Chickens love snacking on tasty treats! Treats should only be offered occasionally as their high levels of certain nutrients can reduce overall nutrition intake.
Mealworms are irresistibly attractive to chickens and make an excellent protein treat for egg-laying hens and those molting, though they should not replace their regular feed source.
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Pineapple
Pineapple is a tropical fruit beloved by chickens. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and bromelain enzyme – essential digestive supporter – pineapple offers plenty of nutritional benefits that enhance its appeal for consumption by chicken flocks.
By eating more pineapple, poultry can reduce their risk of gas, constipation and other digestive issues. If too much pineapple is consumed however, it may cause stomach upset and skin rashes in some birds.
When feeding pineapple to your chickens, make sure it is cut into small pieces for easier eating and to prevent pecking at its tough, spiky rind and leaves of its crown – this may prevent injury as well as bezoar formation in their bodies. Also avoid giving unripe or overripe pineapple.
Apples
Apples provide chickens with an essential source of nutrition. Not only are they rich in vitamin C, but when left to sit in its peel they contain even more essential minerals and vitamins!
However, apples contain high levels of sugar which could potentially be detrimental to their flock and should only be offered in moderation as snacks. Therefore, apple snacks should only be offered on occasion to prevent their intake becoming excessively sugary and cause digestive issues in your flock.
Be sure to remove the seeds before offering them to your flock; unremoved seeds contain cyanide that could be toxic for chickens. Cucumbers offer another great snack option that’s full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and water to keep your flock hydrated in hot weather.
Onions
Onions provide chickens with carbohydrates they need to power their digestive systems. Their fructans also act as fuel for beneficial gut bacteria that enable chickens to more effectively process food. With their help, chickens are better at digesting their meals.
Although onions can be beneficial to chickens, only feed small amounts. Overfeeding will only aggravate their digestive issues further and may contain sulfides and sulfoxides which cause Heinz body anemia in animals.
Onions are an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals for chickens. They contain vitamin C, B6, folate B9 and potassium as well as sulfur compounds such as quercetin and anthocyanins which all work to support health in poultry. Onions can be served raw or cooked – chopped finely to make eating them easy for your poultry so they won’t choke on it!
Seeds
Seeds provide your flock with an excellent source of protein. Not only do they support their skeletal systems and energy levels, they can also promote calmness among your flock and even be ground up into treats for them to enjoy! A wide range of seeds is an excellent addition to their diets.
Cantaloupe seeds make an excellent treat for your flock, along with pumpkin and squash seeds. Once the hulls have been removed from the seeds, your chickens’ gizzards grind them up for optimal digestion of nutrients. Sesame seeds are another tasty snack you can give to them.
Green beans are an easy and tasty source of fiber-rich snacks for your flock, yet raw varieties contain solanine – a toxin found in nightshades – making them unsafe. Cooked green beans on the other hand provide excellent snack for your flock’s wellbeing, though healthy snacks should only ever serve as supplements to their regular diet rather than replace it entirely.
