We filled a small plastic bag with chicken scratch, and have been tossing out a bit at a time in the back yard. There is still suet in the feeders, but with the temperatures we have had for the past few days, it's hard for the birds to peck out enough to be of much help. We had several white crowned sparrows and two chickadees pecking at the seed on top of the frozen snow. They, at least, got a meal! We feed the chickens scratch during cold weather because digesting it slowly helps them keep warmer. We are hoping it helps for the wild birds, too.
I'm sure the chicken scratch will really help the wild birds Jane. It's good to know there are people like you around who care about our wildlife.
I have already used a 50lb bag of corn chops in the last 4 days ! Normally it lasts two weeks ! Have had a few birds die but have no idea why ! Put out peanut butter and chopped nuts today, Can`t get to town for more corn til this weather breaks ! We have hundred or more eating ! Few new ones we have not had before !
Chicken scratch is ground corn, millet, barley, oats and sometimes sunflower seeds. It contains no ground oyster shell for calcium, and is cheaper than chicken feed. We give it to our chickens because they digest it more slowly and it keeps them warmer during cold weather. We have a variety of birds sitting in the shelter of the cedar trees and then popping out for a snack of scratch.
We have more and more birds coming to get the scratch off our porch steps and patio (I can only toss it so far!). I think the word is out about the available dining. We are above freezing now, and are to be even warmer tomorrow. Perhaps we can venture out to replenish the feeders and the suet.
