Can chickens eat beef and other meats? I made homemade meatballs.

[saysfaa]

My general question is if it’s okay to feed chickens meat and if so what kinds? ...What is okay and not okay in terms of meat?

Yes. Any species likely to be available.
Ever since the mad cow era, I avoid feeding a species to itself even though I don't think anything like that is in chickens and chickens would happily eat each other if they could.

That assumes you meant mammals, birds, and fish. If you meant more; I don't feed mine earth worms or snails because of the specific parasites common in them. If I ever get the opportunity to let mine free range, I'm not going to worry about them but until then, they don't need them. I don't feed mealworms because of the high fat and low quality of the protein combined with other treat options being a lot easier.

Not ok: much fat, salt, or sugar.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

This is good info and funny! Thanks! Been avoiding this question because it seems wrong from my point of view …. Do they also eat chicken? Is it wrong to feed them chicken dinner scraps?

Crows, vultures, eagles… natures roadside clean up crew. If chickens were 6 ft tall they would eat YOU!

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens eat anything that doesn't eat them first.

I *personally* avoid giving them too much grease, salt, or starch, but they love my weekly "clean out the back of the fridge" treat where they get all the leftovers that are still good but that the family hasn't eaten.

I always get a laugh when I see 'vegetarian' eggs.

Yes, that marketing label "Chickens fed and all-natural, vegetarian diet". There is NOTHING natural about a vegetarian chicken.

 

[cassie]

This is good info and funny! Thanks! Been avoiding this question because it seems wrong from my point of view …. Do they also eat chicken? Is it wrong to feed them chicken dinner scraps?

Chickens can and do eat chicken.

 

[cassie]

Crows, vultures, eagles… natures roadside clean up crew. If chickens were 6 ft tall they would eat YOU! Chickens will eat almost anything and everything including each other.

Crows, vultures, eagles… natures roadside clean up crew. If chickens were 6 ft tall they would eat YOU!

Personally, I would not want to be unconscious in either the chicken or the pig pen.

 

[Chicken poppy]

Chickens are omnivores meaning they eat veggies and meat.

As long as the meat is fresh and without a lot of herbs and salt or sugar, it's fine.

As to what kind of meat? Pretty much everything, though I'd be sure of course pork and fish were cooked well.

As to what they'll eat in nature? Anything they can get their little beaks on. They eat lots of bugs, of course, and grass, seeds, berries...and a mouse or two...or rat.

My friend had a cat playing with a mouse in the yard. The cat dropped the mouse that ran panicked into the chicken run. "He chose poorly." In a manner of seconds the chickens had shredded the mouse to nothing, gulping down what they could grab. There wasn't a speck left.

So, yeah. Chickens eat meat. (Watch your back in the yard).

Next they will be eating humans.

 

[MomaYow]

Chickens are omnivores meaning they eat veggies and meat.

As long as the meat is fresh and without a lot of herbs and salt or sugar, it's fine.

As to what kind of meat? Pretty much everything, though I'd be sure of course pork and fish were cooked well.

As to what they'll eat in nature? Anything they can get their little beaks on. They eat lots of bugs, of course, and grass, seeds, berries...and a mouse or two...or rat.

My friend had a cat playing with a mouse in the yard. The cat dropped the mouse that ran panicked into the chicken run. "He chose poorly." In a manner of seconds the chickens had shredded the mouse to nothing, gulping down what they could grab. There wasn't a speck left.

So, yeah. Chickens eat meat. (Watch your back in the yard).

As long as there is no garlic, onions, salt or sugar, it will be fine.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

As long as there is no garlic, onions, salt or sugar, it will be fine.

Actually garlic is good for chickens. Many herbalists recommend it for immune boost and parasite control. Ditto onions. However excessive salt and sugar would not be good.

 

[Browniethechicken]

Actually garlic is good for chickens. Many herbalists recommend it for immune boost and parasite control. Ditto onions. However excessive salt and sugar would not be good.

Good info guys

 

[Browniethechicken]

Yes. Any species likely to be available.
Ever since the mad cow era, I avoid feeding a species to itself even though I don't think anything like that is in chickens and chickens would happily eat each other if they could.

That assumes you meant mammals, birds, and fish. If you meant more; I don't feed mine earth worms or snails because of the specific parasites common in them. If I ever get the opportunity to let mine free range, I'm not going to worry about them but until then, they don't need them. I don't feed mealworms because of the high fat and low quality of the protein combined with other treat options being a lot easier.

Not ok: much fat, salt, or sugar.

Great info thx