Backyard chicken scratch mix
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Mixed grains with split peas, sunflower seeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds and dried fruit as a hen treat.
Ingredients
- Bag of mixed grains (commercial scratch, or a base of cracked corn, wheat, barley and oats)
- Dried split peas
- Black oil sunflower seeds
- Unsalted peanuts
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dried unsweetened cranberries or raisins (or both)
- Cayenne pepper
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Directions
- Begin with bagged scratch, or a base of cracked corn, wheat, barley and oats.
- Mix in the split peas, sunflower seeds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and cayenne.
- Use roughly equal amounts of each.
- Keep in a large covered container.
Notes
Feed only in cold months, just before bedtime: about 10% of the diet, roughly a tablespoon per chicken. Toss into leaves, pine needles or straw so the birds forage.
Safety: scratch is high in fat and carbs and not balanced, too much makes hens overweight. Keep it away from dogs if it includes raisins.