Scratch & Peck grower crumbles

[smooch177]

Anyone have experience with Scratch & Peck grower crumbles?

I’ve been fermenting the S&P grower mash for a couple of months, offering alongside Purina Flock Raiser crumbles. Decided to try S&P crumbles and chickens wouldn’t touch it. Looked at the bag and it was 1 month past its best buy date so maybe that’s it. Planning on returning it and contemplating whether it’s worth trying a fresher bag or just stick with the Flock Raiser.

 

[Debbie292d]

I ferment Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve. That's their "scratch" as they are on Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles. I don't ferment the crumbles.

I make a bin of dry mix using half the HHR, 1/4 whole oats, and 1/4 whole hard red winter wheat. The latter I buy 50# bags from the feed mill or Amish store. When making the ferment in a quart jar, I fill it half with that dry stuff, then add a tablespoon each of both whole flax and chia seeds. They love this!

I am sure this would be loved by your birds too and would be a cheaper way to go.

 

[smooch177]

I ferment Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve. That's their "scratch" as they are on Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles. I don't ferment the crumbles.

I make a bin of dry mix using half the HHR, 1/4 whole oats, and 1/4 whole hard red winter wheat. The latter I buy 50# bags from the feed mill or Amish store. When making the ferment in a quart jar, I fill it half with that dry stuff, then add a tablespoon each of both whole flax and chia seeds. They love this!

I am sure this would be loved by your birds too and would be a cheaper way to go.

Thank you for the suggestions!
I’ve never heard of that brand, it definitely looks like a good quantity and I’ll look into it.

 

[FrostRanger]

I use kalmbach flock maker pellets myself, it's good stuff

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you for the suggestions!
I’ve never heard of that brand, it definitely looks like a good quantity and I’ll look into it.

Kalmbach is generally well regarded here on BYC. They are positioned as a not unreasonably priced "Premium" brand, but not super premium, and unlike some feeds reliant on advertising buzz words, their guaranteed nutrition labels are either comparable or superior to the standard Purina/Nutrena mid-range offerings.

Now, that said, a lot of the Kalmbach feeds are whole grain, and whole grain feeds have issues specific to the format (just like crumble and pellet), but there are easy ways to address those concerns. Serving as a wet mash or a fermented feed are the most popular (and effective).