Is it a suitable feed?

[ncCHICKS]

I have some chicks born late august that are on PURINA MILLS SCRATCH AND GRAINS. Is this suitable for them? I was going to switch to LAYENA at 17 weeks

 

[NurseNettie]

Quote:
Scratch and grains are pretty much just treats, or an addition to their diet. They need to continue with the chick starter or now a grower feed. Think of scratch as a snack

 

[PeeperKeeper]

We kept ours on Purina starter grow until they were 20 weeks and fed scratch grains on the side. They are now on Layena with scratch on the side. My chickens look GREAT!!!

 

[speckledhen]

They should have been on Chick Starter/Grower till laying age. Then you switch to layer feed when they begin to lay. Purina Scratch is mostly corn. I dont like it at all. Scratch isn't a complete feed.

 

[the1much]

the scratch doesnt give them enough protein ,, they should have others at least mixed in,, or a different food like game conditioner, or layer pellets,,,,,, scratch is like candy for them,,, i mix mine, 1/3 game conditioner, 1/3 game maintenance, and 1/3 scratch,, with super spur supplement mixed in at a couple of handfuls at a time.


EDIT: ta say wowz,,, i look, no responses,, then respond,, and BAM all kinds of posts lol

 

[ncCHICKS]

Okay. I guess I shouldn't trust the feed store

I'll get some grower.

 

[speckledhen]

NEVER trust any feedstore personnel. That's the fastest way to have unhealthy birds, believe me. They know nothing. Oh, wait.. it isn't that they know nothing, it's just that so much of what they do know is wrong.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Now assuming your birds are in a cage I would feed a complete feed but scratch is good for reminding free range birds where home is.

 

[speckledhen]

I always use scratch as a training tool, but even then, I use a great 11-grain scratch which is 13% protein on its own. Shake the can, they come running from the far reaches of my property.

 

[ncCHICKS]

Quote:
They are in a 10x6 run and when grass gets skimpy I put them in my tractor for a few days at a time. At least 3 times a week we buy them a ton of crickets and let them go in the run. It's massacre!