help with some definitions

[10_is_enough]

I've been reading some posts and am confused about some of the things peeps are talking about...layer food...scratch....grit....run. I just need to know what it is exactly being said. Didn't see a "lingo" page! Thanks so much!!

 

[Judy]

You'll get familiar soon enough, honest. Meanwhile, just ask. And I'll tackle those.

There are 3 basic types of feed, starter, grower, layer. Starter up to maybe 8 or 10 weeks, grower til point of lay around 20-25 weeks, then layer. Scratch is a treat / snack, not a complete food; they love it but it is usually much lower in protein than regular feed so it's similar to giving candy to kids, you want to do it in limited quantities. It's more complicated than that, there is also game bird feed and flock raiser, for example. Just to really confuse you, I don't feed anything but grower as I have a mixed age flock, from month old chicks to 4 year old hens. The only biggy caveats besides "scratch isn't a complete food" is "don't give chicks layer til they are laying age." Grit is just small pieces of granite. They use it in place of the teeth they don't have, in their gizzard, which grinds any foods needing grinding. Some buy bags of grit and some depend on the little rocks or rough sand in their soil. A run is a fenced outdoor area usually attached to the coop -- many, many different styles are used -- a quick look at the coop section will show you. The alternative is what is called "free range" here, which again has many meanings, anything from being turned loose onto acres of land, to being turned loose in a fenced suburban back yard.

We often tell our noobies, there are no stupid questions. We all remember when we were noobies, often not that long ago!

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
LOL, a lingo page would be a good idea. Layer food is just that, feed formulated for laying hens. Scratch means different things in different areas. Usually it isn`t sufficient it protein for chickens on it`s own as chickens need 14-20% protein in their diet to be healthy. Stick with the factory feeds, like starter, grower, layer, broiler, whatever best describes what you are feeding. Feed companies spend small fortunes formulating balanced diets and they are hard to improve upon. Grit is basically crushed granite. It`s used by the chicken gizzard to grind up feed. If you feed anykind of grain, you need to provide grit free choice, unless they free range and then they can get their own. Oyster shell is also a good thing as it provides calcium, which makes for strong bones and egg shells. A run is a chicken pen outside the coop. Lets them get fresh air and sunshine while keeping them confined and safe. There, that`s a start. Feel free to ask for more info as needed. Usually you can find anything you want to know by using the search engine, or just readig the posts daily. Most questions are asked frequently by folks that don`t, or won`t use the search feature. Good luck and enjoy your new friends.........Pop

 

[Rainbow Dash]

Layer Feed- Layer feed is for hens and pullets that are laying eggs.
Scratch- Scratch is a special food that most chickens will go crazy for.
Grit- Grit is basically just rocks, dirt, etc. to help their crop.
Run- Runs are areas that chickens are allowed to mill about in when they can't play in the entire yard. Often attached to the chicken coop.
There's your "Chicken coop dictionary"!

 

[10_is_enough]

I can't tell you how helpful and kind everyone has been for me so far! We are really loving having the chickens and are learning a lot just from this forum. Guess now I can sound 1/2 cool in the language of "chicken"!! Thank you!!