Scratch

[madmantrapper]

Does any one toss scratch in the run on the ground for the chickens or does most everyone put it in a container? I remember when I was a kid my aunt tossing it all over the place.

 

[Laurie's Silkies]

I have always thrown scratch on the ground. I guess the whole idea is for them to be able to "scratch" around in it.

 

[Chicken03]

I always throw it on the ground too.

 

[Chris09]

I toss it..

Chris

 

[gritsar]

Toss it.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I toss it in on the ground. I've read several folks here that are against scratch altogether, but my chickens love it so much. Because of the heat, they get about one cup a day scattered to where they really have to hunt for it. They say that corn causes a chicken to heat up and I have no reason not to believe them. Once the weather cools off some, I'll probably up it to one and a half to two cups a day.

 

[yfchoice]

Once again, corn does not cause a chicken to heat up. There are a number of good posts addressing this topic.....find some of them and read. I've given scratch to my chickens all summer...even when the temps were in the upper 90's...and they've done fine. I toss it. They even expect it first thing in the morning and I think they get mad if I miss once in awhile.

 

[codybird]

As a poster on another thread said "your chickens will not explode from heat buildup if you feed them scratch"

 

[Judy]

Here is an excellent thread with a discussion of the myth that corn heats up chickens:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=74876

In small quantities, corn is fine for chickens, and they love it. No treat should be more than about 5% to 10% of their diet.

I toss scratch on the ground, too.

 

[obe10]

Quote:
my chickens love it to.