Pearl barley, millet, rye, rice, hard wheat berries, cracked wheat...

[kristenm1975]

Are all of these good for scratch, and if so, what sort of ratio should I be using, or does it really matter?? I know cracked corn is supposed to be a large component of scratch but only one pet store near me sells it and I keep forgetting to go there. Suppose its a big deal if I'm just giving them this stuff I find at whole foods in their bulk food section?

Thanks!

 

[keljonma]

All that is fine for scratch; cracked corn doesn't have to be the major component of scratch. People used lots of corn because it was cheap and/or they grew their own.

 

[PAJerry]

I've experimented with various grains in a mix and have found that my chickens left the barley until there was nothing else. I have read that it is hard for them to digest. I'm currently using wheat, cracked corn and black oil sunflower. The wheat and corn are pretty cheap at the local mill and I use the black oil just because I feel it is good for them. The ratio is 1/2 cracked corn, 1/4 wheat, 1/4 sunflower. They don't waste any of it.

 

[hooligan]

Mine loved oats and wheat berries, you can also sprout them for them to eat and they go nuts over them.

 

[cmom]

Mine have access 24/7 to their food and water. I give them treats of scratch, (oats, sunflower seeds, once in awhile bird seed, cracked corn etc.), in small quanities as these are treats. I also give them vegies, fruits, most everything that I can grow. 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. I figure they will eat what they want. I do free range them. I make sure they have plenty of grit and oyster shells.