Chickens enjoy snacking on healthy and nutritious treats and foods, such as strawberries, watermelons and apple seeds (rich in potassium). In addition, they enjoy enjoying leafy greens like lettuce and kale for maximum nutrition!
Flock blocks can be an excellent way to reward and encourage your flock’s natural foraging instincts, and prevent boredom from setting in.
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Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an easy and affordable treat to add to your flock’s diet, providing it with plenty of soluble fiber for digestive health benefits and beta-glucan for slowing food transit in the intestines to avoid high blood sugar levels. Plus, oatmeal provides numerous essential vitamins and antioxidants like copper, phosphorus, magnesium iron manganese and vitamin B1!
Your flock can enjoy raw oats (also known as groats), steel cut or rolled oats for breakfast. Make sure you add variety with chopped berries (blackberries, cranberries or blueberries), raisins and unsalted nuts as sources of added protein and flavor; dried herbs such as thyme, oregano basil parsley add extra vitamins and minerals that will ensure they stay healthy and happy – but remember not to overdo it as too much oatmeal can lead to weight gain and other health problems!
Corn
Corn is an enjoyable treat to feed to chickens, both the seed and flesh. It serves as an energy boost throughout their day. Boiling, steaming or roasting on the cob makes for an excellent healthy food source, providing valuable vitamins and nutrients.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that treats should only be given in moderation – too many treats could deplete their daily nutrition from food sources and cause health problems in chickens.
Corn is also found in numerous processed foods such as high fructose corn syrup, polenta and breakfast cereals; furthermore it’s used to produce ethanol as fuel for cars and other vehicles, making corn an extremely versatile grain.
Ginger
Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale) is an irresistibly delicious treat for chickens. Packed full of vitamin B6 and other vital dietary minerals, ginger can help ease nausea and vomiting during pregnancy as well as provide quick relief from morning sickness. While commercial tea bags may make this process quicker and simpler than fresh ginger root tea bags can offer stronger flavors as well as full health benefits. Slattery suggests fresh ginger for more intense flavors as well as greater health advantages.
As a rule of thumb, treats should make up no more than five percent of your flock’s daily food ration. Doing so could overstimulate their digestive systems, lead to obesity and reduce essential nutrient consumption.
Frozen Yogurt
Frozen yogurt can provide your chickens with extra calcium and probiotics to promote egg laying and bone health, providing an occasional treat with less sugar and calories than its traditional counterpart. Plain non-flavored strained yogurt should be used, since chickens rely heavily on calcium to lay good eggs and maintain strong bones. Be mindful that frozen yogurt contains more sugar and calories than its regular counterpart.
Frozen yogurt typically consists of milk, some type of sweetener, dairy fat and cultures. For optimal probiotic benefits from yogurt consumption, make sure that it contains “live and active cultures”. Mix in some fruits or vegetables such as blueberries when making this frozen treat for chickens when temperatures heat up – they’ll love pecking at these refreshing snacks!
