Vella Free Range Scratch Mix 20kg – Chicken Feed and Layer Feed Mix for Laying Hens and Ducks

Natural Grain-Based Chicken Feed for Laying Hens and Ducks

Vella Free Range Scratch Mix is a natural, grain-based chicken feed for laying hens and ducks from Vella Stock Feeds. It blends quality grains and oilseeds with Vella's nutrient-rich Nutri-Pellet, so birds get the palatability and foraging appeal of a grain mix plus the proteins, vitamins and minerals they need for health and egg production. This 20kg chicken feed bag suits backyard and free-range flocks and lasts a good while.

More Than a Scratch Mix: The Nutri-Pellet Difference

A plain scratch grain is really a treat, as grains alone do not carry the full range of vitamins and minerals a laying hen needs. Vella solves this by blending in a Nutri-Pellet, a nutrient shortcut pellet containing canola and soybean meal, lucerne meal, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus and a species-specific vitamin premix. That lifts the mix from a treat to a more complete hen feed and layer poultry feed. Because the nutrients are locked into the pellet, it also reduces wasteful fines, the nutritious dust birds leave behind. The Nutri-Pellet is steam conditioned before pelleting, which aids digestibility and nutrient uptake.

Feeding Poultry with Scratch Mix

Vella Free Range Scratch Mix is formulated for all breeds of layers from point of lay, around 18 to 20 weeks of age, making it a practical chicken laying feed for backyard flocks. When feeding poultry with it, you can offer it on its own as a natural grain-based diet, scatter it as a treat to encourage natural foraging and scratching, or blend it with a layer pellet. Always provide fresh, clean water, and offer shell grit or another calcium source separately for strong eggshells.

Building a Complete Layer Feed Ration

Many keepers use scratch mix alongside a complete layer feed. Blending it with Vella Free Range Layer Pellets or Poultry Supreme gives hens the steady protein and calcium of a chicken layer feed plus the variety and foraging interest of whole grains. This combination is one of the most popular feeds for layer chickens in backyard flocks, especially free-range hens that also have access to greens and pasture.

Key Features and Benefits

• Natural grain and oilseed chicken feed for laying hens and ducks
• Nutri-Pellet adds proteins, vitamins, minerals, calcium and amino acids
• Reduces wasteful fines compared with plain grain mixes
• Encourages natural foraging and scratching behaviour
• Steam-conditioned pellet for better digestibility
• No restricted animal material (RAM), added hormones or antibiotics
• Feed on its own, as a treat, or blended with layer pellets
• Made in Australia, available in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg and 20kg

Ingredients

Whole wheat, sorghum, sunflower, safflower seeds, cracked corn, vegetable oils, molasses, and a Nutri-Pellet containing canola and soybean meal, lucerne meal, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, species-specific vitamin premix, salt, sodium bicarbonate and digestive enzymes.

Product Details

• Brand: Vella Stock Feeds
• Product: Free Range Scratch Mix
• Type: Grain, oilseed and Nutri-Pellet poultry feed
• Suitable for: Laying hens and ducks from point of lay
• Pack size: Chicken feed 20kg bag
• Made in Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

Is scratch mix good for chickens?

Plain scratch grain is best kept as a treat, as grain alone lacks many of the vitamins and minerals laying hens need. Vella Free Range Scratch Mix includes a Nutri-Pellet with protein, calcium, amino acids and vitamins, so it can be fed on its own, scattered as a treat, or blended with layer pellets as part of a healthy diet.

What's in Vella Free Range Scratch Mix?

Whole wheat, sorghum, sunflower, safflower seeds, cracked corn, vegetable oils and molasses, plus a Nutri-Pellet with canola and soybean meal, lucerne meal, amino acids, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, salt, sodium bicarbonate and digestive enzymes.

Which birds is it for?

Laying hens and ducks of all breeds from point of lay, around 18 to 20 weeks of age. Young chicks need a chick starter feed instead.

What is the best chicken feed for laying hens?

The best poultry feed for laying hens combines energy, protein, calcium and vitamins. A grain mix with a Nutri-Pellet like this one, blended with a complete layer feed such as Vella Free Range Layer Pellets or Poultry Supreme and offered with shell grit and fresh water, gives hens a well-rounded diet.

Why does Vella Free Range Scratch Mix look slightly moist?

The mix contains molasses and vegetable oils, which give it a slightly moist texture. This makes it more palatable for hens and ducks, adds energy to the diet and helps the Nutri-Pellet and finer grains stay mixed through the bag.

Does Vella Free Range Scratch Mix contain antibiotics or hormones?

No. Vella Free Range Scratch Mix is made in Australia by Vella Stock Feeds with no restricted animal material (RAM), added hormones or antibiotics, which suits backyard keepers who want a natural grain-based feed for their flock.

How should I store Vella Free Range Scratch Mix?

Keep the bag sealed or tip the mix into an airtight bin, and store it in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. This keeps the grain fresh, protects the oils from going stale and stops rodents and moisture getting in, which matters most with a 20kg bag.

Where can I buy Vella Free Range Scratch Mix in Australia?

You can buy Vella Free Range Scratch Mix from BPG Supplies in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg and 20kg. If you are looking for chicken feed or poultry feed in Sydney, pick up locally from our store at 462 Elizabeth Dr, Bonnyrigg NSW 2177 in Sydney's south-west, or choose delivery options across Australia at checkout.