What should scratch contain or not contain?

[gtaus]

Yes, free feeding is best, but I do know some people feed meals because they have issues with rodents or other pests.

I don't have any problems with rodents or other pests. I have never seen a mouse in my hanging bucket feeder. I think it would be really hard for them to get into the hanging feeder.

Outside in the run it's a different story. I have squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits that will get into the run and eat anything left behind by the chickens overnight. But as I feed the kitchen scraps in the morning, it is rare to see anything left after only 10 minutes, let alone overnight.

 

[gtaus]

I myself don't feed much scratch BTW. I brought a 10lb bag in June of last year and there's still maybe a fifth of a bag left. The girls honestly don't get many treats from me, if I need to round them up I can usually herd them back in their coop by walking behind them with my arms outstretched. Main treats I give them are the occasional cabbage or fruit or vegetable scraps (plus the random pieces of cat food I or the cats drop).

Over the years, I give less and less chicken scratch to the girls. They just don't need it. But we are good at saving our kitchen scraps and unwanted leftovers in a bucket on the kitchen counter for the chickens. They like our kitchen scraps. It's probably a healthier treat for them when you think about it.

 

[FrostRanger]

I don't have any problems with rodents or other pests. I have never seen a mouse in my hanging bucket feeder. I think it would be really hard for them to get into the hanging feeder.

Outside in the run it's a different story. I have squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits that will get into the run and eat anything left behind by the chickens overnight. But as I feed the kitchen scraps in the morning, it is rare to see anything left after only 10 minutes, let alone overnight.

You'd be surprised how smart and agile rodents are. They could absolutely get in easily if they wanted to. That said, it really does depend on your area, pest and predator load whether you have problems. Some people will never have issues with such a system (I myself have had no issues with my 2 bucket port feeders in the run) while others have to take serious measures to keep rodents out of their feed. Different things work for different people

 

[FrostRanger]

Over the years, I give less and less chicken scratch to the girls. They just don't need it. But we are good at saving our kitchen scraps and unwanted leftovers in a bucket on the kitchen counter for the chickens. They like our kitchen scraps. It's probably a healthier treat for them when you think about it.

Depends, but yes, in general kitchen scraps are fine in moderation