Scratch grains

[marymiranda4]

Does anyone have a favorite brand of scratch grains? I've tried a few but my chickens leave more on the ground than they eat.

 

[Brooks_]

I have only tried the 5 and 6 grain, both Dumor (TSC). They were well received by the chickens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Whatever is cheap and fresh at the farm store.

They only get a literal handful or two for a 20 bird flock and that only a couple times a week at most.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I use Purina Sunfresh scratch.
Mine don't leave any but I too give very limited quantities. I give less than half a cup for my 18 birds.

 

[All4Eggz]

I use organic scratch grains, called Dumor - At TSC.
You shouldn't be giving them a lot, as @3KillerBs mentioned.

How many birds do you have? What breeds?

 

[GC-Raptor]

Does anyone have a favorite brand of scratch grains? I've tried a few but my chickens leave more on the ground than they eat.

I buy the cheapest available preferably a 25 to 35 lb bag.
I also buy a 7 lb bag of Cardinal mix birdseed or similar and mix together in a metal can.

I give daily as a treat scattered in their pen.
They get a Tbsp each twice daily, once daily during summer temps.

In summer temps they get a wet mash made with their regular feed and cold water for the afternoon treat.

It keeps them laying when they eat less of the pellets during hot weather.

I don't give treats till they are 10 weeks old and they only get a half Tbsp each twice daily till they are laying.
GC

 

[Folly's place]

If they are leaving any, it's too much, or maybe very old and spoiled?
Mary

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I generally don't, and if I do, I'm scattering something that I hope will go to seed. Whatever it is, its cheap.

...and its scattered someplace away from the birds, where it has a remote chance of actually going to seed.

I prefer a mix of grains, grass seeds, and herb/vegetable seeds (oregano, anything in the mustard family, fenugreeek, chard, radish, etc). Which means I'm usually throwing a bulk bag of culinary seed into a 35# bag of common scratch mix, together with a bag of grass seed or pasture mix (*uncoated, of course).

 

[Silexian]

I used scratch grains as a treat for my chickens. I broadcast out a couple of handfuls on the ground, every few days for the entire flock. Mine were not particularly fond of the milo. Leaving it after they picked out the other grains. Which started to attract wild birds. So I switched over to straight cracked corn. Which they don’t leave a speck of behind.

 

[kerbotx]

I like the Royal Wing economy birdseed mix from Tractor Supply: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/value-mix-wild-bird-food-35-lb It's really clean, and evenly proportioned; have yet to ever get a bag with bugs *knock on wood* I like to add a little rolled oats into the mix, just bc they like it, maybe some other chicken treat that's on sale at the time.