Corn is a mainstream ingredient in poultry feeds and scratches. Although corn is not fully digestible by chickens, most of the sugars and starches are. Corn is a carbohydrate that provides a source of energy. There’s quite a bit of debate over whether corn and soy should be fed to chickens or not. Otherwise, they will begin to grow fat, be more prone to sickness, and produce low-quality eggs.īecause it’s difficult to figure out how much that 10% is, it’s easier to feed about a palm-size portion of scratch for each chicken. Because scratch is grain-based, when feeding it to them, keep it to 10% or less of their daily diet. Trust us you don’t want to do this because your chickens will suffer from malnutrition, develop health problems, and could end up dying as a result.Ĭhicken scratch should be fed in small portions every now and then. Unfortunately, there are some chicken owners who opt to feed their chickens with scratch rather than feed because a scratch is much cheaper. It’s just that, an “indulgence.” As humans, we choose to give our chickens scratch because deep down it’s a form of nurturing them, just as giving Johnny a chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven after getting home from school. It’s about the same thing as us sitting down to have a slice of indulgent chocolate cake or that bowl of ice cream. Simply put, no chicken scratch is not a required part of a chicken’s diet and offers no nutritional value. Scratch, on the other hand, is a snack or treat that isn’t nutritionally balanced, and if the wrong ingredients are used, it is nothing more than junk food for chickens. To keep the two separate, it helps to think of feed as a balanced meal that has necessary vitamins and minerals. Now, remember, this is not homemade chicken feed, but a homemade chicken scratch. It’s those grains that we want to take a look at because when it comes to making your own scratch, it’s beneficial to know what is good and not-so-good to use for ingredients. So, why do they call it chicken scratch? Because when chickens forage, they peck and scratch at the ground to dig up insects and other delightful delicacies.Ĭhicken scratch is grained-based (rolled, cracked, and whole) and almost always has grit added. Most chicken scratches are higher in fiber but lower in protein.Ī healthy feed should suffice as the only source of food however, many chicken owners like to provide their beloved chickens with a treat here and there. The only purpose it serves our chickens is a way to satisfy their foraging instinct. Chicken scratch is nothing more than a snack or treat. If you are new to raising chickens, it’s fairly easy to confuse chicken scratch for feed. Lastly, we’ll leave you with a yummy organic scratch recipe for your feathered friends!įor information on homemade chicken feed, read this article. Many flock owners are curious about soy vs corn in their scratch mix so we’ll delve into that as well. We’ll discuss what chicken scratch is, how it differs from chicken feed, whether it’s good for your chickens, and look at the differences between homemade and store bought chickens scratch. We provide the perfect healthy homemade chicken scratch recipe for your brood! If you want your chickens to be at their best, you’ll want to read this. You can start with a commercial bagged mix, or start completely from scratch and use cracked corn, wheat, barley and oats as your base.Those bags of feed store chicken scratch may not be ideal to give your chickens. To make things even more interesting (and even a bit more nutritious) for my girls, I love to make them this " Ultimate Chicken Scratch Grain Recipe". Scratch grains are available commercially pre-mixed. It also keeps them from getting bored, keeps them focused on finding the scratch grains - and quite possibly prevents them from picking on each other. That's especially important in the winter as well because it gets them up and moving around, which also helps to keep them warm. I love to toss the scratch into a pile of leaves, pine needles or straw in the run and let the chickens scratch around looking for every teeny grain! In addition to providing energy to your chickens to digest overnight, scratch grains provide them entertainment in the winter when they maybe can't be out free ranging and eating grass and bugs. Only feed as 10% of my chickens' diet (about a Tablespoon or so per chicken). I use these rules when it comes to scratch grains: Since scratch isn't nutritionally balanced and is higher in fat and carbs than regular chicken feed, it should be fed in moderation. Three Guidelines for Feeding Scratch Grains
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