How much is too Much ....regarding nutritional treats?

[GretaGarboFirst]

I have 5 hens who are 9 months old. I feed then pellet food each day. I also feed them fruits and vegetables. My question is about how much fruits and vegetables can I offer them daily?. I give them a cereal bowl full each day currently....it vanishes quickly!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sounds like you are doing OK. A general rule of thumb is to not give them more than they can clean up in 10 to 20 minutes. Their feed is a balanced diet and chickens need a balanced diet, like you, me and everyone else. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing if it throws their system out of balance.

Do I follow that rule myself? Not really. When I can something or have waste from the garden they can wind up with more than they can finish immediately. But I don’t give them large quantities of the same thing day after day but mix it up quite a bit. That way they can splurge occasionally without it really affecting their overall health.

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

Thanks so much...very helpful. Stay warm ....it is 5 degrees in Massachusetts today with 4 ft. of accumulated snow in my yard.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Sounds like you are doing OK. A general rule of thumb is to not give them more than they can clean up in 10 to 20 minutes. Their feed is a balanced diet and chickens need a balanced diet, like you, me and everyone else. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing if it throws their system out of balance.

Do I follow that rule myself? Not really. When I can something or have waste from the garden they can wind up with more than they can finish immediately. But I don’t give them large quantities of the same thing day after day but mix it up quite a bit. That way they can splurge occasionally without it really affecting their overall health.

I agree. My girls useally eat their treats, (Breakfast scraps and egg shells) in about 2-3 minutes. I also feed my chickens black solger flys, compost, pumpkins, and a few other things. Here's an article on treats for chickens: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/treats-for-chickens