Modifying Amount of Scratch Grains in Winter ?

[TalkALittle]

Scratch should have a label too...listing ingredients and nutrition levels.

Yes. But those levels will be different from brand to brand making blanket statements problematic.

It's like someone saying "layer feed is lower in protein". Generally, yes, but there is a feed labeled as "layer" available to me that is 18% protein. That's as high as some of the grower or breeder feeds that people recommend when suggesting to boost protein intake. During molt someone recommended that I feed a particular product for the extra protein since all I was feeding was "layer". It was 18% protein, the same as I was feeding.

Regardless, scratch doesn't have "no nutritive value" as was stated. Neither should one make blanket statements as to the nutritive value of any feed item. Generalizations are fine, as long as it's made clear that is what they are.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yes, so looking at label levels will let you know what you have.
I agree blanket statements about 'scratch grains' is ridiculous.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree with what has been said.
Everyone raising animals - or children for that matter - should be reading ingredient and analysis labels as well as educating themselves on nutritional needs.
How else would one know if they were feeding junk or good nutrition.

 

[Chris09]

Scratch should have a label too...listing ingredients and nutrition levels.

If your scratch grain does not have a tag that lists the ingredients and the nutrition value of the content in the bag then there breaking federal law/s by selling it.
Your better off finding a new place to get your feed.

 

[aart]

Quote: Yup...it should.... and mine does.

 

[Miss Biddy]

Gadzooks!
Now that is an egg!
I've always heard to up it during cold weather.

 

[Miss Biddy]

Silly question: what is BOSS?

 

[Chris09]

Silly question: what is BOSS?

Black Oil Sunflower Seed.
Its used mostly to boost fat in a feed but since BOSS is only about 16% protein it can drop the protein amount of the feed a lot also the fiber in BOSS is hard for poultry to digest.

 

[Chris09]

Gadzooks!
Now that is an egg!
I've always heard to up it during cold weather.

Most of the breeders I know (myself included) will cut scratch grain back in the winter and feed more a high protein feed.
Protein is harder to digest and takes longer to digest than grains and in turn will "create more heat" through out the night than grain.

 

[Miss Biddy]

Ah, thank you! I will look into that myself, since cold weather just hit here.
Thank you for answering my other question too.
My hen, Miss Biddy refuses to eat BOSS.
She'll leave it behind the in the scratch grain.