Scratch Grains Vs Mealworms

[BDutch]

Most people on BYC condemn scratch, so you might find it interesting to see that these farmers raise their (true free range, premium price) birds on a mostly whole grain diet
https://www.loue.fr/freerange-sustainable-poultry-chicken

I believe these french chickens live and eat perfectly fine compared with the factory farmed chickens who get the balanced but cheap GMO feed.

Here in the Netherlands the scratch is a mix of all kind of seeds and grains and its okay to give at the end of the day to truly free range chickens that can find a lot of nutritious feed. This scratch is not meant (suitable as main feed) for contained chickens or chickens that live in an environment that has few insects and plants to offer.
The scratch here contains only a little corn, about the same amount as crumble.

The amount of proteins in the Netherlands in layer feed (crumble or pellets) is less as in the states. Only about 15%. I think its balanced for egg production and costs. It’s produced for the big farms. Therefore it contains a lot of calcium. So it’s fully balanced for production chickens that lay an egg each day. All flock is not for sale here.

Because my bantams don’t lay that much and free range a few hours each day (if possible) I prefer to give my chickens way more scratch than recommended on this forum. I guess about 25-35% of their feed. Mealworms are a true treat. I give the flock (7 bantams) about a handful once a week. Beside that the chickens get some leftovers from the kitchen. But not every day and not very much.

There is no ‘one and only’ solution for all chickens and circumstances! But I do believe that giving poisoned GMO feed can’t be good for the chickens and is not good for our own health and the global environment.

 

[Bonnieboo]

Just a word about protein snacks. My vet has recommended some scrambled eggs once a week during moulting. Even though my girls love meal worms, I think some scrambled eggs are a nice change.

 

[Chicken poppy]

I dont give my chickens a lot of it, im not to confident in how much protein all in all they have, but i know that id rather mine eating much more normal food then scratch. i give them a little bit daily to just scratch about, everyone here explains much better, but the meal-ies got much more fat, and should be fed as a treat. And so should scratch, it shouldnt be fed in large amounts,

 

[Chicken poppy]

Just a word about protein snacks. My vet has recommended some scrambled eggs once a week during moulting. Even though my girls love meal worms, I think some scrambled eggs are a nice change.

Be easy on the meal worms. meal worms like everyone said contain lots of fat and should be fed as a treat. i cant say that i know a lot about it, but i do know its not healthy to give them all the time. Scrambles eggs have benefits, and you should give some back to them for actual benefit if you can. not that im saying you have to, but theres no wrong in doing so every now and then.