What Should I Be Feeding My Chickens?

what should i be feeding my chickens

If your flock includes some extra birds, offering treats can be an entertaining way of giving them extra vitamins and minerals while making their day more exciting.

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Good quality chicken feed should contain 16-20% protein and contain other essential nutrients like prebiotics, probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium.

Contents

Grass Clippings

Grass clippings provide chickens with essential vitamins and nutrients as well as natural moisture sources during hot summer months, making this source a vital one.

Note, however, that grass clippings may contain toxic pesticide residues and herbicides which should never be given as treats or snacks for chickens.

Grass clippings contain high levels of nitrogen, which is toxic for chickens. Furthermore, their ammonia emissions can wreak havoc with respiratory health and increase risk for pneumonia – so only offer in small amounts for consumption.

Kitchen Scraps

Your chickens’ primary source of nutrition comes from their feed, but adding leftovers and supplements in small amounts will provide them with additional sources of nourishment while simultaneously decreasing store-bought feed consumption.

Kitchen scraps such as fruits, vegetables, cooked grains and seeds provide your chickens with essential nutrition. Composting can be an efficient way to utilize these waste products while providing homemade nourishment to your flock.

Vegetables

Vegetables provide your chickens with essential vitamins and nutrients. From leaves, stems and roots of plants to their fruits or seeds – vegetables come in all forms!

Plantains can be prepared in many different ways – from steaming to roasting to being part of stir-fry dishes – making them a versatile part of global cuisine and human nutrition.

Vegetables provide your chickens with essential nutrition, helping to promote overall health and produce higher-quality eggs. Give daily as a treat, or as a supplementary treat alongside commercial poultry feed.

Fruits

Fruits are an easy way to provide your chickens with essential nutrition. Many fruits contain antioxidants which contribute to keeping your flock healthy.

Berries such as blackberries, strawberries and blueberries are beloved treats to chickens due to their abundance of Vitamin C and fiber-rich content – both essential for maintaining optimal digestive health.

Foods suitable for feeding your chickens include apples, berries, melons (watermelons are particularly popular with our flock!), cucumbers and squash.

Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient for keeping chickens healthy and productive, aiding them with muscle building, DNA replication and cell structure formation.

Most chicken feeds feature high-grade protein concentrate, typically from soybean and cottonseed meal. But there are other sources of protein.

Peas and garden peas, dried beans and lentils can provide your chickens with an additional source of protein when their regular diet doesn’t provide enough. Treats like these provide extra boosts of nutrition when needed.

Treats

Treats can add variety and enrich your flock’s diet, particularly during the colder winter months when they may have extra energy to expend. Just remember to provide treats in moderation so as to ensure all necessary nutrients are being supplied from their feed.

Treats can be homemade or purchased from your local feed store. Keep in mind, however, that excess treats can lead to obesity and lower egg production; furthermore they increase risk of life-threatening conditions like vent prolapse and protein deficiency.