As Winter arrives, free ranging reveals less and less goodies for the flock. Covered in snow, most plants have gone to sleep that the chickens typically love to munch on. It is important to provide your flock with treats during the Winter to help vary their diet and also prevent boredom. When I was new to raising chickens, I was not sure what chickens could eat other than their feed. For the past two years, I have tried to educate myself about supplementing their diets. I had heard of taboo things to feed chickens, like chocolate for dogs. These included potato peels, garlic, onions and citrus.
Just like humans, everything should be fed in moderation. Chicken require the majority of their dietary intake to come from their food, such as layer pellets. These feeds are formulated to provide your flock with all necessary dietary requirements to thrive and lay eggs. Roosters can also be on layer feed as well. Too many treats, although our flocks love them, can be bad. They can compromise your flock's health as well as decrease egg production and even cause egg malformation. So, limit the amount goodies you share with them. I typically share about 1 1/2 cups of goodies per day from the kitchen for our 8 girls. However, when you do share the goodies, I'm betting you will make a best friend or two while scattering them in the run.
Eat
Vegetables
Asparagus
Beets~ green tops too
Beans, must be cooked never raw
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower
Cabbage~entire head
Carrots~green tops too
Corn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic~ add raw cloves to drinking water to boost immune system
Peas
Bell Peppers
Pomegranate
Popped Popcorn
Potatoes~cooked avoid peels (see below)
Pumpkins
Squash
Tomatoes
Turnips~cooked
Sprouts
Apples including seeds
Bananas without the peel
Berries~Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries
Cherries
Grapes~seedless
Melons~Cantelope, Watermelon, Honey Dew
Peaches
Raisins
Grain/Breads
Grits~cooked
Rice~cooked
Breads- all kinds
Sugar free cereal~Cheerios
Oatmeal~raw or cooked
Pasta~cooked
Dairy
All cheeses including Cottage Cheese
Plain yogurt
Do Not Eat
Avocado Skin and Pit~ toxicRhubarb~ poisonous
Citrus~ Some say it can cause feather pecking due to increased levels of Vitamin C. Others say it can interfere with Calcium absorption
Onions~Causes Heinz anemia
Uncooked beans~contain hemaglutin poisonous to birds
Raw potato skins~contain Solanine poisonous to bird
Sugar
Salt
Toxic Plants
Interestingly, chicken can eat meat, however some keepers believe it makes them more aggressive.
References:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3306742
http://www.vet.k-state.edu/features/VetQuarterly/KVQspr05.pdf
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7857524
http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=166988
This post is linked up to Deborah Jean's Dandelion Farmgirl Friday Bloghop
Photo Credit: Tilly's Nest
Thank you for this comprehensive list Melissa!
ReplyDeleteVery helpful... I had looked up similar information as well when we started keeping chickens too, just to be sure we weren't feeding them anything harmful. Our girls got much more than one and a half cups on Thanksgiving day! :)
Gobble Gobble... that's what they did!
where did you get the cage to put the cabbage or lettuce in. I would love to get one for my chickens. Thanks for the list we are new too. This will help a lot. thanks
ReplyDeleteVery informative list, thanks for sharing!! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle, the "treat ball" is from www.treatsforchickens.com Happy to share all chicken info! Tell them Tilly's Nest sent you :)
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Candy! Glad to help!
Great list! Thanks for sharing that. I can't WAIT till we are lucky enough to have chickens!!
ReplyDeleteThank you WannaBePioneerWoman! Bookmark it and then you are ready! I can't wait to hear about your flock!
ReplyDeletecan chickens eat pineapple? I heard its not a citrus.
ReplyDeleteGreat question Hippocheeseman! I personally never feed my chickens pineapple but here is a link I found on Backyard Chickens that might be helpful to you.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=369707
Just curious - the link to toxic plants includes cabbage as being bad for chickens. I thought cabbage was OK??
ReplyDeleteHi Helena, I feed the girls cabbage probably once a month or so. It contains goitrogens that can affect the function of the thyroid gland. With everything in life, I think you are okay using the rules of moderation. Thank you for asking.
ReplyDeletecan chickens eat kiwi?
ReplyDeleteAccording to my sources, chickens should not eat Kiwi. Great questions!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me where you got the round cabbage cage in the photo above?
ReplyDeleteSure, that is a treat ball and I purchased that one from www.treatsforchickens.com. They are great fun!
DeleteConfusion here.... This page shows & lists chickens eating cabbage... but on Toxic Plants, cabbage is listed as toxic.
ReplyDeleteGramma13
Gramma13, great question. Cabbage leaves contain goitrogens, meaning that in large quantities they can affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. Chickens can eat cabbage in moderation and have no problems. However, if they eat excessive amounts, you may discover that your chickens develop thyroid issues. However, I have never experienced this nor have my fellow chicken friends that share cabbage with their flocks.
Deletethats funny because i own 6 chickens and i was new to raising chickens but im doing it bc im going to show them for 4-h. but i very soon found out they eat mice and moles! it was veryy bizarre and funny. chickens are very fun and interesting.
ReplyDeleteCan chickens eat black olives?
ReplyDeleteHi Darlene, I would avoid feeding them ones commercially available because of high salt content. I have no experiences with the one that fall naturally from the trees, that might be available in certain areas of our country where olive trees thrive.
DeleteBy-pass the feed, there is not need to feed chickens toxic G.M.O. trash. Keeping your chickens free range is the healthiest and safest for both you and the chicken. Chickens didn't eat feed until modern times, no need to start.
ReplyDeleteWe are very careful what we put into our flock's bodies and I am very proud to say that our chicken feed that we use is organic and contains NO pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, GMO’s, animal by-products and animal protein. There are companies like us, that have similar values.
DeleteLiving in a small town, there is very little variety of feed for our chickens. I would love to know what brand you just described and where you get it. With your comment of "There are companies like us", do you mean you own a company that sells the feed?
DeleteNo, when I mean companies like us, I am referring to us chicken keepers. Companies that share our values. I purchase this feed from my local feed store. Here is some info on the feed.
Deletehttp://www.greenmountainfeeds.com/about/
Great site! Have you ever heard of Honey being a problem? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I have no idea about honey and bees, I can however, tell you that fellow beekeepers allow chickens to clean the frames of their beehives and honey is definitely present. Hope this helps.
DeleteCan chickens eat my pond plant anacharis? I have to pull some out periodically and would love to be able to share with the girls in the winter.
DeleteI know that waterfowl including ducks do eat Anacharis. Turtles and small animals do too such as muskrats. As for chickens, I have never heard of any eating it. I might suggest you doing a search on backyardchickens.com for an answer. I wish I had more to tell you.
DeleteWOW.That is alot.;D
ReplyDeleteCan a chicken eat a 2 in mouse?
ReplyDeleteYes, chickens can eat mice. But I would not advise it as they can carry illness.
DeleteWhat is Heinz anemia
ReplyDeleteHeinz anemia is a type of anemia where the red blood cells break down. It is typically caused from onions.
DeleteIs "Old Wives Tale" true?
ReplyDeleteCan the chickens eat home-made recipes daily? Or should u only use as a supplement diet? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThere are ways to make homemade chicken feed. I would recommend researching those recipes. All other scraps should be fed sparingly and not be used as a replacement to regular chicken feed that is recommended at their age and available at the feed store.
DeleteHi, im looking to get some chickens which.will be kept in my allotment in my garden, will i need to fence off my veggies or do the chickens not bother with growing plants?
ReplyDeleteI would suggest fencing off any plants that you do not want your chickens getting into-especially the veggies. You could plant some for them near their coop though. That would make them very happy.
DeleteI have a question, on the list of things chickens shouldn't eat is garlic but then on the list under veggies is garlic. I don't feed my chickens garlic by itself but it is cooked in food that I do feed them , pasta, pizza, and other leftovers. Is this ok?
ReplyDeleteThe main reason why garlic is avoided is that some people believe that too much garlic in their diet can cause the eggs to taste like garlic. Otherwise, garlic is safe for your chickens to eat.
Delete