Table scraps/veggies

[pennypenny]

Is there a list of foods not to give chicks/chickens? Can they have potato and carrot peels? How small do the pieces need to be?

 

[rustychick2000]

I give my chickens all my food scraps. They pick through and eat what they want. Potato and carrot peelings work great and they will have no problem ripping them up.

 

[Judy]

Below is a link to our BYC Treats chart. They can eat almost anything you do. As with people, a lot of salt is not good, and sugar is not good. I would never give chocolate. For size, for something hard, think of the size of the pieces in their feed. They can peck at or tear apart most things, though.

They love the rind of melons when you are through with them; they will eat it down to the hard outer part.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens

 

[pennypenny]

Thank you! I forgot to mention they are currently 5-6 weeks old. Does that change anything? Can they rip this up, or should I dice it?

 

[yoopergirl]

Just be sure if you give table scraps they have some grit. They don't need it for the chick food but they will for the scraps. You can buy it at any farm store or sand from the yard will work too.

 

[Judy]

I would chop that stuff finer, myself.

 

[pennypenny]

I would chop that stuff finer, myself.

Thank you, I also read no raw potatoes on the list you gave me, so I am guessing the potato peels are a no-no anyway?

 

[Judy]

There is a widespread belief on BYC that chickens should not be given potato peels. I'm not sure why, unless it's because the harmful agent in "green" potatoes is more concentrated just below the skin. I forget what it's called -- something like solenine, maybe?

Again, it's pretty much what you would eat. You eat pottoes cooked so they should, too.