our hens seem to be addicted to laying mash and don't seem at all excited when offered scratch grain. we've been offering it as temps here are dipping into 40's &30's a lot. doesn't seem to affect laying habits,though. anyone have similar experience? any thoughts or advice will be considered and appreciated.
I have different kinds of scratch to offer my birds and they love them all...I give different ones on different days so they dont get bored with it...
I give my birds treats of scratch, (oats, unhulled sunflower seeds, once in awhile bird seed, cracked corn etc.), in small quanities as these are treats. I give them my scraps from my kitchen. I also give them vegies, fruits, most everything that I can grow including all kinds of greens. I do grow a lot of corn and watermelon especially, also tomatoes, squash, root crops, the list can go on. I feed them everything except potatoes or potato skins. I figure they will eat what they want. I do free range them. I have never had a problem with their egg production. I keep layer crumbles in their feeder in their coop as well as their waterer in their coop with dishes of free choice granite grit and crushed oyster shells. Here is the link to BYC Chicken Treat Chart. https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart
My hens don't care for scratch grains in general but do like black oil sunflower. Cracked corn goes totally to waste. I'm now sprouting wheat for them and they devour the stuff. I'm also getting 9 eggs a day from 10 hens so it must be good stuff!
Mine will peck a bit at scratch grains (the ones I bought have corn and oats in them) but I spoiled them a bit with wild bird food - they really like white millet and, of course, sunflower seeds, both striped and black oil. I give them a cupful as a treat out in their run - the one they reduced to a barren moonscape within three days! If I'm going to be home through sunset I let them out into the yard for a few hours. They always have layer food in the coop - they're very well fed biddies!
When I give my chickens scratch grains,they look at me like im stupid, so i give them layer feed.They do like black sunflower seeds sometimes,especially when they are grown from the garden.My chickens are spoiled
I have heard that pre-packaged mixes can be old and stale -- maybe try other kinds? I get my mix from a local farmer so I know exactly how fresh it is. You may not have that kind of access where you live, but it's just a thought....
