Would this be in the guidelines of feed to treats?

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

With the night temps being mid to upper 40's and lower 50's right now. I will be starting to give the girls scratch in the evenings ( body heat for the night). They are getting 1.5 pounds of chick/grower (have 2 pullets not laying yet), they don't eat it all about a quarter cup in feeder when they go to roost. Once they lay eggs will finish off the layer pellets and switch to flock feed with oyster shells & grit on the side(already do). Now for my question. Will I be in the recommended guidelines of feed to scratch, if I give them 2 ounces of scratch in the evenings? Yes I have weighed out the feed and scratch so I know what those amounts look like.
Edit: forgot to mention the breeds, 1 Brahma, 1 EE, 1 Barred Rock and 2 Golden Comets (pullets).

 

[Mosey2003]

That would be fine.

 

[snow5164]

I can appreciate what you are doing , I’m even impressed , but growing chicks and pullets need access to food 24/7. I would never limit their feed at any age but the growing stage is not a time to have them on a diet.

As far as the scratch I’ve heard on here 90% feed 10% treats..... if that helps

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

I can appreciate what you are doing , I’m even impressed , but growing chicks and pullets need access to food 24/7. I would never limit their feed at any age but the growing stage is not a time to have them on a diet.

As far as the scratch I’ve heard on here 90% feed 10% treats..... if that helps

Give them the 1.5 pounds in the morning and check it in the afternoon, if they need more I add some more. Realize they will eat more in the winter.
I don't want them to get obese, since they can not free range, due to predators and the landlord's chicken killing dog.

 

[Mosey2003]

Didn't say they were limiting feed or putting them on a diet, just asked about ratios and happens to know what they are eating. Nothing wrong with knowing how much your birds eat.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

That would be fine.

Thank You

 

[PirateGirl]

Cold is relative I suppose. If you want to treat your birds this all sounds good. I do not believe at those temperatures they *need* scratch for any extra body heat. Also I like to throw the scratch on the ground, not put it in a bowl/feeder, so it encourages them to move around. Activity will help raise body temp too. The scratching around also helps break down/compost waste in the run. I'm sure the birds will love their new snack!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Cold is relative I suppose. If you want to treat your birds this all sounds good. I do not believe at those temperatures they *need* scratch for any extra body heat. Also I like to throw the scratch on the ground, not put it in a bowl/feeder, so it encourages them to move around. Activity will help raise body temp too. The scratching around also helps break down/compost waste in the run. I'm sure the birds will love their new snack!

I know that is not cold and they don't need scratch. Have a wireless sensor in the coop so I can see the temp in there. This morning it was 42 degrees. Thinking ahead for when it does get colder. I do throw it around in the run. Fun to watch them run for it. They definitely love it, they meet me at the run door and talk up a storm. Summer they got some scratch but only once or twice a week.
Am getting a radiant flat heater that mounts on the wall, just in case. Already have the heated waterer.

 

[PirateGirl]

Certainly good to prepare in advance! Winter is coming. I had ice in the water dish I left out overnight once already!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Certainly good to prepare in advance! Winter is coming. I had ice in the water dish I left out overnight once already!

Yikes ice already, that's cold...lol Past couple of years we have had colder than normal temps and more snow than normal. First winter with having chickens, so trying to think ahead of what they might need.