Scratch

[chookchick]

I think that scratch is a relic of the times when farmers raised their own corn, and fed leftovers to their mostly free-range chickens. It is a high-carbohydrate, low-protein food that chickens will eat in preference to the rest of their feed. I am phasing out true scratch, and making my own mix, for a lot of the same reasons that Ridgerunner mentioned. I am using sunflower seeds, oats, wheat and peas to create a grain mix that they can dig around for. I think it is valuable to give them a chance to scratch around for their food, which is what they seem made to do (left, right, right, left, repeat!), but I don't see a lot of nutritional value in corn (just cheapness).

 

[ice329]

I am new to birds. I can say they love scratch. I feed all my birds what I think is prob over protiened feed avail for them all the time. Its someplace about 24% then maybe as ow as 20% if I mix some layer in. I know the food is way up there in protien but when you consider they love scratch and the fact i give them some... i dont feel guilty giving it to them. If they look like there begging for it I give them some, or if i want them to come I shake it in a container, and when its time to get put up for the night they get some thrown in the coop to scratch for till it gets dark. Plus they free range... (not the young ones) yet. I also leave a big bowl of grass/clover clipping that can eat whenever. There water got vitamins in it to. I have to believe the scratch is not hurting the birds but again I am a newbie with only a handful of birds and dont have any experiance just reading and listening and going by what I think is ok.

a little OT... I got a bunch of cardnals I been feeding wild bird food plus extra sunflower seeds... just for a experament I filled there feeder with scratch SINCE I RAN OUT OF THERE FOOD... and those little buggers had a hissy fit yesterday and today they came for a little while picked and left.... hehehe spoiled brats...

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
A few weeks ago we had some crazy cold weather (for the PNW) where it was down to 5 degrees overnight and highs in the low to mid 20's. I gave mine 2 cups of scratch in the morning and added an evening ration as well, I usually give under 2 cups total for 31 chickens and 2 ducks. I also put a cake of peanut butter suet in the coop which they really seemed to enjoy. I wouldn't feed suet on a regular basis, but my coop is not heated or insulated so I thought they could use the extra calories during our cold snap.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I agree that scratch is not necessary, but it's fun!! I used to feed corn & sunflower, then just sunflower, but now I feed a high protein/lower fat mix. I use 16% no corn pigeon grain that has 5 kinds of peas, millet, milo, rice, safflower, canary seed & several other things. I think the fat content is 3% or less. I add BOSS to that (15% protein & 25% fat ??) and sometimes some lentils. I like them getting some of their protein from peas instead of soy & their regular feed is 19% Purina Gamebird Flight Conditioner. I sometimes think I feed my 10 LF & 13 Bantams too much grain, but they clean it up in less than 10 minutes. Chickens just have so much fun scratching for scratch.

 

[desertgirl]

Scratch + oatmeal is the best treat in the cold mornings for my girls. They lose their minds!!!

 

[RocketDad]

It's cold here, and I have 8 inches of snow on the ground. I give the chickens some scratch so they'll have a reason to come out of the coop and move around in the fresh air. But not much. I give 5 hens about 1 cup at a time, once a day and not every day.

I also give it to them in the messy areas of the yard where they like to scratch, but there's nothing to eat this time of year.