Thoughts on Scratch & Peck food... worth the price?

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I am thinking about getting the Scratch & Peck organic layer pellets (16% protein). I'm not really sure what the "norm" is for chicken food pricing, but for what I'm getting, S&P seems pretty good... $44.09 for 35lbs ($1.26/lb). I have a flock of ten hens (although 6 of them are only 5-6 wk's old, so they wont be eating it quite yet). What are your thoughts on this feed? Is it worth the price? How does it affect egg production/yolk color? (Ik yolk color doesn't = healthy eggs lol)

 

[NatJ]

I am thinking about getting the Scratch & Peck organic layer pellets (16% protein). I'm not really sure what the "norm" is for chicken food pricing, but for what I'm getting, S&P seems pretty good... $44.09 for 35lbs ($1.26/lb).

For pricing, it partly depends on where you live. It can also change from one year to another or from season to season within a year.

You can go to www.tractorsupply.com
Somewhere in the top left part of the screen, it will tell which store it thinks you are shopping at. You can change that to one near you (it always gives the wrong one for me.)
Then search for "layer pellets" and look at the prices it gives you.

I often see the cheapest non-organic layer pellets about $16 for 50 pounds ($0.32 per pound), with organic having higher prices and sometimes smaller bags (which usually goes with an even higher per-pound cost). Looking at the options will give you some idea of what the prices are in your area.

You can do similar searches on the website of Walmart (you can tell it you only want to see what is in-store in your area) or Chewy (they only ship, no local store, but shipping is typically free if you buy more than a certain amount at once.)

I have a flock of ten hens (although 6 of them are only 5-6 wk's old, so they wont be eating it quite yet).

Is there a reason you want layer pellets? You could feed chick starter or all-flock feed to all of them, and put out a dish of oyster shell to provide more calcium for the layers. That is really the only special thing in layer feed, the extra calcium.

If you feed them all the same feed it makes your life simpler, especially if you have them sharing a coop at a point when some are laying and some are not.

If you feed them all one feed it generally means they eat fresher feed too, because they all eat the one bag instead of taking twice as long to eat two bags.

What are your thoughts on this feed? Is it worth the price? How does it affect egg production/yolk color? (Ik yolk color doesn't = healthy eggs lol)

I have never tried it.

About cost, my personal decision has been that I am not willing to pay extra money for "organic" in human food or pet food.

Hopefully someone else will have more helpful thoughts on that matter.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

For pricing, it partly depends on where you live. It can also change from one year to another or from season to season within a year.

You can go to www.tractorsupply.com
Somewhere in the top left part of the screen, it will tell which store it thinks you are shopping at. You can change that to one near you (it always gives the wrong one for me.)
Then search for "layer pellets" and look at the prices it gives you.

I often see the cheapest non-organic layer pellets about $16 for 50 pounds ($0.32 per pound), with organic having higher prices and sometimes smaller bags (which usually goes with an even higher per-pound cost). Looking at the options will give you some idea of what the prices are in your area.

You can do similar searches on the website of Walmart (you can tell it you only want to see what is in-store in your area) or Chewy (they only ship, no local store, but shipping is typically free if you buy more than a certain amount at once.)


Is there a reason you want layer pellets? You could feed chick starter or all-flock feed to all of them, and put out a dish of oyster shell to provide more calcium for the layers. That is really the only special thing in layer feed, the extra calcium.

If you feed them all the same feed it makes your life simpler, especially if you have them sharing a coop at a point when some are laying and some are not.

If you feed them all one feed it generally means they eat fresher feed too, because they all eat the one bag instead of taking twice as long to eat two bags.


I have never tried it.

About cost, my personal decision has been that I am not willing to pay extra money for "organic" in human food or pet food.

Hopefully someone else will have more helpful thoughts on that matter.

All my chickens will probably eat the same feed when they live together, they are just living separately right now. The only problem is that the place I get the S&P feed doesn't have an All Flock option. Can the whole flock eat S&P starter crumbles until the younger ones start laying? When should I integrate the chicks into the big flock? They are about 5 weeks old and have been living in close proximity (sharing walls) with the older hens for about 1-2 wks.

 

[NatJ]

All my chickens will probably eat the same feed when they live together, they are just living separately right now. The only problem is that the place I get the S&P feed doesn't have an All Flock option. Can the whole flock eat S&P starter crumbles until the younger ones start laying?

Chick Starter and All Flock are pretty much the same thing from a nutritional perspective. Chick Starter never seems to come in pellets (too big for young chicks) while All Flock feeds sometimes do.

Yes, the whole flock can eat the chick starter, starting as soon as you like and continuing as long as you like. As long as the hens have access to their dish of oyster shell, that can be a good way to feed them for the rest of their lives.

When should I integrate the chicks into the big flock? They are about 5 weeks old and have been living in close proximity (sharing walls) with the older hens for about 1-2 wks.

I can't say when it would be best to integrate your chicks.

Some people integrate chicks at very young ages.
Example:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/

Some people wait until the chicks are just as big as the hens.

Some people never do integrate, and prefer to replace the whole flock at regular intervals.

If you want to try it soon, maybe make chick-sized openings between the two areas (like in that article I linked).

 

[Sunni_Chick]

I have been searching the site for info on feeding our chicks in the future. We have 9 babies coming the first week of May from Mt. Healthy - we will go pick them up on May 7th. From what I am reading on the forum "All Flock" or "Flock Maker" is ideal for a mixed flock (we will have 8 hens and one rooster), then we just put the oyster shells out for our hens to get what they need. Thing I am confused about is the protein level. I'm leaning on Kalmach 20% Protein All Natural Non-GMO 20% Flock Maker Crumbles but then there is a 18% Start Right Chick Feed but it doesn't contain the Vitamin A, D and E as shown on the Guaranteed Analysis for the Flock Maker. I'm just so utterly confused.

I plan to start with a medicated feed once they arrive and then move them to something more long term after that and I admit I am confused.

Any words of wisdom?

 

[NatJ]

I have been searching the site for info on feeding our chicks in the future. We have 9 babies coming the first week of May from Mt. Healthy - we will go pick them up on May 7th. From what I am reading on the forum "All Flock" or "Flock Maker" is ideal for a mixed flock (we will have 8 hens and one rooster), then we just put the oyster shells out for our hens to get what they need. Thing I am confused about is the protein level. I'm leaning on Kalmach 20% Protein All Natural Non-GMO 20% Flock Maker Crumbles but then there is a 18% Start Right Chick Feed but it doesn't contain the Vitamin A, D and E as shown on the Guaranteed Analysis for the Flock Maker. I'm just so utterly confused.

I plan to start with a medicated feed once they arrive and then move them to something more long term after that and I admit I am confused.

Any words of wisdom?

For the ideas you listed, any of them should be a good choice.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I know that my FAVORITE chicken YouTuber "Welcome to Chickenlandia" raves about Scratch and Peck Feeds! She ferments hers and it goes a looonnnggg way and plus it's really healthy for your chickens.

 

[DucksQuackMeUp]

I am thinking about getting the Scratch & Peck organic layer pellets (16% protein). I'm not really sure what the "norm" is for chicken food pricing, but for what I'm getting, S&P seems pretty good... $44.09 for 35lbs ($1.26/lb). I have a flock of ten hens (although 6 of them are only 5-6 wk's old, so they wont be eating it quite yet). What are your thoughts on this feed? Is it worth the price? How does it affect egg production/yolk color? (Ik yolk color doesn't = healthy eggs lol)

I need advise on this subject as well. I was looking at Grubby Farms textured mix and crumbles. No soy fish or corn. But it's $54.99 for a thirty pound bag. That equates to $1.83 per pound. if they average 1/2 cup of feed per day, 3-4 oz (about a quarter pound) my 44 birds, eating 1/2 cup or 1/4 pound per day, I would need 11 pounds per week. if my math is correct. My Dad was a mathematician, but that gene osmosed into my kids. Does anyone use that feed?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I think S&P is overpriced for what it is nutritionally - but it targets a market segment I'm not in (and generally feel the whole segment is an overpriced niche feed - take that for what its worth). If there is a comparable Kalmbach product (like this one) it is probably nutritionally superior and likely cheaper thru Chewy [assuming shipping doesn't kill you]. There are ways to get free shipping from them on many products.

I have the benefit of good local mills, and don't currently use any of the national brands, though I have in the past.

(For reference, my obviously not organic, ingredients are "rather uncertain" local mill layer feed is just under $0.24/lb ($11.80 / 50# bag). My other local mill has a slightly upmarket non-GMO layer feed with somewhat more certain ingredients I can get for around $15/50# bag).

 

[FrostRanger]

I personally think it's overpriced for what it is but the organic label isn't a plus to me. I pay about 24 bucks for a 50lb bag of kalmbach flock raiser pellets which has overall better nutrition

That said, you could do worse, it's pretty much a basic layer feed, just a really expensive one