Why is scratch considered a treat only?

[EggSighted4Life]

This probably isn't going to be popular but I feed mostly scratch/corn from the local mill. I do a mix of 50 lb cracked corn 50 lb scratch and 50 lb of layer pellets. Plus all of our household scraps. This is the most economical way to keep my flock and with the kitchen scraps I firmly believe that they have a more varied and healthy diet then if I fed only commercial feed.

I realize a lot of people seem to do it to save $... Scratch cost just as much here as formulated feed does... except... Walmart brand layer feed with 15% protein is SUPER cheap.. huh... maybe their scratch is cheaper than my LFS too.

Since I breed and hatch I REFUSE to diminish my nutrient level. I'm a tight wad with treats, giving sprouted barley or homegrown meal worms on occasion. Studies show chicken fed 22% protein give higher hatch rates... to me that says MORE nutrition in the eggs my family is eating! But, this is my goal... whether or not I agree with what others do, we are all here to share our experiences and learn from them, not to judge each other.

Note, I think adequate internal and external parasite control are important factors when it comes to nutrition... which doesn't mean randomly worming. I saw one girl with mud butt, who people will SWEAR is a sign of worms. I haven't wormed in 8 years, partly because I didn't know chickens *need* it. But I always suggest getting a float to make sure you treat the right species if you even need to treat. It was a hard pill to swallow at $25 a pop, but decided I can't knowingly preach something I don't practice. Anyways... I do a flock and pack sample for my birds and dogs... it came back NEGATIVE. I could have treated my whole flock for what I don't have, wasting time, $, and eggs! Oh but wait, there's more... I saw my dog come in a scoot their butt. Sign of worms... right? Wrong! *Sometimes* it's a sign of an itchy bum, and I have PROOF.

Lot's of good input going on here.

 

[Raindrops]

I think it’s because scratch doesn’t have enough protein/calcium. I was asking myself the same thing because the bag of scratch I bought says the scratch is “not to exceed 10% of their diet”.

They love it so much but I’m trying to get them to stop expecting it from me every time I walk out into the backyard.

 

[lazy gardener]

ES4L, I do a different feeding regimen than you do (Fermented layer here). But, I agree with your post. Don't treat it unless you know you need to treat it! Worming willy nilly is not a logical way to raise animals. Often a dog doing the butt scoot needs her anal gland cleaned. . As for mud butt, birds with lots of heiney feathers are more prone. And if they eat a lot of high moisture veggies, they are more prone to mud butt! I have one CW who desperately needs a feather trim. Poop on eggs is often cited as an indication of worms. Nope. It's an indication that the chicken's cloaca may not be inverting properly when she lays an egg (a mechanical issue). Or some one laid a poo bomb in the nest, or someone has dirty feet, or had a dingle berry hanging off her heiney.

Prior to collecting hatching eggs, I put my flock on multi vits, and increase their protein.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I agree treat with meds only if you need to. I check my hens for parasites and so far so good. You don’t want to create resistant bugs to the drugs and the meds effect the eggs. I do preventative cleaning, I am not a deep layer of stuff in the coop area person, my coop is on brick (prevents critters digging into it) so I must clean regularly and sterilize and so on... I use herbs in the coop too. But the hens have free roam during the day so lots of activity, lots of dirt bath opportunities. I think inspecting the birds is important so I do that both casually and in detail.

I have given my birds oyster shell if I think they are low on calcium. You can usually buy that separate at the feed store. I give them fruit too.

I do believe in looking at studies too.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

This thread has lots of ideas in it and folks who do their own feeds... https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-keeping-thread-ots-welcome.729605/page-3955

 

[RodNTN]

I absolutely love this feed:
https://www.purinamills.com/chicken...MI5ITU3eC32QIVyrrACh3CSwa-EAAYASAAEgLcFPD_BwE

 

[purslanegarden]

you are right...even some fish hobbyists have begun to make their own fish food. Why? It's for the same reason you state, that they can control what goes into their fish.

There is no reason you have to buy commercial feed, if your chickens get enough food from other sources. This includes your own table scraps, foraging, and any calcium they need. Or even if they sometimes aren't getting all they need but you don't know about it, and you have just been feeding them "stuff" and they are growing and you think that is sufficient without resorting to commercial feed.

And even if you buy grains and other items to make your own mix, that's some of the same stuff that goes into the commercial mixes, except in a crumbled or pelleted form. So again, you don't have to buy the commercial feed.

In fact, a common reason of why someone makes their own feed is that they want to control the % of a certain nutrient, usually protein. So let's say they can only ever find something that has 15% protein, but they need 22%. They would either take this mix and add more protein, or they would decide to make their own mix.

So you're right that we don't need to buy commercial, but like many things which have changed with time, many of people may not have the time, storage, or interest to make their own mixes, so they depend on these products for a quick buy at the store and feed to their birds without needing to do additional efforts.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

On calcium sources... besides baked ground up egg shells, and oyster shells (I wonder if clam shell or other mollusks could be used... fresh water clams for instance or muscles) I have seen people grind up cooked chicken bones.

Other ideas?

 

[Beer can]

On calcium sources... besides baked ground up egg shells, and oyster shells (I wonder if clam shell or other mollusks could be used... fresh water clams for instance or muscles) I have seen people grind up cooked chicken bones.

Other ideas?

Kale has almost as much as milk I believe, and easy to grow in abundance. Even here when it gets well below freezing it's still green and good until a heavy snow fall buries it.
I grow plenty for us and the chickens.
Saw this at our county fair one yr, boy I'd like to get one lol.

 

[Kusanar]

I long ago switched my horses to a "home made mix" of whole grains and alfalfa/timothy with a complete equine vitamin mineral and they have absolutely BLOOMED!

My answer to your question was pretty much going to be too many carbs, not enough protein, which, everyone has told you several times now... But, what I'm interested in now is would you be willing to share your horse blend as well as what vitamin/mineral you use?