What can chickens eat? As backyard chicken keeping continues to gain popularity, many poultry enthusiasts may wonder what chickens can eat besides their regular commercial feed. Chickens are omnivorous birds that can eat a wide variety of foods, ranging from grains and vegetables to insects and kitchen scraps.
Providing a diverse and nutritious diet for your flock is important for their health and well-being. In this blog post, we’ll provide a comprehensive guide on what chickens can eat, including their dietary requirements, recommended foods, and tips for feeding them a balanced diet. So what can chickens eat?
You may also want to read about the best chicken feed.
What can chickens eat?
What can chickens eat?Chickens require a balanced diet that provides them with the essential nutrients they need for growth, egg production, and overall health. The key nutrients that chickens require in their diet are:
- Protein: Chickens need protein for muscle development, feather growth, and egg production. Good sources of protein for chickens include insects, worms, grubs, fish, meat scraps, and legumes.
- Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates provide energy for chickens to carry out their daily activities. Grains, such as corn, wheat, and oats, are common sources of carbohydrates in a chicken’s diet.
- Vitamins and minerals: Chickens require a variety of vitamins and minerals for proper growth and health. These can be obtained from vegetables, fruits, and other plant-based foods.
- Calcium: Calcium is essential for strong eggshells and overall bone health in chickens. Good sources of calcium include crushed eggshells, oyster shells, and limestone grit.
- Water: Access to clean, fresh water is crucial for chickens’ health and digestion. Chickens need water to regulate their body temperature, transport nutrients, and stay hydrated.
What can chickens eat?
Recommended Foods for Chickens
While commercial chicken feed is formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of chickens, there are many other foods that can be safely fed to chickens in addition to their regular feed. Here are some recommended foods for chickens:
- Grains: Chickens can eat a variety of grains, such as corn, wheat, oats, barley, and rice. Grains can be fed whole or cracked, and can be mixed with other ingredients to create a balanced diet.
- Vegetables: Chickens can eat a wide variety of vegetables, including leafy greens, carrots, broccoli, peas, squash, and sweet potatoes. Vegetables provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber to chickens’ diet.
- Fruits: Chickens can eat many types of fruits, such as apples, bananas, berries, melons, and citrus fruits. Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals for chickens, but should be fed in moderation due to their high sugar content.
- Protein-rich foods: Chickens are omnivorous birds and can eat various sources of protein, such as insects, worms, grubs, fish, meat scraps, and legumes. Protein-rich foods are important for muscle development, feather growth, and egg production in chickens.
- Dairy products: Chickens can eat small amounts of dairy products, such as yogurt, cheese, and cottage cheese, as a source of calcium and protein. However, dairy products should be fed in moderation as chickens may have difficulty digesting lactose.
- Kitchen scraps: Chickens can eat many kitchen scraps, such as leftover fruits and vegetables, bread, pasta, rice, and cooked meat. However, avoid feeding them foods that are high in salt, sugar, or processed foods, as these can be harmful to chickens’ health.
- Insects and worms: Chickens are natural foragers and love to eat insects, worms, and other small creatures. These provide a good source of protein and other essential nutrients for chickens.
Here are some of the best foods for chickens to eat.
- Layer Feed: Layer feed is a complete feed that provides all of the nutrients that laying hens need to produce healthy eggs. It’s important to choose a feed that’s specifically formulated for laying hens, as other types of feed may not have the right balance of nutrients. Layer feed contains the right amount of protein, calcium, and vitamins to support egg production.
- Vegetables: Vegetables are a great source of nutrients for chickens. You can give your chickens vegetables such as lettuce, kale, broccoli, and carrots. Vegetables provide vitamins and minerals that are important for overall health. Chickens also love to eat kitchen scraps, so don’t throw away those vegetable peels and leftovers!
- Fruits: Fruits are another great source of vitamins and minerals for chickens. Some fruits that chickens love include apples, strawberries, and blueberries. Fruits are also a good source of antioxidants, which can help boost your chicken’s immune system.
- Grains: Grains are a good source of carbohydrates for chickens. You can feed your chickens grains such as corn, wheat, and barley. Grains provide energy and can also help keep your chickens warm during the winter.
- Insects and Worms: Chickens love to eat insects and worms, which are a good source of protein. You can let your chickens forage for insects in your yard, or you can buy mealworms or crickets to feed them.
- Calcium Supplements: Calcium is an important nutrient for laying hens, as it helps them produce strong eggshells. You can provide your chickens with calcium supplements such as crushed eggshells, oyster shells, or limestone.
- Treats: In addition to their regular diet, you can give your chickens treats as a special treat. Some treats that chickens love include bread, cooked rice, and cooked pasta. Just be sure to limit treats to no more than 10% of your chicken’s diet, as too many treats can lead to obesity and other health problems.
