Newby Chicken Scratch question

[ChickensAreSweet]

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Scratch is a treat in cool weather. Don't feed them scratch in hot weather. It raises their body temps.

This statement is not true at all...
Scratch will NOT raises their body temps at all, There are a lot of people that feed "Scratch" all year round (myself included) with no ill-affects.
Most poultry feed is 80% grain (some more some less) and their body temp. raises.

Chris​

My feed mix that I feed my chickens (see my BYC page) has the ingredients of scratch in it. They get it year round. I have found that in the coldest weather they actually crave MORE grains, though, and will "fly" through them (no pun intended, lol).

I love to allow my chickens free choice and they self regulate. I adjust my recipe accordingly for the next day, adding in some extra wheat if they seemed to leave a lot of seeds. (I have found that the only time I need to adjust my recipe so far is 10-20 degree weather.)

Op, scratch won't be enough diversity and won't be high enough in protein to use as an only feed.

 

[birdbrain5]

i used cheap wild bird seed for treats for my chickens, i have a bird feeder out there and when they are free rangeing i shake the feeder so some falls on the ground, they come a'runnin

 

[gryeyes]

I am not trying to offend anyone, but the only objections to animal proteins in chicken feed I've noticed come from vegetarians and the uninformed who think animal proteins are bad "because of Mad Cow Disease."

Chickens are not vegetarians, they are omnivores.

Mad Cow Disease is not transferable to chickens, but is caused by the use of brain and spinal column parts (from infected cows), none of which is allowed to be used in COMMERCIAL chicken feed. If you get your feed from some cattle farmer who makes it - not likely! - you might have to worry about it.

 

[Kuntry Klucker]

Hi all,

How much animal potien do I need to feed my chickens. Do I feed daily, weekly? do the bugs
that they find out free ranging count as animal protien?

 

[AccentOnHakes]

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My feed store sells chick scratch, it has smaller pieces.

 

[briteday]

I've found another source of fairly inexpensive animal product is lard. It is purely fat but can easily be found generally in the ethnic section of the grocery store. I look for the freshly rendered lard vs the shelf stable white paste type. I feed it primarily in the very cold weather for a bit more calories to keep the birds warmer. And it adds a bit of animal product to the completely vegetarian chicken feed available in my area. The added fat also keeps their feathers looking quite nice and shiny.

 

[AlienChick]

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Good to know!

 

[okieinalaska]

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Do you mix their regular feed into or how do you give it to them?

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

Yes, some scratch is more finely ground than others. You just don't always know what you're going to get. I've gotten various things at my feed store when I ask for scratch. New chicks are just so darn adorable, why chance it? Maybe I'm too cautious.

As for body temp & and scratch....... just passing along advice given to me. I'd rather be safe than sorry.