6 Best Organic Scratch Grains for Chickens

The first hard frost coats the ground, and the chickens’ waterer is frozen solid for the first time all season. This is the moment every flock owner knows means a shift in care is required. More than just a treat, the right scratch grains become a vital tool for keeping your birds warm, healthy, and engaged through the lean months ahead.

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Why Winter Scratch Is Vital for Your Flock’s Health

Winter scratch isn’t just about giving your chickens something fun to peck at. It’s a functional feed supplement that serves two critical purposes: generating metabolic heat and combating boredom. When a chicken digests whole or cracked grains, the process itself creates internal warmth. This is a huge advantage on a cold night.

Think of it as stoking a furnace. Feeding a handful of scratch grains in the late afternoon gives your flock a full crop of slow-digesting fuel to work on overnight. As they roost, their bodies are breaking down those carbohydrates, generating precious heat that helps them maintain their core temperature without burning through essential body reserves.

This is also a crucial tool for coop management and flock morale. Long winter days with frozen ground can lead to boredom, which often results in feather picking and bullying. Tossing scratch into their bedding encourages natural foraging behavior, keeping them busy, active, and mentally stimulated. It also helps turn and aerate their bedding, contributing to a drier, healthier coop environment.

Remember, scratch is a supplement, not a complete feed. It should make up no more than 10% of their total diet. Their primary nutrition must still come from a balanced layer ration to ensure they get the protein, vitamins, and minerals needed for egg production and overall health.

Scratch and Peck: A Premium Whole Grain Medley

Scratch and Peck Feeds has built a reputation on high-quality, diverse ingredients, and their Cluckin’ Good Grubs & Grains is no exception. This isn’t your standard corn and wheat mix. It’s a thoughtfully crafted medley of organic grains like barley and wheat, often supplemented with protein-rich split peas and nutrient-dense flaxseed.

What sets this blend apart is its complexity. The variety of shapes, sizes, and textures keeps birds engaged far longer than a simple mix. More importantly, the diverse ingredients provide a broader spectrum of nutrients. The inclusion of flaxseed offers a boost of omega-3 fatty acids, which is excellent for feather quality and overall health during the stressful winter months.

This is a premium choice, and it comes with a premium price tag. For those prioritizing maximum nutritional diversity and top-tier organic ingredients, it’s worth the cost. It’s an ideal option for smaller, pampered flocks where every bird’s optimal health is the primary goal.

New Country Organics: Simple, Certified Goodness

For the flock owner who values simplicity and purity, New Country Organics offers a classic, no-frills scratch grain. Their formula typically centers on a clean, straightforward blend of certified organic cracked corn, organic wheat, and organic barley. There are no extras, just fundamental, energy-rich grains.

The strength of this product lies in its clean label and reliable quality. Being USDA Certified Organic means you can trust the grains are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. They also often provide soy-free formulations, which is a critical consideration for anyone with soy sensitivities in their flock or who simply prefers to avoid it.

This is a workhorse scratch grain. It delivers the essential carbohydrates your chickens need to generate heat without any complicated additions. If you’re looking for a dependable, high-quality organic staple that gets the job done effectively, New Country Organics is a fantastic and trustworthy choice.

Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve: High-Energy Winter Treat

When a polar vortex hits and temperatures drop into the single digits, you need to pull out the heavy artillery. Kalmbach’s Henhouse Reserve is that tool. This blend is specifically formulated as a high-energy treat, often featuring a higher percentage of cracked corn and high-fat ingredients like black oil sunflower seeds.

This isn’t an everyday scratch. It’s a strategic supplement for extreme cold. The high concentration of carbohydrates from corn provides a quick and powerful energy source, while the fat from sunflower seeds offers a slower, more sustained burn for overnight warmth. It’s the equivalent of a high-calorie energy bar for your birds.

Because of its richness, portion control is key. Overfeeding a high-energy scratch can lead to excess weight gain and can discourage chickens from eating their balanced layer feed. Use it sparingly, reserving it for the coldest days and nights when your flock needs the most help staying warm.

Nature’s Best: A Reliable Organic Feed Choice

Nature’s Best Organic Feeds is one of the most accessible and widely available organic brands on the market. You can often find it at local farm supply stores, making it a convenient option without the need for special orders. Their organic scratch grains offer a solid, dependable mix of corn, wheat, and barley.

The primary advantage of Nature’s Best is its consistency and availability. It’s a USDA Certified Organic product from a reputable company, so you know you’re getting a clean, quality feed. While the blend may be simpler than some boutique options, it provides exactly what chickens need from a winter scratch: dense carbohydrates for energy and heat.

This is the perfect choice for the hobby farmer who wants a reliable organic option without overcomplicating things. It’s a straightforward, effective product that supports your flock’s winter needs and is easy to find when you need to restock.

Modesto Milling: Clean, Soy-Free Organic Grains

Modesto Milling has carved out a niche by focusing on clean, alternative formulations, and they are a go-to for anyone looking to avoid specific ingredients. Their organic scratch is almost always soy-free and often available in corn-free versions as well. They build their mixes around high-quality grains like milo, wheat, and peas.

This commitment to clean, simple recipes makes Modesto an outstanding choice for flocks with sensitivities or for owners who are meticulous about their feed inputs. By using alternative grains like milo, they offer a different nutritional profile that can be a great addition to a varied diet. Their transparency in sourcing and milling is a major plus for discerning flock owners.

If you are committed to a soy-free or corn-free feeding program, Modesto Milling should be at the top of your list. It provides the necessary winter energy while adhering to strict dietary principles, ensuring your entire feeding system remains consistent and clean.

Prairie’s Choice: A Top Non-GMO Scratch Option

While not certified organic, Prairie’s Choice Scratch Grains deserve a spot on this list for one important reason: it’s Non-GMO Project Verified. For many hobby farmers, the primary goal is avoiding genetically modified organisms, and this brand delivers that assurance, often at a more budget-friendly price point than its organic counterparts.

This is a crucial tradeoff to consider. Certified organic feed is, by definition, non-GMO, but it also comes with stricter regulations regarding land management and pesticide use. If your main priority is clean, non-GMO grains and cost is a factor, a brand like Prairie’s Choice is an excellent middle ground.

Their scratch is a simple but effective mix of cracked corn and whole wheat. It provides the essential energy for winter warmth and foraging enrichment. Choosing between non-GMO and certified organic is a personal decision based on your budget and farming philosophy, and Prairie’s Choice offers a fantastic option for those who land on the non-GMO side of the line.

Feeding Tips: How to Offer Winter Scratch Grains

How and when you offer scratch is just as important as which brand you choose. The best time to feed scratch is always in the late afternoon, about an hour before your chickens head into the coop to roost. This timing ensures they go to bed with a full crop, turning that fuel into heat throughout the long, cold night.

Moderation is everything. Scratch is a treat, not a meal, and should only be about 10% of your flock’s daily food intake. A good rule of thumb is one to two tablespoons per bird, per day. Giving them too much can dilute the nutritional value of their complete layer feed, potentially impacting egg laying and overall health.

Finally, don’t just put it in a feeder. The real magic of scratch grains comes from encouraging natural behavior. Toss the grains across the floor of the coop or run, preferably into clean, dry bedding like straw or pine shavings. This forces them to scratch, peck, and forage, which keeps them active, prevents boredom, and helps keep their bedding turned and aerated.

Ultimately, choosing the right winter scratch is about matching a quality product to your flock’s needs and your own farming philosophy. Whether you prioritize a diverse medley, a simple organic blend, or a non-GMO alternative, using it correctly is a simple and effective way to ensure your birds don’t just survive the winter—they thrive in it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are organic scratch grains for chickens?

Organic scratch grains for chickens are supplemental treat blends made from certified organic whole or cracked grains without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms. These blends encourage natural foraging and scratching behavior in the run or coop litter. While birds love pecking at them, scratch grains contain only around 8 to 10 percent crude protein and lack the complete vitamins and calcium required for egg production.

What ingredients are in organic scratch grains for chickens?

Most organic scratch grains contain cracked corn, whole wheat, and barley certified under USDA organic standards. Premium brands frequently add milo, oats, sunflower seeds, field peas, and flaxseed for variety and extra fatty acids. Quality mixes avoid grain dust and filler by-products like peanut hulls. Inspect the ingredient tag on the feed bag to ensure all grains are listed as certified organic.

How do I feed organic scratch grains to backyard chickens?

Scatter organic scratch grains directly onto clean ground or dry coop bedding rather than serving them in a standard feed trough. Throwing a handful across the run stimulates natural scratching, which helps aerate deep litter and reduces flock boredom. Feed scratch late in the afternoon so hens fill up on balanced layer feed first. Always provide insoluble granite grit in a separate dish so birds can grind the whole grains properly in their gizzards.

How do I ferment or sprout organic scratch grains for laying hens in winter?

Submerge organic scratch grains in unchlorinated water inside a clean bucket for two to three days to ferment or sprout them. Keep the water level roughly one inch above the grains, stir once daily, and keep the container at room temperature between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Once tiny sprouts appear or a pleasantly sour aroma develops, drain the liquid. Feeding sprouted grains during cold months boosts nutrient availability and provides valuable winter greens.

Which is better organic scratch grains or organic layer feed?

Layer feed is far better as a daily staple because it provides balanced nutrition, whereas organic scratch grains serve strictly as a treat. Commercial organic layer pellets or crumbles supply 16 to 18 percent protein, plus roughly 3.5 to 4 percent calcium for hard eggshells. Scratch grains offer only 8 to 10 percent protein and almost no calcium. Use complete feed for at least 90 percent of your flock’s daily intake, reserving scratch for cold-weather snacks or training.

How much organic scratch grains should you give chickens daily?

Limit organic scratch grains to about one to two tablespoons per adult chicken each day, or roughly 10 percent of their total daily feed. A standard hen consumes approximately one-fourth pound of total feed daily, meaning scratch should not exceed 0.4 ounces per bird. For a backyard flock of six hens, scattering one-half to three-fourths cup total in the late afternoon is an appropriate portion. Adjust downward if birds leave grains behind or gain excess fat.

What happens if chickens eat too many organic scratch grains?

Feeding chickens too many organic scratch grains dilutes their daily protein and mineral intake, leading to reduced egg production and obesity. Excess carbohydrates from corn and wheat turn into internal abdominal fat, which can cause prolapse and fatal egg-binding in laying hens. Malnourished hens may also start feather picking to compensate for protein deficits. If you notice soft eggshells or lower laying rates, cut scratch out of the flock’s diet entirely for two weeks.

Are organic scratch grains worth the extra cost for backyard chicken owners?

Buying organic scratch grains is worth the cost for chicken owners who prioritize non-GMO, pesticide-free eggs and strict chemical-free backyard management. A 25-pound bag of certified organic scratch typically costs 25 to 40 percent more than conventional scratch blends. Because scratch is fed only in small quantities—a bag can last a small backyard flock several months—the actual added expense is often less than three dollars per month. This small difference makes organic certification an affordable upgrade for home table eggs.