How can chickens eat so many different foods?

[Carrie Lynn]

After learning about the incredible range of foods that can be given to chickens, I'm curious.
How can it be that chickens can eat such a wide range of foods?
What is it about the species that makes this possible?
I mean, can you imagine most other birds eating everything from yogurt to raw fish, apple cores, to cheese, to each other?
I get the seed/grain/fruit connection, other birds do that. I'm thinking chickens are scavengers/predators too. But you don't hear about eagles, hawks and owls eating seed and grain. Do they? I don't know of other birds that would come to yogurt. How is it that chickens can digest milk products? Perhaps other species would if given the opportunity.
Anyone have any answers for me? Perhaps a good article? I'm intrigued...chickens are so cool.

Carrie Lynn

 

[SeattleChickenHead]

crows eat an even wider range of foods it seems!

 

[Cuttlefishherder]

They are omnivores, so they eat like we do in a sense. One of our chickens ate a baby gecko yesterday, I nearly cried! X<

 

[the-bird-man]

i don't know what it is but from reading things on here i can tell you they can eat a lot more things than my parrots. my parrots do like a little meat too tho

 

[gumbii]

chickens will eat your jewelry...

 

[Rozzie]

Seagulls eat a pretty big range of food, too. Doesn't mean it's all healthy for them, of course.

Ever been chased by a flock of seagulls who won't believe you're out of food to give them? I have...

 

[BrewedInNh]

It's really a testament to their survival skills. Omnivors have a clear advantage over competitors with more limited dietary options. Through thick and thin, omnivors have options where others face extinction.

As a species, our little dinosaurs are in it for the long haul, and so are we if we don't outsmart ourselves.

edited for spelling. Not my best work.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Very well put.

 

[dawg53]

They are walking stomachs, bottomless pits, greedy buggars. Gosh I love them!

 

[ajaldridge]

Word of advice, DO NOT EAT SUCKER NEAR CHICKENS!!!!! I did this earlier today, I stole a sucker from my sons halloween stash and the little buggers took off with it. They didn't eat it though, just played keep away with it. Sad part is I had the sucker in my mouth at the time they stole it. I knew with it being red they'd take off with it so I thought I was being smart by keeping it in my mouth and next thing I know Big Red grabs the stick and takes off while I am bent down picking something up off the ground.