Two Questions on supplemental feed.

[nuthatched]

Hi all,
Just two questions on what I've been doing and what I should do.
I've replaced buying chicken scratch to buying the tsc brand wild birds food to use as scratch, I first did this because tsc was out of scratch and the bird feed was on sale but I've continued to buy it instead of scratch since I'd like to think it's slightly more healthy since there's much less cracked corn and contains milo (sorghum) which has lots of vitamins and protein.
I figured that they get so little scratch that it wouldn't hurt them either way. Am I right or should I go back to scratch?

Secondly, I want to feed my flock Alfalfa / Timothy this winter to make up for less greens. Beside soaking it, what else do you do to prepare it? Is it better to buy the compacted bales or horse cubes/pellets?
Thank you!

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all,
Just two questions on what I've been doing and what I should do.
I've replaced buying chicken scratch to buying the tsc brand wild birds food to use as scratch, I first did this because tsc was out of scratch and the bird feed was on sale but I've continued to buy it instead of scratch since I'd like to think it's slightly more healthy since there's much less cracked corn and contains milo (sorghum) which has lots of vitamins and protein.
I figured that they get so little scratch that it wouldn't hurt them either way. Am I right or should I go back to scratch?
View attachment 2389170View attachment 2389171

Secondly, I want to feed my flock Alfalfa / Timothy this winter to make up for less greens. Beside soaking it, what else do you do to prepare it? Is it better to buy the compacted bales or horse cubes/pellets?
Thank you!

I use bird seed instead of scratch. I toss 4 handfuls to 30 birds each morning.
I tried alfalfa for my flock but they hated it so I can't offer advice for it but will be curious to see what others have to say.

 

[cavemanrich]

Let me tackle both questions..
I have been using wild bird seeds as scratch like forever. I do still buy scratch when I'm at Feed store, because it is considerably cheaper than the bird seeds there, (your store prices may vary by supplier) Bird seeds are a premium form of scratch. I also use a large quantity of bird seeds for my bird feeders year round. Luv my feathered flying friends.
The birds have no problem eating all the variety of seed. They do leave quite a bit of the scratch uneaten when it is all I have to offer.

Now to Alfalfa. I offer hay as bedding for my chickens. I know many other peeps choose other medium, like DLM, pine shavings, wood pellets, sand, Etc. I get alfalfa, or timothy hay. It is just a couple dollars more than basic straw bedding per bale. I also offer alfalfa pellets to the chickens. Those are originally intended as rabbit feed. The chickens do nibble on the hay at their own will. They also nibble on the pellets, but I do not see that pile get consumed very fast. Greens are greens, so I do offer it regardless how slowly they choose to consume it. I have read that some peeps do hydrate their pellets and offer it to their flocks. I always just offered it as dry pellets.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[nuthatched]

Let me tackle both questions..
I have been using wild bird seeds as scratch like forever. I do still buy scratch when I'm at Feed store, because it is considerably cheaper than the bird seeds there, (your store prices may vary by supplier) Bird seeds are a premium form of scratch. I also use a large quantity of bird seeds for my bird feeders year round. Luv my feathered flying friends.
The birds have no problem eating all the variety of seed. They do leave quite a bit of the scratch uneaten when it is all I have to offer.

Now to Alfalfa. I offer hay as bedding for my chickens. I know many other peeps choose other medium, like DLM, pine shavings, wood pellets, sand, Etc. I get alfalfa, or timothy hay. It is just a couple dollars more than basic straw bedding per bale. I also offer alfalfa pellets to the chickens. Those are originally intended as rabbit feed. The chickens do nibble on the hay at their own will. They also nibble on the pellets, but I do not see that pile get consumed very fast. Greens are greens, so I do offer it regardless how slowly they choose to consume it. I have read that some peeps do hydrate their pellets and offer it to their flocks. I always just offered it as dry pellets.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

At my feed store, the prices between the scratch and bird feed is marginal, I think the scratch is 30lbs for $12-13 (my tsc only carries the premium dumore) and the seed is 35lbs is also $12-13, so it's a wash for price.
My chickens have plain old straw for their boxes, a compacted bale lasts a while for me. I'll look into the rabbit cubes , I'm not sure the devils would eat alfalfa / timothy if I got it for them. So it's probably best if I don't buy too much at first.
Thanks for your input!