Just like us, our chickens need something refreshing in the heat of summer. Although insects and leafy greens provide the healthiest options, other treats may help our flock remain happy and hydrated.
Frozen foods can be especially refreshing for your chickens. Add frozen treats to their feeding or provide them with an icy dish for them to nibble!
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Watermelon
Watermelons are an incredibly refreshing treat for chickens during hot summer days and contain citrulline, an antioxidant which naturally repels pesky insects from your flock. Create a frozen watermeon bowl by filling an ice cube tray or popsicle mold with frozen watermelons, fresh berries, herbs and/or veggies like zucchini squash cucumber (all good sources of nutrition for your flock). When frozen solid, serve this healthy treat for your flock as an afternoon treat!
Keep in mind that watermelons should only be fed to your chickens in moderation as too much may cause digestive and respiratory issues, thereby decreasing their regular feed consumption. As an alternative, give a piece or two once every week as treats instead of feeding daily as this could reduce how much they require in their regular diet. Likewise, always wash fruits and vegetables prior to giving them to your flock in order to ensure pesticide build-up doesn’t accumulate and cause health problems in them.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers make another delicious low-calorie snack for chickens to enjoy, providing them with a refreshing treat while helping keep them hydrated on hot days. Cucumbers contain fiber, Vitamin A and B vitamins as well as the powerful antioxidant lignans which work to eliminate free radicals – unpaired electrons which damage cells and lead to disease – from their bodies.
When offering cucumbers as treats for your hens, be sure to leave the peel intact as cucumbers contain natural oils which are great for their skin and feathers. If you have extra cucumbers lying around, wash and store in your refrigerator where they can last up to one week before giving as treats!
As with any treats, cucumbers should only be fed occasionally to your flock in moderation and shouldn’t replace nutrition they already receive through their feed. Other nutritious snacks for your flock could include leafy greens, insects and berries – foods they would naturally forage for on a daily basis.
Corn on the Cob
Chickens enjoy corn on the cob as it provides them with an energy boost while they nibble each kernel. Unfortunately, however, this snack is high in fat content and does not offer many essential nutrients; therefore if you give your flock this treat, make sure it only occurs a few times each week.
To prepare the corn, simply bring a pot of water to a boil, add corn kernels to the pot, and allow to boil for 3-5 minutes before removing from heat and draining. Coat each ear of corn with butter and season accordingly before enjoying this delectable treat!
To serve, place each coated ear of corn on a wooden skewer to avoid burning your fingers while making eating the grilled corn easier.
Eggs
Gardeners who keep chickens may benefit from harvesting the eggs from their flock and freezing them as ice cubes for later consumption on hot days. Not only are the treats low-cal, they will help your flock remain cool!
Frozen treats for chickens can be made out of almost anything that you’re about to discard: zucchini, tomatoes, bananas, avocado pits (ensuring you remove them as they contain trace amounts of cyanide), watermelons and even zucchini! However, remember to feed these treats only as occasional snacks rather than replacing their complete diet plan.
Healthy snacks for chickens should resemble what they would find naturally in their environment, like insects and greens, such as insects. Snacks shouldn’t replace complete feed formulation and should only be offered up to one tablespoon daily per chicken; treats must also be low in calories and fat so as to prevent overfeeding. Learn the difference between snacks and treats here.
