If you’re reading this, chances are you have chickens that you consider pets and it’s no secret that we all enjoy spoiling our pets. We get a kick out of seeing them run to greet us at the mere sight of the treat container or the sound of the back door opening. It makes us feel good to see them happy and we are entertained by their antics when they compete for the coveted goodies. But the wrong type of treats and treats in excess can be harmful to their health, stunt growth, shorten their lifespan and interfere with production in egg-layers. So, what can they eat, what shouldn’t they eat and how much is too much?
A good rule of thumb is: if you shouldn’t eat it, your pet chickens shouldn’t either (mealworms, insects and dirt notwithstanding). Common sense should be the guide in treat selection.The types of foods we require to maximize our own health are the foods we
should consider when spoiling our chickens: high protein, whole grains, low salt, low sugar, fruits and vegetables. Love your chickens, but not to death. Milk products are an exception to this general rule because birds are not equipped with the enzymes necessary to properly digest milk sugars. Think about it: mother birds do not nurse their young. Some yogurt on occasion is fine and does contain beneficial cultures, but too much can cause digestive upset and diarrhea.
Given their tiny size and amount of food intake, a very small amount of treats can interfere with a chick’s nutritional balance, even if they're healthy choices. A chick’s growth, development and ability to defend against illness can be negatively affected by too many
treats. I am pretty conservative with baby chicks and snacks. It is fun to spoil baby chicks, but I feel that the potential harm outweighs any feel-good benefit. While not a treat, it bears mentioning that oyster shell should never be given to chicks or non-laying chickens as it can interfere with bone development and cause organ damage.
What’s the problem with excess treats? When chickens eat treats, they’re not eating feed, which is their primary source of nutrition even for free-range birds. Commercially prepared feed is very carefully and scientifically prepared to ensure that a chicken’s daily vitamin, mineral and protein requirements are met. Supplemental foods (treats/snacks) replace a portion of those essential dietary
elements to some degree. Excessive treats, even healthy ones, can cause any of the following: obesity, reduced egg production, malformed eggs, habitual laying of multiple-yolked eggs, vent prolapse, a protein deficiency, feather-picking, fatty liver syndrome, increased risk of heat stroke and heart problems.
HEALTHY TREATS for CHICKENS
Proteins: beef, chicken, (I know, it seems wrong), eggs, (cooked only so as not to encourage egg-eating) fish, insects (crickets are
delicious!) pork, worms (earthworms, mealworms), sunflower seeds
Fruits: apples, peeled bananas, berries, coconut flesh, grapes, melon, peaches, pears, pomegranates, strawberries, raisins
Vegetables: asparagus, beans (fully cooked if previously dried), beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn,
cucumbers, eggplant, greens, (kale, spinach, mustard) peas, peppers, pumpkin, squash
Whole Grains: bread, cereal, pasta, oatmeal (cooked or not)
OCCASIONAL TREATS
avocado flesh
tomatoes (can cause gastric upset in quantity)
potatoes (not green)
rice (a neutral treat)
yogurt (probiotics are a better choice)
About Scratch. Scratch is affectionately referred to as ‘chicken crack’ for a reason; chickens love it, can’t get enough of it and it’s not the best choice for them. Scratch typically consists of cracked corn and a mixture of grains, which tends to lack an appreciable amount of protein, vitamins and minerals. Scratch should be thought of as chicken candy and only given in small amounts occasionally. *Scratch should not be mixed into the flock’s feed.*
NEVER
moldy foods
uncooked, dried beans (contain phytohaemagglutinin, which is\e highly toxic to humans and animals)
MYTHS and FACTS about CHICKEN TREATS
MYTH: Chickens should not eat avocados.
FACT: Chickens can eat the flesh of avocado in moderation. However, avocado pits and skin contain persin, which can be toxic
in significant quantities.
MYTH: Chickens should not eat raw potatoes or potato skins.
FACT: Chickens should not eat GREEN potato skins. The green color indicates the presence of solanine, a toxin that affects the nervous system when consumed in large quantities. However, the average, healthy human would have to eat 4.5 pounds at one sitting to experience any neurological effects. Similarly, a chicken would need to consume large quantities of green potato skins to experience any effects. The leaves and stems of the potato plant DO contain high levels of solanine and are toxic to chickens. The take-home message? If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to your chickens.
MYTH: Chickens should never eat onions.
FACT: Chickens can eat onions, chives and garlic in small quantities, occasionally. Sufficient quantities of onion and garlic can be harmful to chickens, causing hemolytic anemia, aka: Heinz anemia. “The alkaloid N-propyl disulphide is present in cultivated and wild onions, chives and garlic, and affects the enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in red blood cells,” which can cause Heinz anemia. You wouldn't eat a bowl of raw onions, chives or garlic, so don't feed them to your chickens as a side dish.
Further reading:
http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html
http://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/onions.html
http://www.avocado.com/site/fun-facts/avo-info/avocado-toxicity-in-animals-and-pets
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/213200.htm (salty foods are okay in moderation, occasionally as long as there is plenty of fresh water available, but never salt alone)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytohaemagglutinin
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/211102.htm
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=15+1912&aid=2236
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Congratulations Phil and best wishes in your new place!
They sound a little bit spoiled to me! :)
Don't tell their dentist about the marshmallow, Amanda! :o
Funny, Sandy! They make your breakfast and now you want them to make bread too? LOL!
I'm new at this. Have 8 different girls that love to follow me around. One day they all tried to come into the house through the dog door. I am trying to learn to make homemade bread so that book would be of great help. thank you
Very interesting. I guess there aren't many seeds they don't like.
Shirley, mine love pumpkins too. The cool weather will be here before we know it and they'll be in pumpkin heaven.
Stick around, Tammy, we have giveaways all the time!
Thank you for participating, Eddie!
Thanks a million, Alex!
You bet, Holly. Give my best to Cheep Cheep. :)
That's no surprise at all. It's a great book, Tracy!
That's so nice of you to say, Jessica. I'm happy to know that!
They're funny that way. Mine really don't care for strawberries much at all. Go figure!
Thank you for following along and for entering the giveaway. Welcome to backyard chicken-keeping!
Thank you Melody!
Maxine, wish your DH Happy Birthday for me!
They DO!
Give my best to your BIL Keyt.
My pleasure and thank you, Claire!
Thank you Martha!
You bet, Jennifer. Thanks for entering!
My pleasure, Susan. Thank you. :)
Congratulations Lori! You have won the Grit Magazine Country Skills Series magazine giveaway! Please email me with your addres: Kathy@The-Chicken-Chick.com
our girls come running no matter what i've got, 'cause they know mama's got something good!
mine love okra seeds!
My hens LOVE raisins, squash and watermelon...and the very occasional marshmallow 0;o
My girls love pumpkins. I cut them in half and let them enjoy!!
Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this! I never win anything!!
Ooh. Always looking for more homemade bread books, and want to get more into bees. Would love to win!
Always love the information that Grit and The Chicken Chick bring to us!
i would love to have the chicken one and the rabbit one!! Thanks so much!!!
Thanks! If I don't win this, I'll be ordering! :)
I've checked the Lard book out from the library twice so I can try a bunch of the recipes! It's one of the most bookmarked books here.
Thank you for all the helpful information! I am raising my first chickens and you have been very helpful.
I love that pic with the grape...my girls aren't that crazy about grapes, but drop a strawberry top in their run and you better watch out lol
Leaving apartment life for our first house. I want to teach my daughters how to self sustain and live better. Thanks for all the wonderful information and for consideration in the giveaway.
Following your blog and facebook page! Great info... I would LOVE to win the Grit book give away! I am a new chicken mom and learning as I go. We have 7 hens and a roo, we got them at 2 weeks of age. They are now 8 months old.
Very nice blog and would love to be the winner- great giveaway :)
Would LOVE to win this! My hubby asked for this specifically for his birthday, it would be awesome to get it for him (and me) :)
The Backyard Books rock! Love my "red girls"!!!
I would really love to win the chickens and rabbits magazines. Especially the rabbits because my BIL was seriously injured at work Tuesday and he has a bunch of rabbits so it would be great reading for him while he recovers!
Thanks for holding the giveaway, nice blog!
Great article. I feed scraps daily and try to be so careful to monitor their intake of "yummies" so they don't overeat and not get the right nutrition. I would love to win the backyard chickens magazine. Grit has the best articles.
I would love to win some back yard books about anything!! Thanks for the oppurtunity Chicken Chick!
thank you so much for a great blog!
Good luck, Esther!
Thanks so much, Janet!
Congratulations on your new pets, Wendy!
Thank you so much, Lori. I appreciate that.
Thanks Loralee! There isn't much they cannot eat, but again, moderation and common sense should be your guide. These magazines are also available online at the top of this page under "Shopping."
LOL Susan! I hope you got a picture of that! :)
Thanks Zandra, I hope they help. :)
Thank you, Jennifer!
Good luck in the giveaway, Janice!
I love all of the Backyard books. I have bought them for years and still have all of them.
I would be THRILLED to win Backyard Chickens and Backyard Bees and Honey! Thank you so much for your wonderful publications!
We're planning to start raising both chickens and rabbits this year - I would love to win these! Your blog and FB page have already been so very helpful.
I'm new to chickens this year so I'd love the Backyard Chickens!!
Very informative in a way that is easily understood and applicable. I enjoy your articles and can appreciate not only your talent for writing but the amount of time and effort as well as your love for chickens! Thank you!
Great article, I love to read anything and everything about chickens! Can't get enough of it! :) I am really excited about the giveaway!!! I would LOVE any and all of the Grit magazines! I have not seen them at my stores here! We have so much fun with our chickens and enjoy the colorful egg basket we get. I'm always curious about what scraps I can give them from the kitchen. :)
This is a great article! My chickens love tomatoes and grapes. And I just discovered a couple of weeks ago that they love figs, too! My grandmother gave me some of hers that were getting too ripe. I tossed a few on the ground and they pecked at them to see what they were. Once they got a taste, they gobbled them up! My rooster, Yella' Boy, literally buried his beak into one up to his nostrils!
Love the treat suggestions! Can't wait for my little ones to get bigger and then spoil them!
As always a wonderful post. Very informative & helpful! Keep up the great work here & on Facebook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Grit magazines and would love to have the Bread making book! I have backyard chickens and will have bees starting spring of 2013!
Thanks Cindy!
Thanks Christy! Everything in moderation. If you begin noticing a drop in production or behavior problems such as picking, the first thing to do would be to cut out the treats.
Michele, just pay attention to their production, if it seems affected, dial back the extras.
Best of luck to you, Carrie!
Good luck Dawn!
Kelly, you can order a subscription online, right at the top of this page!
I love the Grit publication and find them very informative, as do I find your blog posts and FaceBook posts!
This is, as always, very interesting and helpful info. Thank you. I feed lots of scraps to my chickens but I try to share between the coops and with so many I hope it is still ok for them.
This time of year it is difficult not to... All of the scraps from the veggies being processed gets tossed to the chickens & goats. They eat nearly every single scrap up! They are a bit like garbage disposals and I can't help but think greenbean ends, corn ends etc... grape skins can't be all that bad? They are free range so they already have a varied diet and they must have eaten a ton of crush & run out of the drive way!
I so want backyard chickens and backyard rabbits...
I would love backyard chickens to go along with my new coop and bread making which I want to learn to do.
Would love to win this maginzine! I never can find it in my local stores! ANd i think it would be very helpful since Im new at this