WHAT IS SCRATCH AND WHY?

[Fawn and Fam]

I see some people give scratch to their chickens during the colder months. What is it exactly? Is there a reason to give it in the colder months or is it just a treat?

 

[bonnie in indiana]

Scratch=cracked corn,wheat,oats and milo. Some feed all the time and some feed as a treat and some feed in the winter. The corn in the winter is for added HEAT as it turns into heat and also for a little weight gain in the winter.

I feed a mix of layer crumbles and scratch all year round. Less scratch in the summer and more in the winter.

Some will use just cracked corn instead of the scratch mixture..

 

[Fawn and Fam]

How much should you feed per bird per day in the winter?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

A lot of people say 10% of the diet or less in treats is good.

I just think of it as, for a few chickens throw out a handful per day, and for a lot of chickens throw out a lot of handfuls.

You can give scratch year round, no problem. They DO like to eat more grains in the winter though.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I do it every evening, as I call them in for lockup. In spring, as it starts getting warmer, I subsitiute half the cracked corn and wheat scratch for sultanas. This helps prevent too much fat on them during our hot summer months here. They love it! I only have 4 hens so just a handful a day (like, less than 1 cup) gives them - and me - lots of bedtime pleasure.

 

[bbishop]

Pretty much a vitamin feed but not high in protein

 

[Fawn and Fam]

I give them vitamins in their water 6 days a week. Is it still okay to give them scratch on top of that?

 

[Sandstorm495]

I would say yes, but you probably don't need to give them vitamins in their water if they are healthy & well. Depending on what is in your scratch feed, if you have foods that are reasonably high in protein (etc), then I would not put vitamins in their water. There is nothing wrong with doing that, but if you don't need to then don''t.