Whether you are looking for your own chicken feed recipes or you prefer to buy your chicken feed, at some point, you are going to come across the cracked corn vs scratch grains for chickens debate.
Have you ever stood at the edge of your backyard pondering what to feed your chickens? Believe it or not, there are so many different options. From mealworms and kitchen scraps, to cracked corn and scratch grains, there’s no shortage of tasty treats for our feathered friends!
But when it comes down to which is best – cracked corn or scratch grains? If that question has you scratching your head like a chicken pecking in the dirt, stick around – I’m here to help break it down!
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What Is Cracked Corn?
Crack corn may not sound like the most exciting meal for your feathered friend, but in fact, it’s full of nutrition and can actually be quite the treat when mixed with other feed.
Cracked corn is cracked grains of either field corn, sweet corn, or both. It provides chickens with a good source of carbohydrates, energy, and protein and offers some variety to their diet.
While cracked corn should not replace poultry feed as the primary food source, it can be given as an occasional treat to the flock to switch things up a bit.
Cracked corn is especially significant during the cold Winter months due to its high carb count, meaning when your birds eat cracked corn, their bodies naturally heat up which keeps them well fed, warm, and happy, even in the most frigid of weather.
So don’t underestimate cracked corn – it’s a great way to keep your chickens healthy and happy!
What Are Scratch Grains?
Scratch grains are more than just another fancy term for cracked corn. When you buy a bag of whole corn or cracked corn, you are getting exclusively dried corn kernels of various varieties.
When you buy a bag of scratch grains, in addition to a whole lot of dried corn kernels, you can also expect to see various grains such as whole wheat, oats, barley, millet, rye, and so on.
Read Also – Can Chickens Eat Whole Wheat?
Nutrition-wise, they are essentially the same thing.
You can feed your chickens scratch grains in the same manner you would feed them cracked corn.
Is It Okay To Feed Chickens Cracked Corn And Scratch Grains?
Feeding cracked corn to chickens can definitely be a fun treat for them! It has a lot of nutritional value, in the way that it provides energy, some protein and healthy carbohydrates; however, it should not be their primary food source.
The cracked corn should also absolutely not be your only supplement to their diet – always remember to provide table scraps, fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens on top of cracked corn to make sure your chickens are thriving!
On that note – you may also be wondering can baby chicks have scratch grains. The answer is more or less yes, but be sure to limit the amounts so they can get the nutrition they need from their other food. But as soon as your chicks are on regular feed, they can start eating cracked corn and scratch grains in moderation.
The Benefits of Feeding Cracked Corn or Scratch Grains to Chickens
Feeding scratch grains or cracked corn to chickens can be a delightful treat for them! Not only does it provide great entertainment for both hen and farmer alike but cracked corn also offers a nutritional boost: it’s high in carbohydrates, protein, Vitamin B6, and fats, especially important during the cold winter months.
Add a small amount of cracked corn to your grain mix and you’ll have healthy, happy chickens producing eggs of the highest quality. For poultry farmers looking for an affordable way to make sure their chickens are getting the nutrients they need cracked corn is an easy and effective solution.
Just make sure not to make scratch grains or cracked corn the main source of your flock’s diet. A balanced diet is important! Birds who eat too many carbs, such as a heavy cracked corn diet, will get fat and egg production will drop!
How to Feed Chickens Corn and Scratch Grains
Feeding corn to your backyard chickens doesn’t have to be complicated! A chicken’s diet will be the healthiest when a variety of foods are included.
If you want to feed your chickens corn, you can do a couple of things.
Take their normal chicken feed and add some cracked corn to the mix. Stir things up and feed it to your birds as normal. This is one of the easiest ways to go about feeding chickens scratch feed or cracked corn. Some commercial feeds even include cracked corn as part of the ingredients list so be sure to read your label!
Another option (that is extra fun for birds and chicken keepers alike) is to scatter a few handfuls of whole corn kernels in your coop or run for chickens to scratch. Watch your laying hens and roosters go crazy scratching up the tasty morsels!
Offering scratch grains and cracked corn doesn’t have to be complicated. There really is no wrong way to go about offering corn and grains to your birds, so long as you don’t give them too many. Keep your birds in optimal health and egg production by offering a balanced diet that includes all the vitamins and minerals they need.
You can also soak your corn and grains, similarly to fermenting chicken feed. This is a great way to make your dollar stretch without sacrificing your flock’s health.
Just one tip – in the summer months, you’ll want to go easier on these high carb treats than in the winter months. You don’t want to raise your backyard birds’ body temperature too much when it’s already hot outside!
Where To Buy Cracked Corn Or Chicken Scratch
There are many places to buy cracked corn or chicken scratch grains. Anyplace that sells regular chicken feed is also likely to offer scratch grains and corn kernels. This includes your local feed store, Atwoods, and Tractor Supply.
You can even buy commercial chicken feed online and these places are likely to offer corn and grains for your backyard flock.
Just make sure you read the labels carefully to ensure that the feed is safe and suitable for your birds.
Charlene has been dabbling in and learning about the homesteading lifestyle for almost 20 years. She recently started a real-world homestead with her extended family and is excited to share 20+ years of knowledge and experience with the world!
While she certainly doesn't know everything about homesteading and is learning more every day, she is excited to learn and grow along with YOU!
Charlene blogs about about homesteading at https://secretlifeofhomesteaders.com/.