Does Scratch Corn Really Cool Chickens? Separating Summer Feeding Facts from Fiction
Quick Look
Every summer, the same chicken-feeding advice starts making the rounds on social media, at the feed store, and over the backyard fence. "Throw out more scratch corn." "Protein makes chickens hotter." "Watermelon is all they need." But how much of that advice is actually true? In this article, we'll look at what really happens when temperatures climb, why nutrition matters even more during hot weather, and how to make feeding decisions that keep your flock healthy all summer long.
Every summer, without fail, I start hearing the same questions.
"Should I stop feeding layer feed because it's too hot?"
"Does scratch corn cool chickens down?"
"Can they just eat watermelon until the weather breaks?"
Most of these ideas have been passed around for so long that they're accepted as fact. The problem is that chickens don't care what gets repeated on Facebook—they respond to biology, not folklore.
That's why summer is one of the most important times of the year to think about nutrition.
Not because chickens need a special "summer diet," but because the heat changes how they eat.
The Real Challenge Isn't the Feed—It's How Much They Eat
When temperatures climb, chickens naturally reduce their feed intake. It's one of the ways they help regulate body temperature. If you've kept chickens through a few hot summers, you've probably noticed it yourself. Feed consumption slows, egg production may dip, and your birds spend more time standing in the shade than scratching through the yard.
Here's where many flock owners accidentally create a bigger problem.
Since the birds aren't eating as much, they start offering more treats. A little extra scratch grain here. A few handfuls of watermelon there. Maybe some cracked corn because someone heard it "helps cool them off."
It feels like helping.
But nutritionally, it often has the opposite effect.
If a hen is only going to eat a limited amount of feed today, every bite matters. Replacing a balanced ration with low-nutrient treats means she's consuming fewer amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and the protein she needs to maintain her body and continue laying quality eggs.
In other words, when feed intake goes down, nutrition becomes even more important—not less.
So...Does Scratch Corn Cool Chickens?
No.
Scratch grain isn't a cooling feed.
It's simply a blend of grains designed primarily to provide energy. There's nothing magical about it during hot weather, and there's no scientific evidence that feeding extra scratch helps lower a chicken's body temperature.
That doesn't mean scratch grain is bad.
It has its place.
I enjoy using it as a training tool, a way to encourage natural scratching behavior, or simply to spend a little time with the flock. Chickens love it, and there's nothing wrong with that.
The key is remembering what scratch is—and what it isn't.
It's a treat.
It's not a complete feed.
Why Complete Feed Matters Even More in Summer
Imagine you're only going to eat one meal today.
Would you rather that meal be balanced and nutritious—or a plate of potato chips?
That's essentially the choice we make for our chickens when we substitute treats for complete feed during periods of heat stress.
A quality complete ration is formulated to provide the nutrients chickens need in the correct balance. Protein, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and energy all work together to support growth, egg production, feather condition, immune function, and overall health.
When birds eat less, that balance becomes even more valuable.
This is one of the reasons I recommend sticking with a quality complete feed rather than trying to reinvent your feeding program every time the weather gets hot. If you're looking for a feed designed to deliver consistent nutrition throughout the year, take a look at the Show Pro Poultry Feed line. Their formulations are designed to provide the balanced nutrition poultry need without relying on supplements or excessive treats to fill nutritional gaps.
The 10% Rule Is Still a Good Guideline
I often tell people to think about treats the same way we think about dessert.
There's nothing wrong with ice cream.
There is something wrong if ice cream becomes dinner.
The same principle applies to chickens.
A good rule of thumb is to keep treats—including scratch grain, cracked corn, fruits, vegetables, and kitchen scraps—to about 10% or less of the total diet. That leaves the remaining 90% to come from a complete feed that's doing the heavy lifting nutritionally.
It's a simple guideline, but it's one that prevents a lot of feeding problems.
What About Watermelon?
Watermelon has almost become synonymous with summer chicken care.
And yes, chickens usually love it.
It's refreshing, contains water, and can provide enrichment on a hot afternoon.
But watermelon isn't a balanced meal any more than scratch grain is.
Think of it as an occasional snack—not a replacement for the nutrients found in a complete poultry ration.
The goal isn't to eliminate treats.
The goal is to keep them in perspective.
Feed the Bird You Want Tomorrow
One of the best pieces of poultry advice I've ever heard is this:
Feed for tomorrow's bird—not today's appetite.
The nutritional decisions you make today show up weeks later in egg production, feather quality, body condition, and overall flock health.
That's especially true during periods of heat stress.
Instead of chasing the latest social media feeding trend, focus on the basics. Provide clean, cool water. Offer shade and good ventilation. Feed a balanced ration. Let treats stay what they were always meant to be—an occasional bonus rather than the foundation of the diet.
It isn't flashy advice.
But after years of raising poultry, I've found that the simple things are usually the ones that work.
Continue Learning
If you'd like a deeper dive into the myths surrounding summer chicken nutrition—including whether protein really makes chickens "run hot," why birds eat less during heat waves, and how to separate good advice from old wives' tales—be sure to listen to this week's Poultry Nerds Podcast.
For more practical feeding guides and poultry nutrition articles, visit our Chicken Nutrition section here on Bryant's Roost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does scratch corn cool chickens?
No. Scratch grain is primarily an energy feed and does not lower a chicken's body temperature. It should be offered as an occasional treat rather than replacing a balanced ration.
Should I stop feeding layer feed in the summer?
No. Complete feed becomes even more important during hot weather because chickens naturally eat less. Every bite should provide the nutrients they need.
How many treats should chickens receive?
A good rule is to limit treats to about 10% of the overall diet, allowing the remaining 90% to come from a complete poultry feed.
What's the best feed for chickens during hot weather?
Choose a high-quality complete feed formulated to provide balanced protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Pair it with plenty of cool water, shade, and good ventilation to help birds manage summer heat.
Transcript of Podcast:
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Jennifer: This segment is about feed, treats, and summer nutrition myths. I came across a post that said scratch corn cools chickens down.
Carey: Really? That's a new one. We've always heard that feeding extra corn in the winter helps birds stay warm because digestion creates heat.
Jennifer: Exactly. That's why it caught my attention.
Carey: The reality is that corn is mostly calories. It contains some vitamin A, but not enough to make a significant nutritional difference. Feeding extra corn or scratch simply dilutes the balanced nutrition your birds need.
Jennifer: So it's basically like giving your chickens a Twinkie.
Carey: That's actually a pretty good comparison. Universities generally recommend keeping treats and scratch below about 10% of the total diet, yet we still see people feeding half scratch and half layer feed.
I had a customer come into the store looking for the cheapest scratch grain I had. She told me her chickens free-range all day, and she just wanted a little scratch because she sells eggs. I sold her what she wanted, but I couldn't help thinking that if she spent a little more on quality feed during the hottest part of summer, she'd probably get more eggs in return.
Jennifer: That reminds me of my Orpingtons. They've been living over by the cow barn since winter. When I was feeding the cows, they'd eat the sweet feed that spilled onto the ground.
Eventually I quit feeding the cows over there because the mice became a problem, and I realized I hadn't intentionally fed those chickens in months.
Someone came over recently and asked, "Where do those chickens eat?"
I laughed and said, "Honestly, I don't know."
They're scratching through cow patties, eating insects, finding ant hills, hatching chicks, and doing just fine.
Carey: Your little Casanova rooster must be making the rounds over there.
Jennifer: He must be, because I always see him in the backyard, but apparently he's traveling farther than I realized.
Carey: I've seen your Orpingtons waddling across the property. They're fun to watch.
Jennifer: I probably have fifty to seventy-five birds back there.
Carey: Nobody really knows how many chickens they own.
Jennifer: Isn't that the truth?
Myth: Treats Can Replace Feed During Summer
Jennifer: The next myth says treats can replace feed during hot weather.
Carey: Definitely not.
Jennifer: That one was easy.
Myth: Watermelon and Frozen Fruit Can Be Fed Free-Choice
Carey: Like everything else, moderation is the key. Watermelon and frozen fruit make nice treats, but they should never become the primary diet.
Myth: Lower Protein Keeps Chickens Cooler
Jennifer: This one comes up all the time. People claim protein overheats chickens.
Carey: Chickens absolutely need protein. In fact, during hot weather they usually eat less feed overall. Since they're consuming fewer bites, every bite has to contain more nutrition.
This is not the time to switch them to a low-protein ration or replace quality feed with scratch grain.
Jennifer: Let me approach this from a different angle.
People often say chickens naturally know what they need, but today's chickens aren't wild jungle fowl anymore. We've selectively bred them for generations.
During summer, nature actually provides more protein. There are insects everywhere, fresh vegetation, worms, and seeds. Birds naturally consume those foods.
So the idea that chickens somehow need less protein during summer doesn't make much sense.
Take my Orpingtons, for example. They're large because generations of breeders selected for body size. Left completely alone over many generations, they'd gradually become much smaller birds again.
We've bred them to produce more meat, more eggs, and larger bodies. Those genetics require proper nutrition.
Carey: Exactly.
Every Farm Is Different
Jennifer: You also have to look at each individual farm.
You can't simply say, "Let chickens be natural."
Are they confined to a twelve-foot run?
Do they have access to acres of pasture?
Are they free-ranging over fifty square feet or eighteen acres like mine?
Those situations are completely different.
Stocking density matters.
Available forage matters.
Shade matters.
Everything has to be considered together.
Carey: That's really the point of this podcast.
What works on your farm may not work somewhere else.
If your birds have shade, fresh water, quality feed, and good management, they're probably going to perform well.
People sometimes say, "Chickens drink from puddles all the time."
Sure, they will if that's all they have.
People would drink from puddles too if they had no other choice.
Our responsibility is to provide clean water and balanced nutrition. If a chicken decides to splash around in a mud puddle afterward, that's on the chicken.
Jennifer: Exactly.
Sometimes people complain that keeping up with water or feeding is just too much work.
My response is simple.
You probably have too many chickens.
Myth: Feed Heavily During the Hottest Part of the Day
Jennifer: Another myth says to feed heavily during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Carey: No thanks.
Maybe if they're in deep shade, but generally birds prefer eating during the cooler parts of the day.
Wet Feed During Summer
Jennifer: What about wet feed?
I've honestly never tried it.
Carey: Wet feed can work well.
Some people mix feed with water and even freeze it in ice cube trays. It becomes enrichment as much as nutrition because the birds spend time pecking at it while staying cooler.
The biggest concern is spoilage.
Warm temperatures allow bacteria, mold, and flies to multiply quickly.
If you're going to feed wet mash, only offer what they'll eat promptly and clean the feeders afterward.
Jennifer: My trough feeders sometimes get rained on.
The next morning I dump out the wet feed, and fortunately the ducks think it's a buffet.
They'll clean it up before I even get back with fresh feed.
Carey: That's management.
Some people even drill drainage holes in their feeders, but eventually the mash plugs them up anyway.
The important part is removing spoiled feed before mold has a chance to develop.
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Myth: Chickens Need Electrolytes Every Day
Jennifer: Here's one I've never really bought into. People say chickens should get electrolytes every day during the summer.
I've never even bought electrolytes.
Carey: That's because when you start looking at the ingredient labels, many of them are mostly salt and sugar.
Salt certainly has a purpose, but too much of it causes water retention. That's not necessarily what you want if birds are already dealing with heat stress.
Jennifer: I don't drink sports drinks all day, every day. I mostly drink water.
Carey: Exactly. Electrolytes have their place, especially during shipping, illness, or severe stress, but healthy birds with constant access to fresh water usually don't need them every single day.
Some of those products are surprisingly expensive, too.
When I opened my feed store, vendors kept trying to sell me electrolyte powders. My wife even said, "You should carry those—they'll sell."
I told her I wasn't interested in stocking products I wouldn't use myself.
If it's in my store, it's because I'd feel comfortable using it on my own flock.
Jennifer: That's always been my philosophy, too.
If I don't personally use it, I don't sell it.
The one exception is GrowGel.
I don't use it for chicks at hatch, but I absolutely use it when shipping birds because it's a smart business decision.
Carey: Mix a little starter feed, a little GrowGel, and enough water to make it into a soft paste, and shipped chicks have access to both moisture and nutrition.
That's a practical use for it.
Myth: If Egg Production Drops, the Feed Must Be Bad
Jennifer: This one drives people crazy.
Egg production starts dropping in the summer, and the first thing people blame is the feed.
Carey: Most of the time, it's simply heat stress.
When birds are hot, they eat less.
When they eat less, they consume fewer nutrients.
That affects egg production, egg size, and shell quality.
The feed isn't necessarily the problem.
The weather is.
Jennifer: There are other things happening this time of year, too.
Days are gradually getting shorter.
Some hens begin preparing for molt.
Others become broody.
They've also been laying eggs for months and are simply getting tired.
There are a lot of factors working together.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Egg Shells
Jennifer: I saw another claim saying too much apple cider vinegar can cause thin egg shells.
Have you heard that?
Carey: There is some science behind water pH affecting mineral absorption.
If the pH gets too high—or too low—it can reduce how efficiently birds absorb certain minerals from their feed.
I've worked with several people whose older hens suddenly started laying soft-shelled eggs.
They were feeding quality feed, so eventually I'd ask whether they'd ever tested their water.
Many hadn't.
Sometimes the water chemistry was the real issue.
That's one reason I started using an automatic injector to help manage water quality.
Jennifer: So it's another reminder that more isn't always better.
Seasonal Feed Changes
Jennifer: I actually do change feeds a little toward the end of summer.
As my breeders slow down laying, I start transitioning them from layer feed over to All Flock.
Right now they're eating about half and half.
Carey: There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
They primarily need the extra calcium while they're actively laying.
Once production slows, an All Flock ration works well.
Some people even feed All Flock year-round and simply offer oyster shell separately so laying hens can consume additional calcium when they need it.
The important thing is that you're transitioning between two quality feeds—not switching to a cheaper feed with lower nutritional value.
Myth: Runny Droppings Always Mean Disease
Jennifer: Another common myth says loose droppings during summer automatically mean disease.
Carey: Not necessarily.
Birds drink dramatically more water when it's hot.
Naturally, that creates wetter droppings.
Now, I'm not saying every loose dropping should be ignored.
But don't immediately assume you need to treat the whole flock.
Watch the birds.
Are they active?
Are they eating?
Are they acting normally?
Observation comes before medication.
Myth: Natural Water Is Always Better
Jennifer: People also love saying creek water or puddle water is better because it's natural.
Carey: Natural doesn't always mean safe.
You don't know what's upstream.
There could be fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, livestock runoff, wildlife contamination—you simply don't know.
Jennifer: Around here we have crop dusters every fall.
Every October I lose my voice and end up coughing for weeks.
I don't know exactly what they're spraying, but I know it's in the air.
Then you've got runoff from neighboring properties, roadside spraying, and everything else.
Just because your property is chemical-free doesn't mean everything flowing onto it is.
Carey: Exactly.
Providing clean drinking water is one of the easiest management decisions you can make.
Rabbit Trail: Sheep vs. Goats
Jennifer: Speaking of neighboring properties, there's a solar farm not far from me.
Carey: They ought to hire you to graze it.
Just don't use goats.
They'll climb on everything and chew the wires.
Use sheep instead.
There's a farmer in Texas who rotates sheep through solar farms to keep the vegetation under control.
Jennifer: My goats would be dancing on top of the panels.
I'd probably end up buying somebody a whole new solar array.
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Myth: Wild Birds Are Harmless Around Your Flock
Jennifer: Here's another one. People say wild birds around the coop aren't a problem.
Carey: They absolutely can be.
Wild birds can carry lice, mites, internal parasites, avian influenza, Marek's disease, and a long list of other pathogens. They're one of the biggest biosecurity risks backyard flocks face.
Jennifer: I quit putting out bird feeders after I started keeping chickens. The only birds I wish I could get rid of now are the pigeons.
I think David counted thirty-six of them the other day.
Everything over there is covered in pigeon droppings.
Carey: They reproduce like rats.
You'd better get ahead of that before they really take over.
Myth: Garlic, Pumpkin Seeds, or Apple Cider Vinegar Will Deworm Chickens
Jennifer: This one always starts arguments online.
People swear garlic, pumpkin seeds, or apple cider vinegar will deworm chickens.
Carey: Most university recommendations say those things may help support overall health or possibly discourage parasites, but if birds have a heavy worm burden, those products aren't going to solve the problem.
If your flock truly has worms, use an appropriate dewormer.
Jennifer: I feed pumpkins because the chickens enjoy them, not because I think they're medicine.
To be honest, I've never routinely dewormed my flock.
I do have a theory, though.
Every fall, instead of reaching for medications, I've fed whole oats for a few weeks.
My thinking is pretty simple. Oats are high in fiber. Fiber keeps everything moving through the digestive tract, so if there's anything in there that shouldn't be, maybe it gets pushed along, too.
Now, that's just my theory. I'm not presenting it as research.
Carey: There is some logic there.
Higher-fiber molt rations are designed to increase bulk in the digestive tract while changing the birds' nutrient intake. They're used to help birds move through molt more efficiently.
Whether that clears parasites is another question.
Jennifer: Every time we butcher birds, I inspect them.
We open the digestive tract.
We look at the liver.
We check the lungs.
I've never found worms in my own birds.
That doesn't mean they can't happen—it just means I haven't personally seen them.
If something doesn't look right, we don't eat it.
Myth: Diatomaceous Earth Doesn't Work
Jennifer: Let's talk about diatomaceous earth.
Carey: I actually use it.
The funny thing is, many people don't realize they probably already feed it every day.
A lot of commercial feed manufacturers include small amounts during the summer because it helps control grain insects while the feed is being stored.
It's not a miracle cure, but it certainly has legitimate uses.
Grain Mites Aren't Always Bad Feed
Jennifer: I saw another Facebook post where somebody found grain mites and immediately told everyone the feed had gone bad.
Carey: That's one of the biggest misconceptions out there.
Grain mites don't necessarily mean the feed is old.
Sometimes they simply mean the grain wasn't heavily treated with pesticides before it was bagged.
I've had fresh grain come directly from the mill, loaded onto a truck the same day it was packaged, and it still had grain mites.
Jennifer: David used to work in pest control.
Years ago I mentioned that I never saw grain mites on feed at the big box stores.
He just looked at me and said, "Do you know how much pesticide they spray in those buildings?"
That was the last bag of feed I bought there.
Before I started buying feed from Carey, I actually drove almost to the Kentucky line to buy feed from a small family farm.
They grew it, milled it, bagged it, and sold it right there on the property.
The feed often had grain mites, but it was fresh.
The owners also sold grass-fed, grass-finished beef, and that experience played a big role in why we eventually started raising our own food.
Carey: That's hard to beat.
Myth: If One Bird Looks Fine, the Whole Flock Is Fine
Jennifer: Chickens are masters at hiding illness.
You have to know what normal looks like before you can recognize something abnormal.
A good example happened recently.
I was feeding my Orpingtons on an especially hot afternoon, and none of them came running to the feeder.
That immediately caught my attention.
When I walked up the hill, I found one hen had died.
The rest of the flock was standing around her.
After I removed her, they all quietly walked down and started eating.
Even with a large flock, you notice when something changes.
Carey: Exactly.
Observation is one of the most important management tools you have.
The birds will often tell you something is wrong long before obvious symptoms appear.
Myth: You Only Need to Worry About Heat During the Day
Jennifer: Heat doesn't magically stop when the sun goes down.
If birds stay hot all night, they never get a chance to recover.
Honestly, I'm cranky when I can't cool off enough to sleep, and chickens aren't any different.
Carey: Nighttime recovery is just as important as daytime shade.
Lightning Round
Jennifer: Let's wrap this up.
Treats should never replace a balanced feed.
Carey: If you're going to use supplements, follow the directions.
More is not better.
Jennifer: Biosecurity is especially important during the summer.
Heat, humidity, standing water, and insects create ideal conditions for bacteria, parasites, and disease.
Carey: Good poultry management beats internet myths every single time.
Watch your birds.
Feed them a quality diet.
Provide clean water.
Manage their environment.
Most problems are prevented long before they require treatment.
Jennifer: And don't be a jerk to your chickens.
Carey: We'll see you next week.
Jennifer: Bye!