Chicken scratch is a supplementary feed made of mixed grains and seeds that chickens love to forage for by scratching the ground. It’s named after the natural scratching behavior chickens exhibit when searching for food. If you’re new to raising backyard chickens, understanding what chicken scratch is and how to use it properly is essential for maintaining a healthy flock.
Understanding Chicken Scratch: The Basics
Chicken scratch is essentially a treat for your chickens – think of it as dessert rather than their main meal It’s a mixture of various grains and seeds that chickens naturally search for by pecking and scratching at the ground
Common Ingredients in Chicken Scratch
Typical chicken scratch contains a combination of:
- Cracked corn
- Wheat
- Barley
- Oats
- Milo
- Millet
- Black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS)
- Split peas
- Raisins or dried cranberries (in some mixes)
- Pumpkin seeds (in homemade versions)
The mixture is designed to encourage natural foraging behaviors while providing extra calories, particularly useful during colder months.
Why Is It Called “Chicken Scratch”?
There are two reasons for the name
-
Natural Behavior: Chickens instinctively scratch at the ground with their feet to uncover food. Even day-old chicks can be observed doing this!
-
Similar to Handwriting Poor handwriting is sometimes called “chicken scratch” because it resembles the marks chickens make when scratching the ground
Is Chicken Scratch Good for Chickens?
Chicken scratch can be beneficial when used correctly, but it’s not meant to be a primary food source. Here’s what you need to know:
- Nutritional Content: Typically contains only 8-9% protein, 3% fat, and 4% fiber
- Treat Status: Should only make up about 10% of a chicken’s diet
- Winter Benefits: Especially useful in cold weather as the high carbohydrate content generates body heat during digestion
- Training Tool: Can help train chickens to trust you or to follow certain behaviors
But remember – chicken scratch should never replace a balanced chicken feed that contains the proper protein, calcium, and other nutrients your chickens need.
Chicken Scratch vs. Regular Chicken Feed
Many new chicken owners get confused about the difference between scratch and regular feed. Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Chicken Scratch | Layer Feed |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Treat/supplement | Complete nutrition |
| Protein | 8-9% | 16-20% |
| Calcium | Minimal | Enhanced for egg production |
| When to use | Occasional treat | Daily staple |
| Form | Loose mixed grains | Pellets, crumbles, or mash |
As you can see, layer feed provides a balanced diet with sufficient protein and calcium to support egg production. Scratch doesn’t provide adequate nutrition on its own.
When Should I Feed Chicken Scratch?
The timing of when you offer scratch to your chickens matters:
Best Times to Offer Scratch:
- Cold Weather: Late afternoon or early evening during winter months to help generate body heat
- Training Sessions: When teaching chickens to come when called or enter the coop
- Bedtime Training: To encourage chickens to enter the coop at night
- Coop Cleaning Helper: To encourage chickens to turn over bedding if you use the deep litter method
When to Avoid Scratch:
- Hot Weather: The digestion process generates heat, which isn’t ideal during summer (though some still offer it in moderation)
- Before Regular Feed: Always offer nutritionally balanced feed first
- For Very Young Chicks: Use caution with baby chicks (more on this below)
How Much Chicken Scratch Should I Feed?
This is where many chicken owners go wrong. The general rule is:
Chicken scratch should not exceed 10% of your chickens’ daily diet.
For a practical measurement:
- For 10 chickens, offer about half a cup of scratch per day
- This works out to roughly 2-2.5 teaspoons per chicken
Feeding too much scratch can:
- Lead to protein deficiency
- Cause obesity in chickens
- Result in fewer eggs or eggs with thin shells
- Potentially lead to behavioral problems like feather pecking or egg eating
Can Baby Chicks Eat Scratch?
This is a common question with some disagreement among chicken owners. Here’s the consensus from the sources:
Baby chicks can eat scratch if:
- They’re offered their regular chick starter feed first
- The scratch doesn’t exceed 10% of their diet
- They have access to grit if they don’t free-range
- You use “chick scratch” (finer pieces) rather than regular scratch
However, many experienced chicken keepers recommend waiting until chicks are at least 5-6 weeks old before introducing scratch, and some suggest waiting until 12-18 weeks.
Making Your Own Chicken Scratch
If you’d like to make your own chicken scratch mix, it’s pretty simple. Here’s a basic recipe:
Homemade Chicken Scratch Recipe:
Mix equal parts of:
- Cracked corn
- Wheat
- Oats
- Barley
- Black oil sunflower seeds
- Split peas
- Pumpkin seeds (optional)
- Milo
- Millet
- Dried cranberries or raisins (optional)
Store in an airtight container and serve as directed above.
Alternatives to Chicken Scratch
If you’re looking for other treat options that might be more nutritious, consider:
- Kitchen Scraps: Vegetable peelings, cooked eggs, etc.
- Mealworms or Maggots: High in protein (can be raised or purchased)
- Cover Crops and Sprouted Grains: Let chickens forage in these areas
- Fresh Bugs: Have kids catch garden pests for chicken treats
- Compost: Allow supervised access to your compost pile
- Fresh Herbs: Especially cooling herbs like mint during summer
My Experience with Chicken Scratch
I’ve been raising chickens for several years now, and I’ve found that scratch is a wonderful tool when used properly. My hens go absolutely bonkers for it! I scatter a small amount in their run in the late afternoon during winter, and it’s amazing to watch their natural scratching behaviors.
One tip I’ve learned is to use scratch sparingly but strategically. When I need to get my chickens back in the coop before dark, a small handful of scratch works like magic – they come running!
I’ve also noticed that during really cold nights, feeding scratch before bedtime seems to help keep them warmer through the night. Their crops are full, and the digestion process generates extra body heat.
Chicken scratch can be a valuable addition to your backyard chicken routine when used correctly. Remember these key points:
- It’s a treat, not a complete feed
- Limit to 10% of the diet
- Best used in cold weather
- Can be a useful training tool
- Always offer regular feed first
Like most things in chicken keeping, moderation is key. Your chickens will be healthier and happier when they have a well-balanced diet with occasional treats like scratch to satisfy their natural scratching instincts.
Do you use chicken scratch with your flock? What’s been your experience? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
How Often Should You Serve Scratch?
Scratch should only be served occasionally, such as once or twice a week. It is best to offer scratch in the late afternoon when your chickens are starting to wind down for the day. That will allow them to enjoy their evening meal without filling up on too much of the energy-rich scratch. It is important to remember that scratch is not complete food and should not make up the majority of your chickens’ diet.
Feeding too much scratch can cause digestive problems due to an imbalanced diet, so keep it as an occasional treat for your flock. So, always make sure that you monitor your chickens’ health and condition when serving scratch. If you notice any changes in their appetite or behavior, stop offering the scratch and introduce a balanced diet of feed and fresh greens. With proper care, a chicken scratch can be a great way to supplement your chickens’ diet.
What Is The Difference Between Feed And Scratch?
Feed is a complete food that provides all the nutrition chickens need, while scratch should be considered a supplement. Chicken feed is designed to meet all the nutritional needs of chickens and should make up most of their diet. Scratch, however, can provide additional energy for your chickens but does not contain all the vital nutrients they require for good health.
Is Chicken Scratch Good or Bad? A Comprehensive Guide
FAQ
What exactly is chicken scratch?
“Chicken scratch” refers to a mix of whole grains fed to chickens as a supplemental treat to encourage their natural foraging behavior, and can also describe a form of embroidery using the stitches of a gingham grid, or simply messy, illegible handwriting. While the grain mix provides calories and encourages activity, it should not be a significant portion of a balanced diet, as it lacks the proper nutritional content for egg-laying hens.
What’s the difference between chicken feed and chicken scratch?
Chicken scratch is a mixture of whole grains, such as corn and wheat, that serve as a high-energy treat or supplement, whereas chicken feed is a complete and balanced nutritional diet formulated with the precise levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals that chickens need to stay healthy and produce eggs. Feed should make up the vast majority of a chicken’s diet, with scratch only offered in small amounts (no more than 10% of their total intake) as a treat.
Is chicken scratch necessary?
No, chickens do not need scratch as it is considered a treat and not a complete or essential part of their diet. While beneficial for training, warmth in winter, and as an occasional treat, scratch grains are low in protein and vitamins and should only make up about 10% of a chicken’s diet to avoid nutritional imbalances. Chickens require a balanced diet of layer feed to meet their nutritional needs for egg production and health.