Cheap chicken treat

[AllenK RGV]

I am fortunate my treats are free, whenever I go to my local fruit stand they let me look over the fruit they can't sell. It is seasonal but they love watermelon, cantelope, papaya and mango and for sure cucumber. I don't mind cutting off the bad parts as that is more free compost for me. I keep a bucket in the car at all times in case some of the fruit is leaky.

 

[BDutch]

Rainworms, ant eggs and even stranger nutricious specimens. They dig them out from the ground themselves when free ranging.

Herbs & grasses. They make their own clippings when free ranging. And I made a chicken greenery in the coop with hardware cloth on top for the same reason cause they can't free range every day. Otherwise they demolish the roots.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

The rule of thumb is that treats (even the healthiest) should make up no more than 10% of their intake. When the treats are high in fat (like suet, sunflower seeds, etc.) or carbohydrates (like corn or even bread or pasta, which I wouldn’t give), it’s especially important. Kinda like humans. I hate it, but I have to limit fat, sugar, and carbs to stay healthy. Why do we crave things that we should limit?

 

[GoldenGryphon]

My chickens get layer meal and they like to eat the pieces in it, but don't like to eat the fine meal. I mix the left over with yoghurt, juice and apple vinager to make it a healthy treat.

That's an excellent idea! My current flock is eating crumble and pellets, but avoiding the leftover dust. Mixing in some yogurt, applesauce, or other 'good for them' stuff, will definitely see that not go to waste!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Yes, not go to waste, but also the vitamins and minerals are likely in the fines. Very important for them to eat it!

 

[RumneyRoost]

My girls only get treats in the summer if I need to bribe them back in to the predator proof run. Those have to be high value treats, they prefer the great outdoors! I usually just chop up a hard boiled egg for them.
In the winter the treats are for entertainment since we’re snow covered with frozen ground for 6-8 months.
I grow sprouts and spread a handful or two around the run.
Once a week I’ll hang a homemade flock block or cabbage for them
Or I’ll add warm water to some of their layer feed to make a mash, helps keep them hydrated too.

My homemade flock blocks are mostly their regular food with some added oatmeal, sunflower seeds, some cayenne pepper, some cinnamon and a little bit of bacon fat and molasses to hold everything together. Then I bake them and freeze them. I make them in 3”x5” pans. Usually takes about 2 days for them to finish it, unless they manage to knock it down, then they finish it off in about an hour.