Why do some act like Chicken Scratch should be avoided like the plague
- Thread starter dizzychicken
- Start date
i think the best feed to give them is a blended ration. i dont give mine strictly layer feed or what have you. mine have a mix of layer pellets, creep pellets, gamebird ration(24-28% protien). during the winter i give them rice bran pellets or if im "fattening up" as well because of the high fat content. scratch is great but for mine i just throw it out there 2-3 times a week. i use maybe 4 bags a month. ive used floating fish food but if it is too hard or dry they dont seem to favor it as much. my personal rules as far as feed are - i like all natural no meds no fillers, no bone meal. i prefer to buy within state (go texan woohoo). i also stay away from the big factory feed store stuff like bluebonnet, dumor, producers pride, even purina and nutrena but thats because they are way overpriced. luckily i live withing 200 miles of of at least 20 different feed mills and producers and they offer the best. i bought a sack of that tractor supply garbage and i was horrified it literally had a cloud of dust coming out of the bag just from opening it. one thing you need to check on any grain you buy is if it is recleaned or not. should say it on the bag. big factories dont reclean because they are about getting it out the door. there are more contaminants than just dust like rodent waste and such that are just awful so buyer beware.
Scratch is only one part of a total diet plan for chickens. Even back in "grandpas day," this was known. There were better things to feed them and many progressive poultry men of the day blended their own complete feed.
However, chickens have endured as something of an after thought for many, even though chickens themselves have been a part of rural life for a very long time. On most farms, especially in the past, there were more productive animals around. Since they DO tend to take care for themselves, it is natural to just let them be. Once a flock is established and the major predators eliminated, the chickens can become part of the landscape. You go find some eggs, you snag a bird now and then for supper and that's that.
It was this second tier status that led to the persistent notion that they should just be turned loose to fend for themselves - and toss them an occasional handful of spoiled grain or other leftover animal feed... "scratch," in other words.
In recent times, and especially among backyarders, that is changing. Knowledge of poultry nutrition is widely available and becomes more important to the small flock keeper, who can ill afford losses when the flock is already small.
This is why nutritional matters absorb so much of our energy - and why nutritional "diversions," like scratch, are viewed critically.
The way to feed scratch grain is in the litter or on the ground, so they have to work for it. Some advocate giving it at night so they go to sleep on it, others say feed it in the morning so they get the juices flowing scratching for it.
For most its a moot argument.
However, chickens have endured as something of an after thought for many, even though chickens themselves have been a part of rural life for a very long time. On most farms, especially in the past, there were more productive animals around. Since they DO tend to take care for themselves, it is natural to just let them be. Once a flock is established and the major predators eliminated, the chickens can become part of the landscape. You go find some eggs, you snag a bird now and then for supper and that's that.
It was this second tier status that led to the persistent notion that they should just be turned loose to fend for themselves - and toss them an occasional handful of spoiled grain or other leftover animal feed... "scratch," in other words.
In recent times, and especially among backyarders, that is changing. Knowledge of poultry nutrition is widely available and becomes more important to the small flock keeper, who can ill afford losses when the flock is already small.
This is why nutritional matters absorb so much of our energy - and why nutritional "diversions," like scratch, are viewed critically.
The way to feed scratch grain is in the litter or on the ground, so they have to work for it. Some advocate giving it at night so they go to sleep on it, others say feed it in the morning so they get the juices flowing scratching for it.
For most its a moot argument.
Last edited:
- May 17, 2007
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Scratch seems to vary from area to area and brand to brand. I was buying scratch that was mostly milo, wheat and oats with a dash of cracked corn.
But, I changed brands bought at the same store, and it is mostly cracked corn. The hens are not crazy for it.
What they really like is anything from the kitchen except carrots. For some reason they won't touch them. If we eat outside, they beg like dogs.
They eat a lot of grass. I let them run around the backyard and they keep the lawn nibbled down. They eat the bermuda grass leaves, but avoid the seed stalks.
We used to have a problem with sewer roaches coming in from the alley. They solved that problem.
Rufus
But, I changed brands bought at the same store, and it is mostly cracked corn. The hens are not crazy for it.
What they really like is anything from the kitchen except carrots. For some reason they won't touch them. If we eat outside, they beg like dogs.
They eat a lot of grass. I let them run around the backyard and they keep the lawn nibbled down. They eat the bermuda grass leaves, but avoid the seed stalks.
We used to have a problem with sewer roaches coming in from the alley. They solved that problem.
Rufus
chickens and guineas will keep your bug life down
Quote:
That's some interesting anecdotal evidence! What was the weather like during that week-long span, do you happen to remember the high temperatures those days? Any other unusual events - different treats, big construction project happening near the coop, thunderstorms, etc? And what was their mash consumption like during that time span?
The temp. was in the 90's...i did have a small project goin on near coop but it was after i quit feeding scratch...my egg count is 14-16 daily right now. the month of may was my low egg count until i quit the scratch...i was assuming the count would go up the warmer it got...mash consumption was about 2-3 1lb butter tub scoops a day.
My brother and i split 30 chickens in spring of 2008...5 each of speckled sussex..light brahmas..and black australorps plus i have some mixed breed hens...anyway..he stopped feeding his chickens scratch after i told him about my egg count and his count was down also..his count is 14 right now...out of 15 hens
That's some interesting anecdotal evidence! What was the weather like during that week-long span, do you happen to remember the high temperatures those days? Any other unusual events - different treats, big construction project happening near the coop, thunderstorms, etc? And what was their mash consumption like during that time span?
The temp. was in the 90's...i did have a small project goin on near coop but it was after i quit feeding scratch...my egg count is 14-16 daily right now. the month of may was my low egg count until i quit the scratch...i was assuming the count would go up the warmer it got...mash consumption was about 2-3 1lb butter tub scoops a day.
My brother and i split 30 chickens in spring of 2008...5 each of speckled sussex..light brahmas..and black australorps plus i have some mixed breed hens...anyway..he stopped feeding his chickens scratch after i told him about my egg count and his count was down also..his count is 14 right now...out of 15 hens
I love to treat my chickens. I buy a 20 lb bag of scratch that last us well over a month. If I don't have kitchen scraps to give them, I'll toss in about a cup and a half of scratch to be shared between 7 chickens. That's not an over-indulgence in non-nutritional feed I feel. It's a treat. It's better to give scratch in the winter time because the corn in it does tend to heat up the chickens.
I don't avoid it, but I do give it to my chickens in moderation.
I don't avoid it, but I do give it to my chickens in moderation.
I feed mine scratch as a treat late in the afternoon, if there is any left the guineas come over and finish it off, but they free range most of the day and when it gets hot I find them under the weeds at the side of the shed, I guess thats one reason I haven't pulled them up, the hens like the shade, they have a feeder full of layer pellets mixed with hardshell and DE. and they free range , get bread, scraps the dogs don't get, Plenty of water, so they seem happy. Supposed to get a new roo today, a black silkie, should make odd looking chickens, RIR hens and a black silkie roo. Oh well, food is food, eggs from hens and meat from roos. marrie
Quote:
Just so that you know phosphorus, potassium is not a source of energy in plants.. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide is the source of energy for plants...
All animal byproduct is heat treated before it is used in animal feed so that would kill any disease that might be there...
Chris
Just so ya know, nitrogen and carbon dioxide cannot be utilized by the plant for energy unless it also has these and other valuable nutrients available.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-role--measures-of-nutrients-in-plant-growth.html
Just so that you know phosphorus, potassium is not a source of energy in plants.. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide is the source of energy for plants...
All animal byproduct is heat treated before it is used in animal feed so that would kill any disease that might be there...
Chris
Just so ya know, nitrogen and carbon dioxide cannot be utilized by the plant for energy unless it also has these and other valuable nutrients available.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-role--measures-of-nutrients-in-plant-growth.html
Quote:
Just so that you know phosphorus, potassium is not a source of energy in plants.. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide is the source of energy for plants...
All animal byproduct is heat treated before it is used in animal feed so that would kill any disease that might be there...
Chris
Just so ya know, nitrogen and carbon dioxide cannot be utilized by the plant for energy unless it also has these and other valuable nutrients available.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-role--measures-of-nutrients-in-plant-growth.html
What I said was phosphorus, potassium is not a source energy in plants.
Potassium, one of the 17 chemical elements required for plant growth and reproduction, is often referred to as the the regulator since it is involved with over 60 different enzyme systems in plants. Potassium helps plants to resist drought and effects from excessive temperatures. It also increases crop resistance to disease. Potassium aids plants in the production
of starches, controls root growth, and regulates the opening
and closing of pores in plant cells (called stomata), which is important for efficient water use. All plants require potassium,
especially crops high in carbohydrates, such as potatoes.
Studies have shown that adequate
amounts of potassium may promote the growth of long, strong cotton fibers; increase the shelf life of fruits; increase
the stem length and quantity of roses; enhance the green color
and growth of turf grass; and increase the size and quality of fruits, grains, and vegetables...
Phosphorus, one of the 17 chemical elements required for plant growth and reproduction, is often referred to as the energizer since it helps store and transfer
energy during photosynthesis. It is also part of the genetic material of all cellsDNA and RNA. All plants require phosphorus during periods of rapid growth. Most annual plants (plants that grow, reproduce, anddie in one year) require large amounts of phosphorus as they begin to grow. Plants grown in cold weather which
have limited roots and rapid top growth, such as lettuce, are high phosphorus users. Legumes also require plentiful amounts of phosphorus. Established
plants such as trees, shrubs and vines, especially those grown in warm climates with long summers, require the least amounts of phosphorus fertilizer.
http://www.cfaitc.org/Commodity/pdf/Phosphorus.pdf
http://www.cfaitc.org/Commodity/pdf/Potassium.pdf
Chris
Just so that you know phosphorus, potassium is not a source of energy in plants.. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide is the source of energy for plants...
All animal byproduct is heat treated before it is used in animal feed so that would kill any disease that might be there...
Chris
Just so ya know, nitrogen and carbon dioxide cannot be utilized by the plant for energy unless it also has these and other valuable nutrients available.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-role--measures-of-nutrients-in-plant-growth.html
What I said was phosphorus, potassium is not a source energy in plants.
Potassium, one of the 17 chemical elements required for plant growth and reproduction, is often referred to as the the regulator since it is involved with over 60 different enzyme systems in plants. Potassium helps plants to resist drought and effects from excessive temperatures. It also increases crop resistance to disease. Potassium aids plants in the production
of starches, controls root growth, and regulates the opening
and closing of pores in plant cells (called stomata), which is important for efficient water use. All plants require potassium,
especially crops high in carbohydrates, such as potatoes.
Studies have shown that adequate
amounts of potassium may promote the growth of long, strong cotton fibers; increase the shelf life of fruits; increase
the stem length and quantity of roses; enhance the green color
and growth of turf grass; and increase the size and quality of fruits, grains, and vegetables...
Phosphorus, one of the 17 chemical elements required for plant growth and reproduction, is often referred to as the energizer since it helps store and transfer
energy during photosynthesis. It is also part of the genetic material of all cellsDNA and RNA. All plants require phosphorus during periods of rapid growth. Most annual plants (plants that grow, reproduce, anddie in one year) require large amounts of phosphorus as they begin to grow. Plants grown in cold weather which
have limited roots and rapid top growth, such as lettuce, are high phosphorus users. Legumes also require plentiful amounts of phosphorus. Established
plants such as trees, shrubs and vines, especially those grown in warm climates with long summers, require the least amounts of phosphorus fertilizer.
http://www.cfaitc.org/Commodity/pdf/Phosphorus.pdf
http://www.cfaitc.org/Commodity/pdf/Potassium.pdf
Chris
Last edited:
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