Just what IS in scratch?

[NYRIR]

Quote:
It does have a tag...but the ingredients are not listed.It says whole grains...but it's Purina Scratch if that helps.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I don't buy Purina scratch because it doesn't tell you what is in it and it looks very yellow to me. Yellow=corn.
Our homemade scratch has whole wheat, whole oats ( the last to be eaten), cracked corn, barley, and sunflower seeds in roughly the same proportions. When I get birdseed on sale, an equal portion of that goes in too.
I is my understanding that the corn in the scratch is what makes it a *hot* energy/carbo feed. By minimizing the corn in the mix during the summer, I don't worry about overfeeding scratch.
The price is going up but then so is the processed feed price. Combining should be starting around here shortly. I plan on stockpiling as soon as possible.

 

[centrarchid]

What I have found is that scratch, even when coming from same manufacturer, varies with season and where source mill is located. Not only does it vary in types of grains but also in terms of relative amounts of each grain. Scratch I buy dominated by corn and milo but other grains and chaff also present to varying degrees. It is so variable that scratch is difficult to accomodate for in respect nutrition except for energy. It also varies alot in terms of how finely corn is milled. Sometimes a lot of intact kernals, sometimes a lot that approximates flour.

 

[NYRIR]

Well, actually my question is this....is it BETTER for them to have the scratch or should I continue with the Wild Bird Seed with added BOSS? I thought that since it had "whole grains" it might be healthier for them as well as bit cheaper?

 

[they'reHISchickens]

We can't make that call for you because the content of the scratch varies

. Depending on what you decide to use as scratch, your mileage may vary. Depending upon what is in the bird seed/vs cost of either feed, you have to weigh the options.
If price is no object, I would go with a high quality varied mixture of bird seed and BOSS. But, price is usually an object, and you don't want to waste food or nutrients

 

[NYRIR]

they'reHISchickens :

We can't make that call for you because the content of the scratch varies

. Depending on what you decide to use as scratch, your mileage may vary. Depending upon what is in the bird seed/vs cost of either feed, you have to weigh the options.
If price is no object, I would go with a high quality varied mixture of bird seed and BOSS. But, price is usually an object, and you don't want to waste food or nutrients

Lol...thanks

I think I'll switch it up. Maybe buy one bag of scratch and when that's gone do the bird seed. It's really though to benefit my ducks as they do not free-range. I mix it in with the pellets and they have to eat it My ducks won't eat the birdseed very well. I don't know why... They do get fresh fruits/veggies and cut grass but I want them to have more variety.​