Winter can be an especially hard time for your flock, with their bodies expending more energy to stay warm while their immune systems weakening as a result.
Treats and food scraps can provide your flock with essential nutrition during the colder months when they cannot go outside to forage for greens and bugs, and help prevent long winter days from turning into boredom-inducing boredom sessions where bullying or pecking could ensue.
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Cracked Corn
Cracked corn is an ideal winter treat for chickens. Not only will it provide them with energy throughout their day, but it can help combat boredom during long coop confinements during this harsh weather season.
Cracker corn can be sprinkled onto the ground for chickens to peck at or mixed into their feed as an inexpensive and easy treat to help them remain healthy during winter. It is an inexpensive yet healthy treat which can keep the flock well fed during their stay at your farm.
Cracked corn should only make up a part of their diet as it’s low in protein; too little will leave chickens weak and vulnerable to losing weight and plucking at each other’s feathers. To balance out their meal with nutritious snacks and treats like leafy greens, fruit, berries vegetables bugs or dry mealworms they are sure to find enjoyment from eating all their favorite treats!
Mealworms
Mealworms offer chickens an essential source of protein, calcium, and phosphorus – plus, they love eating them! Watching them chase and peck at these tasty snacks is always fun to watch.
Cooked squash or pumpkin is an ideal winter treat. If any are overripe in your garden or store, bake them up and give them to the chickens as an insulating source of fat. They love these treats!
Treats and scraps should never be the primary source of food for your flock. Doing so could cause them to consume an imbalanced diet that may lead to health issues like colds, poor egg production or sudden death syndrome. Therefore, it’s wise to steer clear from foods rich in grains or carbohydrates or excessively fatty foods which could contribute to metabolic syndrome in their flocks.
Cooked Squash or Pumpkins
Winter snacks serve a dual purpose: providing additional protein and energy as well as providing distraction from long winter days where chickens may start pecking at each other and require something to keep their attention off each other.
Pumpkins and squash are nutritional powerhouses, and often quite affordable during fall’s abundance in markets and shops. Scoop out its flesh and seeds before roasting or combine oats, additional seeds and treacle (molasses) for a tasty stuffed pumpkin treat that your flock will go wild for!
Banana peels, cooked green beans and leftover spaghetti noodles make great snack options. Although they don’t carry much nutritional value, tossed pasta provides ample entertainment as girls run around the coop trying to steal it from each other – always an enjoyable watch!
Leftover Pasta
Winter-weather chickens require more energy to stay warm, which requires them to consume more treats than they typically would during summertime. But it’s important to distinguish between treats and healthy snacks so you don’t overfeed your flock with table scraps.
Simple casseroles are one of the easiest treats to prepare. Bake spaghetti pie or traditional Jewish dish called noodle kugel (with egg noodles) to offer your flock an enjoyable carb-loaded treat.
Chicken pasta Alfredo is another delectable, one-pot option to feed your flock quickly. Simply combine leftover chicken breasts, Alfredo sauce and any additional store cupboard ingredients into one pot for a delicious and simple meal that takes no time at all to prepare!
