Started feeding scratch every morning! Can't stop or I will have an angry noisy mob to answer!

[joannarashid]

So, my 17-20 week hens have started getting pretty noisy to "notify" me if it time to let them out of their coop/run into my backyard at sunrise. I promptly get out of bed and do their bidding. However, this was soon not enough. I scattered a little scratch for them a few mornings. Within a week, they expected it. I stopped doing it because I don't think they need all the extra corn with the heat of the summer and all. However, I now have an angry mob of hens at sunrise when I do not greet them with some type of treat. I cave only because the cacophony can be heard for miles and is endless! I am so worried I will piss off my neighbors and they will call animal control. I have one neighbor who is already not keen on the girls taking up residence next store to him.

Can I offer some other treat that will be more healthful than the corn-heavy scratch, but is feasible to give every morning? Or is there some other approach for weaning them without two much squaking?

(NOTE: My run and now half of backyard, which the girls free range, is a total wasteland, devoid of green forage. I put greens a few times a week in the suet basket for them as well)

 

[DeannaOR]

The scratch I feed is triticale, wheat, and barley. No corn at all. They love it. Sunflower seeds might be an option.

 

[joannarashid]

The scratch I bought has a ton of corn also sunflower seeds and millet. Would those be lower in carbohydrate and not have the same fattening affect as the corn?

 

[Fred's Hens]

You could just toss pellets. Regular grower or layer pellets. They may seem stunned the first day, but they'll adapt. You've got some trained monkeys on your hands! LOL. Actually it is called conditioned behavior. They'll get over it eventually.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If they are free ranging then a little scratch in the mornings is not going to hurt anything. Corn, wheat, any sort of grain. Just keep it to a small amount, say about half a handful per bird, and first thing in the morning. If they are active foragers they'll burn it off.

A small amount of just about anything is not going to do any harm. It is when folks give too much that causes problems.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

I give my flock a treat every morning as soon as I open the barn doors and they come flying out. They get a few handfuls of whole oats.

 

[joannarashid]

Really!? The oats are a great option. I read that you cannot feed them uncooked. I read to at least steam them. Is that not true?

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You can feed them uncooked and still in the hull. In fact I fed several tons over the years though I no longer use that system now. I can't think of any sort of grain you cannot feed so long as it's not moldy or otherwise spoiled. Just don't give them lots and lots.

 

[dancingflower68]

Mine could care less for oats, I actually make a plate of their feed, scrambled eggs, yogurt and a treat such as fruit, or more recently I've been lightly steaming some frozen veggies and mashing them up in the mix...I think they are slightly spoiled!!

My husband and son look at me walk by with their yummy plate like, uh, where's our breakfast??!

 

[TheChicknGarden]

Mine could care less for oats, I actually make a plate of  their feed, scrambled eggs, yogurt and a treat such as fruit, or more recently I've been lightly steaming some frozen veggies and mashing them up in the mix...I think they are slightly spoiled!!   My husband and son look at me walk by with their yummy plate like, uh, where's our breakfast??!

Lol thats my husband, he says i feed our chicken better then i feed him