once in a while a meaner hen will block a lower order hen and I have to put out two oyster shell area's.  I also toss crushed egg shells out for the hens.

okay thanks! with only 4 hens they are all able to get to whatever they want whenever but. maybe if I get lots more from this hatchthey will need more stations. I throw egg shells in the compost that they can get

 

[Wisher1000]

Aphrael - Those could just be thick veins, don't toss them just yet!

 

[ronott1]

Well I did my day 7 candle tonight, with mixed results.

RIR/EE - 3 of 3 have strong bouncy little kidney beans with eyedot.

Lav Orp - 11 of 13 showing development. Some have very visible embryos others I could only see the veining. Guess the babies were hiding in those. The last 2 appear to have blood rings, but will leave them for now just to be positive. So not bad at all on those.

SFH - Only 4 of 12 showing any veining and it looks really strange. Maybe because the air cells are still really loose and sloshy. The other 8 all look to be clears.

Again, I'm leaving them all just to be positive.

The air cells on the Lav Orp and EE look to be right about where they should be so far according to the chart. So for now will keep humidity at the 30-40% I've had it at.

Here are some pics of the suspected blood ring ones.

Give them until day ten and crack them open to see if there was any development. Try to figure out when the blood ring happened. If it looks like it was a day when they were candled then next time you may want to skip that day.

 

[ctfeathers]

I didn't see my name in the list, thought I had entered.... What do I do?

 

[Whoops]

Just wanted to share my new baby. Going to be growing up with the chicks that hatch

awwwwwwww