A chicken’s diet should consist of a balanced combination of protein, carbs and vitamins. This can be provided through feed specifically tailored for each age group of your birds.
It is especially essential to provide omega-3s during egg laying season. Not only do these aid in egg production, but they also keep chickens healthy.
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Hay
Hay is an economical and enjoyable food choice for chickens. A bale of hay can be kept in their run to encourage them to peck on it in search of insects, seeds and other goodies hidden amongst the grains. Hay makes for great exercise too!
Alfalfa hay is the ideal type of hay for chickens, as it’s packed full of essential nutrients and a great protein source. Plus, it’s high in fiber, calcium and iron which helps slow glucose absorption.
Timothy hay, on the other hand, is low in protein and contains long strands which may cause crop impaction and constipation. Therefore, it should not be fed as your chicken’s primary feed but only used as a supplement or bedding in their coop.
Meat
Chickens are omnivores, meaning they consume both plants and animals as food. This includes insects, worms, mice, frogs and toads.
They can also eat meat, but this is not recommended due to its potential risks for health; too much red meat could lead to issues like poor egg production and excessive weight gain.
Commercial chicken feed is carefully designed by poultry nutrition experts to supply your birds with the essential nutrients. It comes in pellet form, crumbles or mash.
Vegetables
Vegetables are an excellent way to add variety and nutrition to a chicken’s diet, providing them with essential vitamins, minerals and other essential elements. Not only that, but vegetables also keep chickens hydrated in hot weather while being an enjoyable treat for your flock!
Though you can feed your chickens a variety of vegetables, some are better for them than others. Avoid giving your birds citrus fruits, rhubarb, avocado or green potato skins.
Leafy greens make an excellent treat for your chickens, but should only be given in moderation as too much can deplete their calcium stores. Swiss chard, spinach and beet greens in particular contain high amounts of oxalic acid which could lead to calcium deficiency in some instances.
Fruits
Fruits make for a tasty treat for chickens and can be an important part of their diet. Not only that, but fruits also provide essential vitamins and minerals that chickens require in order to stay healthy.
Berries are an excellent source of vitamin C and antioxidants, which may help protect against disease. Strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are all excellent sources of this vital nutrient.
Most fruits are safe to feed your flock, however be sure to remove the seeds and pits of apples, pears and cherries before serving them to avoid cardiac-toxic cyanide. Other fruits to avoid include rhubarb and pineapple as they may contain toxins such as anthraquinones.
Mice
When feeding chickens, it is essential to remember that they need a variety of things. As omnivores, they will consume vegetables, fruits, meat and even insects for sustenance.
However, if one of your chickens is caught eating mice, it may raise some questions.
You might be worried that they’ve eaten a mouse that has been poisoned or has an infectious disease, and this could make them ill.
Unfortunately, this is a relatively uncommon occurrence and does not pose any real danger to chickens. On the contrary, if your chickens are eating mice it’s perfectly normal and healthy behavior for them.
Potatoes
Potatoes make for a nutritious snack and can even form part of your chicken’s regular diet. Packed full of vitamins C and B3, as well as folate and lutein, potatoes make the perfect nutritious addition to any chicken’s meal!
Potatoes are also packed with calcium and potassium. Unfortunately, they can also be high in sodium so be mindful of your chicken’s total salt intake if you plan to feed them potatoes regularly.
Never mix green potatoes into your chicken’s raw feed unless it has been specially designed and nutritionally complete. These nightshade vegetables contain solanine, which is toxic to chickens.
