Most backyard chickens are kept in a coop and are fed laying pellets or crumbles with maybe some oyster shells and scratch here and there. You may be asking yourself, what do chickens like to eat?
In total, chickens are omnivorous creatures and enjoy a varied diet that includes grains, vegetables, fruits, and even small insects. Fortunately, most of their favorite snacks can be purchased at a local feed or grocery store.
Treating your chickens to a special snack can not only provide them with some extra nutrients but also help to keep them happy and healthy. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 treats for your backyard chickens.
1. Mealworms
Chickens love mealworms, and they are an excellent source of protein. You can purchase dried mealworms from most pet stores, online retailers, or even your local Wal-Mart. Mealworms can be fed to chickens as a treat, or they can be mixed with their regular feed to provide some extra protein. While mealworms are high in protein, easy to store, and can be purchased in bulk, they are quite expensive compared to other treats and some people find them unpleasant to handle. I’ve actually written an entire article on just mealworms and their benefits to chickens!
2. Vegetables
Most chickens enjoy a variety of vegetables, including carrots, spinach, broccoli, and kale. Vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals and can be fed to chickens either raw or cooked. Just make sure to chop them up into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. While chickens love vegetables, overfeeding vegetables can lead to diarrhea so feed them vegetables as a treat only.
3. Fruits
Fruits are a great source of vitamins and antioxidants. Most chickens enjoy fruits like apples, bananas, grapes, watermelons, cantaloupes, and berries. Like vegetables, fruits can be fed raw or cooked. Some fruits can be very high in sugar, so be careful, chickens can overeat these and gain quite a bit of weight!
Pro Tip: Grow a garden! You’ll find that there are a lot of leftover fruits and vegetables that you might not eat that chickens will love!
4. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a healthy treat for chickens and provides them with a good source of fiber. You can prepare oatmeal for your chickens by cooking it and mixing it with their regular feed. You can also add some fruits or vegetables to make it even more nutritious. I’ve also found you can just toss them some oatmeal on the ground and they go nuts for it!
5. Yogurt
Yogurt is a great source of probiotics, which can help to improve the digestive health of your chickens. You can feed your chickens plain, unsweetened yogurt as a treat, or mix it with some fruits or vegetables. Make sure you don’t get yogurts that are high in sugar or other additives, just plain old unsweetened yogurt will do the trick.
6. Grains
Grains are an important part of a chicken’s diet, and they make a great treat. You can feed your chickens a variety of grains, including corn, wheat, and barley. Just make sure to give them in moderation, as excessive amounts of grains can lead to obesity. If you grow a garden, go ahead and throw them the corn cobs in after you’re done and they’ll love you for it!
7. Sunflower Seeds
Chickens love sunflower seeds, and they are an excellent source of protein and fat. You can feed your chickens sunflower seeds as a treat, or mix them with their regular feed to provide some extra nutrition. Sunflower seeds can be costly compared to some of the other treats on this list. Make sure your sunflower seeds are shelled!
8. Pumpkins
Pumpkin is a great source of vitamins and fiber, and most chickens enjoy it. You can feed your chickens cooked pumpkin, or you can give them some raw pumpkin seeds to peck at. Pumpkins tend to be plentiful around the farm during the fall months. Some people will actually drive around asking if people want their pumpkins that are still sitting on their porches long after Halloween is over!
9. Dried or fresh herbs
Chickens enjoy the taste and aroma of herbs, and some herbs also have health benefits. You can feed your chickens a variety of herbs, including parsley, basil, and oregano. You can give them fresh herbs to peck at or sprinkle dried herbs over their regular feed. Overfeeding of fresh herbs can also cause unwanted issues with your chickens such as diarrhea, so just feed it as a good snack here and there. I find that it’s VERY easy to grow herbs, even in the harshest environments, so this is a nice addition to the list.
10. Cheese
Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium, and most chickens enjoy it. You can feed your chickens small amounts of cheese as a treat, but be careful not to give them too much as it can cause digestive issues. This was one I was curious about myself, but wow do they love cheese! Cheese can also be high in fat, so feed them it sparingly!
Conclusion
In conclusion, treating your chickens to a special snack is a great way to provide them with some extra nutrients and keep them happy and healthy, after all, who doesn’t like to snack? Just make sure to give them treats in moderation and offer a balanced diet that includes grains, vegetables, and protein sources.