If Jack Frost is nipping at your hen’s toes and the egg laying has slowed down in the colder weather, I’ve got just the thing her body needs! Whether spoiling your flock with a holiday treat, or creating a festive gift for a chicken keeper, this diy blend is sure to please. Here’s our easy homemade Christmas chicken scratch recipe that uses only common grocery store ingredients:
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Christmas Chicken Scratch
These winter-toned whole grain bits and berries are going to delight your laying hens! Here’s how to mix up this delicious, whole food blend:
Christmas Chicken Scratch Recipe:
1 part old-fashioned rolled oats (we used sprouted organic rolled oats)
1/2 part split green peas
1/2 part pearled barley
1/4 part dried craisins (cut into smaller pieces if desired)
Directions: Add all of the ingredients into a bowl and stir to combine. Store in an airtight container or quart size mason jar. The dried fruit in this blend means it should be kept very dry and used up within 4 weeks.
Christmas Chicken Cheer
With merry colors to pique her interest, this holiday scratch blend is easy to see, whether scattered on the snow or bare winter ground. Sharp-eyes hens won’t want to miss a single piece of this delicious, whole grain surprise!
Baby, It’s Cold Outside!
Switching up your hen’s diet just a bit with a festive holiday treat can spark her appetite. This helps her get more nutrient-dense calories to warm her body, get feathers coming in faster, and prep her reproductive system for coming into lay sooner. (Adding supplemental lighting and providing nutritious treats is how I encourage my hens to resume laying shortly after molting.)
Nourishing, Egg-Producing Whole Foods
If your flock’s wintertime laying has been bah, humbug lately, you’re going to LOVE the effect this scratch has! Scatter out a bit of this scratch with some dried meal worms and flaked oyster shell. If you’d like even more of a nest box boost, this 3 ingredient hen rehydration recipe also works wonders in winter. It encourages hens to drink deeply before the mixture freezes and provides the trace minerals her body may be missing since the grass and bugs have died back.
Fun for Holiday Visitors!
Visiting family, friends, and children will love feeding this colorful mix of whole grains to your flock! Vibrant hues makes this Christmas chicken scratch easy to see when scattered on the ground. Instead of chasing your hens, children will be delighted at how the girls flock to them when they have delicious treats to offer!
Chicken Keeper Gift Idea:
Vibrant winter hues make this a visually appealing feed that is beautiful enough for gifting. Fill a clear cellophane bag, tie with twine or raffia ribbon, and surprise your favorite chicken lover with something lovingly homemade. (The corn-free and soy-free recipe above is made of 100% non-GMO foods, perfect for non-GMO-fed laying hens. Opt for sprouted organic rolled oats if desired.)
A Note About Feeding hens Barley:
Barley, including pearled barley, can make chicken droppings slightly sticky. A little bit in a scratch blend as a treat will not cause any issues. But if you add barley to a hen’s daily feed for longer than a week, you may notice smudged eggs in the nest box. This feed is just as beautiful without pearled barley so feel free to skip it if you’d like to feed this scratch long term!
Special Note: My flock was fed pearled barley in scratch mixes a few days each week for over two months as I tested multiple different autumn and winter scratch recipes. They did not experience sticky poops at all!
What if My Hens Waste Some of the Scratch?
The best part about using whole grains is that anything spilled will sprout when exposed to moisture. Split green peas, whole oats, wheat berries, and even pearled barley will develop roots and produce microgreen shoots. Your hens will eagerly gobble up the swollen, sprouting grains as soon as they find them so don’t worry if they seem to be ignoring one of the ingredients. It will be readily eaten once it sprouts!
Balanced Feed + Scratch Blend
If your hens are penned and you’re worried about them getting too many treats, here is an easy solution! Combine 1 cup of the Christmas chicken scratch with 9 cups of their commercial feed. This creates a blend that is only 10% treats, which is the recommended amount of scratch for always-penned hens who get no free range time. You can find more info in our article on mixing balanced feed + scratch recipes. This is a great way to start learning how to mix your own homemade chicken feed.
Happiest Hen House Holidays!
I hope this Christmas chicken scratch brings delight to your hens and wintertime visitors! Keeping hens well-fed though bitter cold days is a good way to ensure she resumes laying on time. Since holiday baking is going to require a lot of eggs, this recipe is a great way to nourish your girls so the maximum amount of eggs keep coming!
You Might Also Enjoy Reading:
Non-GMO Chicken Scratch “Trail Mix” Recipe
What to Feed Hens to Get More Eggs
Chicken Scratch Feed Recipe for Orange Yolks
Whole Grain Chicken Scratch Recipe Collection
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