Complete feed for 'treats'?

[Folara]

I want to encourage scratching and turning the run deep litter (composting chickens) and I know scratch grains are commonly used for this, but since these can throw off balanced nutrition would a complete pelleted feed be a good option? I'll be feeding All Flock as the primary diet and I'm wondering if another pelleted feed (something special like game bird feed maybe?) would be good to toss around the run (still in moderation of course). Would the pellets be more prone to getting lost/dissolving versus the whole grains? I would love to hear your thoughts and/or experiences!

 

[Percheron chick]

Don't be concerned about a handful of scratch grains. It is such an insignificant percentage of the overall diet, you're not going to throw anything off. We don't think twice about a second piece of pie or helping of ice cream. The easiest way to get them to stir up the deep litter is to throw your kitchen compost on top of it. They will scratch and scratch making sure that they aren't missing any last juicy bit.

 

[3KillerBs]

If the ground is quite dry the pellets will remain intact until the chickens find them. Damp pellets would disintegrate.

 

[Folara]

Don't be concerned about a handful of scratch grains. It is such an insignificant percentage of the overall diet, you're not going to throw anything off. We don't think twice about a second piece of pie or helping of ice cream. The easiest way to get them to stir up the deep litter is to throw your kitchen compost on top of it. They will scratch and scratch making sure that they aren't missing any last juicy bit.

Thank you for the reassurance! That is very true about the pie and ice cream I definitely plan on throwing my good kitchen scraps in there for them as well. Pretty much eliminating my current compost pile by giving the goodies (carbons and kitchen scraps) to the chickens now!

If the ground is quite dry the pellets will remain intact until the chickens find them. Damp pellets would disintegrate.

That's a good thought - it's definitely damp underneath the wood chips from the last storm so I may save this idea for the dry summer!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I throw complete feed as "scratch" to mine. Works great.

 

[Folara]

I throw complete feed as "scratch" to mine. Works great.

I'm glad to hear that! Do you use a different type of feed from your everyday feed or is it just the everyday feed in a new, exciting way?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Everyday feed. ANYTHING I throw, the birds run for like tourists seeking beads at Mardi Gras

 

[Folara]

Everyday feed. ANYTHING I throw, the birds run for like tourists seeking beads at Mardi Gras

Amazing! Thank you, I have hope my birds will have the same enthusiasm too!

 

[neo71665]

I toss out the same all flock that is in their feeders and mine act like it treats.

 

[Brooks_]

Amazing! Thank you, I have hope my birds will have the same enthusiasm too!

Most likely they will. I can toss rocks and they investigate.