If you are anything like me, you are curious how animals enjoy the same exact food every single day. You want to help mix up the daily feed and want to feed your chickens something tasty they can enjoy. I’ve been feeding my chickens simple snacks a few times a week and it makes a difference in more ways than one.
In this post I am sharing everything I know about giving chickens treats, why you should do it, and what my chickens love most!
Eating For Warmth
I shared on my Instagram about chickens eating more in the winter to keep themselves warm and I had a lot of feedback – mainly that everyone else does this as well lol! But have you noticed that with your chickens? In the winter we are filling up the feeder almost twice as much as we do in the summer. Of course there is a lack of bugs and grass to snack on but there is a science to it.
When animals eat, they are forcing their body to work to consume and then digest that food and if its working, then it’s heating up. Ultimately the chickens are creating their own little fire pit from their bellies on out.
So what can we do to help this process? Feed them snacks that are more appealing and different than their everyday feed.
Go For Homemade
I didn’t start intentionally feeding my chickens snacks until this past winter. I have always fed them veggie scraps from cooking, or the weeds that I pull from the landscaping or garden but never made them up treats.
Of course, there are treats you can buy from the store but what I saw was a teeny tiny little bag for $15 and I just wasn’t paying for that. So I decided to start buying them their own food along with ours when I do my grocery shopping and it has made such a difference.
Ashley over at The Homestead Mother has a great chicken treat recipe that she gives her girls you can whip up right in the kitchen.
Treat List
Below is a list of foods that I give out to my girls but they are somewhat seasonal. As I mentioned before, during the summer chickens can forage for bugs, grasses, and treats on their own, but in the winter treats can be slim. So this list is compiled of everything not categorized by seasons.
Fruit
- Apples – Remove seeds
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Raspberries
- Watermelon
- Cantaloupe
- Blackberries
Vegetables
- Zucchini
- Butternut squash – Remove seeds
- Peppers – Remove seeds
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Green Onions – small amounts
- Black Beans – cooked
- Pumpkin – Remove seeds
- Cabbage
- Brussel Sprouts
From The Pantry
- Oats – cooked or dry
- Canned Pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling
- Canned Corn – rinsed well
- Black Beans – cooked and rinsed well
- Apple Cider Vinegar – helps with digestion, immune system
- Cayenne Pepper – helps heat up body in the colder months, boosts egg production
Meat & Dairy
- Cooked chicken – lightly or no seasoning
- Cooked Eggs
- Dried Eggshells
- Cooked Beef – beef has many vitamin and minerals beneficial to chickens
- Cheese – Cubes or Leftover after shredding – not pre shredded cheese
Herbs
- Thyme
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Dandelions
Again, this is a list of snacks that I like to give to my laying hens throughout the year in addition to their regular feed. Of course some of these are seasonal such as dandelions, weeds and garden clippings. Chickens do great with most fresh fruits and vegetables but there are a few things you need to look out for and avoid when feeding to chickens.
What To Avoid Feeding Chickens
Just like any animal there are going to be some things you have to watch for or simply cannot have altogether and those include things such as…
- Processed Junk Foods
- Sugar
- Salt
- Green Potatoes
- Onions
- Tomatoes – in large amounts (I avoid altogether)
- Old or molded foods
What To Expect
When you start feeding your chickens treats you best believe when you come out to the coop they will be waiting on a treat!
This all goes without saying that you must pay attention to your chickens when feeding them anything new. Feeding them new foods will result in happier chickens and hopefully even better layers but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a downside.
When I started feeding my girls blueberries their poop was such an off color I thought there must be something wrong! Nope. It was just the berries. Same when they eat foods with high water content like watermelon – their poop is very runny and liquid-y. I know not something you want to think about but its all part of having animals.
With that said, I hope you enjoy feeding your chickens new snacks and watching them flock to you when they see a tray of goodies coming their way!
Is there anything you feed your chickens that is not on this list? If so please feel free to add it in the comment section below! I would love to hear new goodie options to feed my girls! As I like to say, a happy hen is a laying hen!
Until next time,
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