scratch grains

[chickenmama109]

hi

i have a flock of 12 1 rooster and 11 pullets
4 hens are laying

i was walking in tractor supply getting there first bag of laying feed i seen a dag of scratch grains

what is it for what does it do is it ok for my pullets and my rooster

my hens are about 4 to 5 months old

thanks to all help

 

[Chickassan]

Scratch is just an assortment of grains, it's a supplemental treat for chickens. Your flock would love a bit now and then.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

It is a treat, not a food.

Since you have a rooster, I would recommend an all flock type feed and oyster shell on the side for the girls that are laying.

 

[Chaos18]

Yes scratch grains are ok for your pullets and rooster. They are a treat, they are not a nutritionally complete feed. Treats shouldn't make up more than about 10% of your birds feed intake.

 

[apryl29]

It is a treat, not a food.

Since you have a rooster, I would recommend an all flock type feed and oyster shell on the side for the girls that are laying.

Question.. is it bad for a rooster to eat the layer crumble? I ended up w/ 3 roos and have just been feeding them all the same thing since 2 of the 3 roos are in w/ my girls (I don't have separate housing for everyone, except the one who was assaulting my other roo and chasing the hens).

 

[Chickiemom25]

Question.. is it bad for a rooster to eat the layer crumble? I ended up w/ 3 roos and have just been feeding them all the same thing since 2 of the 3 roos are in w/ my girls (I don't have separate housing for everyone, except the one who was assaulting my other roo and chasing the hens).

How much of their diet comes from a bag? I supplement with pellets but mine free range and there is a TON to eat so I don't worry too much, however since I am now feeding ducks and guineas too, I am switching to a 22% protein starter plus a dish of oyster shell to that everyone gets what need. Yes my protein is high for the chickens but they eat mostly bugs I think.. and with everyone free ranging, I cant control who is eating which feed. Layer wont kill your roosters but it is hard on them.

 

[apryl29]

Good to know. They were free ranging until one of the hens was murdered by a coyote. That was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Last night we let them out for about an hour, but last weekend I expanded their outside space so they have loads of grass to feast on now, but had been giving them grass clippings after my dad mows. I blocked off their old area in hopes of getting some grass to grow there. It's well fertilized so I'm hoping it will work. I was trying to let the roos out but they're jerks. I thought I was being nice but 2 of them ganged up on me, then after they lost the fight they retreated back into the coop. I recently got a bag of cracked corn that I toss a cup or so out a day, and then there's veggie scraps/ melon rinds that are plentiful right now. I just placed an ad in our local paper hoping someone might want them, which would solve many problems. They're beautiful birds, but I don't have enough females to occupy them. Poor Jackie had 2 of them going at her last night, whenever the little one went after her, the big one would step in and have a go.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Yes, when there are too many boys / not enough girls they will start sort of competitive mating and ganging up on the girls, which I hate. I know they're following instinct but it still makes me mad and what I usually do until I can rehome them is I kick the boys out and let the girls live in peace inside the coop and run. So, if your boys can have free range of the yard and just go in the coop at night that will give the girls some peace until you find them new homes.

As far as the layer feed, since most of your girls are not laying and you have roosters, I would certainly stick with starter/grower/all flock or even meat bird pellets (that's what I feed my flock) and put the oyster shell out. You can also crumble up egg shells and put those out for them too.

 

[apryl29]

Thanks for the info. When should they start getting pellets? I'm still on crumble. Some of my chickens were born in feb and the youngest were the last week in March. I have oyster shell and grit out in a cat food dish. I had a problem a week ago with shell-less and soft shell eggs so I got the oyster shell, but that was right after we had the coyote incident so I figured it was just stress. Everyone seems to be doing ok now.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If you insist on doing layer feed, wait until everyone is laying. I start 20% non-layer pellets around 3 weeks (as soon as they are big enough to eat them, basically) and that's what they all always eat.