What scraps are ok to feed chickens?
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Kauai has almost as many wild chickens as San Francisco has pigeons, well not quite but there are a lot.
Question by : What scraps are ok to feed chickens?
We just got 12 chickens and they have their normal chicken food we bought, but we have alot of food scraps but I’m unsure if the chickens can eat them or not, and it might save us some money on chicken food! They are just on their first lay, if that makes a difference?
Feel free to answer in the comment section below
5 Responses to What scraps are ok to feed chickens?
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My mom has chickens too ! Haha she feeds them literally everything of our food scraps except junk food (like chocolate n stuff). We always give them left overs from restaurants, cooking scraps, etc.
Mountain Fran
April 8, 2012 at 5:19 am
So your birds are about 4-5 months of age right? If so then they will enjoy all and any left overs you offer them, mine love greens and they all need this as well collards lettuce,spinach, fruits no oranges no onions no potato peels no banana peels no celery no whole carrots unless cooked these are either to hard or they just dislike them other than that most anything else. Meats veggies berries rice preferred cooked, eggs cooked, watermelon corn on the cob kale, romaine lettuce so on and so on.
COUNTRY--GIRL
April 8, 2012 at 5:51 am
There isn’t much chickens are NOT allowed… Any fruit or vege scraps are fine… I would avoid meat though as I am not sure…
CHEEKYChicken
April 8, 2012 at 6:50 am
Don’t feed them onions or garlic. It won’t harm the chickens, but their eggs will taste funny!
Rachael
April 8, 2012 at 7:22 am
There are lots of things that are safe for chickens to eat as treats:
Berries, grapes (seedless), lettuce, cooked spaghetti, cooked rice, cooked meat (yes, even chicken, but it just seems so wrong to feed them that), cooked beans, frozen peas, bread, asparagus, cabbage, cereal (avoid highly sugared ones), corn, popcorn (not salted), cucumbers, grits (cooked), yogurt, potatoes (cooked only; avoid the green parts of the peel), tomatoes (raw & cooked), melons, squash (cooked & uncooked), etc.
Btw, allowing them some grazing time once they’ve gotten used to their coop/run will help with your food bill, plus it’s better for them & the eggs taste better.
Make sure that anything you feed them is not oily, spoiled, salty, etc.
There’s a great treats chart on BYC: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart
Ours particularly love canteloupes, watermelons, blueberries, peas, rice, bread, scrambled eggs, & leftover salad. Giving them frozen or chilled melons, berries, & peas is also a good way to help them with the hot temps in summer.
Michelle
April 8, 2012 at 7:41 am