Treats

[acates]

What types of herbs are good for chickens and which should be avoided? What other types of healthy treats can I give them? So far I have given them hard boiled eggs and yogurt. I have also given them cucumber peeling and tried broccoli stems (they didn't like that).

My girls enjoying their first yogurt treat!

 

[Wileynerio]

I feed my girls meal worms and hang heads of lettuce and cabbage on a string for them and they love it I found a list of things that are good for chickens and what's bad for them on here in the forums but can't remember the link if you type it in the list will show your girls are a beauty !

 

[acates]

I feed my girls meal worms and hang heads of lettuce and cabbage on a string for them and they love it I found a list of things that are good for chickens and what's bad for them on here in the forums but can't remember the link if you type it in the list will show your girls are a beauty !

Thank you! I have actually planted some leaf lettuce and herbs around their coop in cinder blocks. The blocks help deter preditors from digging and serves as plant containers. I put a hardware skirt around it but thought you can never be too careful. I know some veggies actract pests so I planted some basil, mint, and lavender to deter them. also you can pick it and put it in their nest boxes. Helps with flies and mice and other pests! Plus it smells nice!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Berries

Greens

Eggs and Eggshells

Fruits

Garlic

Herbs: Basil, thyme, comfrey, parsley, bay leaves, lavender, calendula, spearmint, lemongrass, catnip, sage, oregano, yarrow, chickweed, marjoram, cilantro, peppermint, clover, dandelions, dill, bee balm, echinacea, fennel, mint, feverfew, garlic, ginger, lemon balm, marigold, nasturtium, nettles, pineapple sage, rosemary, wormwood and cinnamon.

Dairy

Meat Scraps- Do not feed them spoiled meat, as it’s poisonous.

Other Vegetables

Pumpkins and Squash-

Spaghetti, Pasta, Bread and Rice

Bread

Garden or Yard Weeds: Avoid feeding them yew, mushrooms or fungi.

Foods to Never Feed Your Chickens

Alcohol

Moldy Foods

Anything Salty

Asparagus-This will change the flavor of a hen’s egg to a bad taste but it otherwise is not harmful.

Avocado-Avocado has a fatty acid in it called “persin” which sadly can be fatal to chickens and sometimes other birds.

Fish and Anything that is Strong Tasting and/or Smells-These foods aren’t bad for you chickens but will effect the smell and taste of a hen’s egg. They may also cause the bird to get diarrhea if fed often.

Green Areas of Potatoes, Peels and Potato Sprouts-All are poisonous.

Herbs and Plants to Stay Away from-Azalea, philodendron, rhododendron, sweet pea, black nightshade, foxglove, oleander, castor bean, vetch, henbane, irises, lantana, St. john's wort, trumpets vine, morning glory, datura, clematis and honeysuckle. If any of the herbs you are wondering about are not listed in this book, look them up before giving to your flock.

Leaves from Tomato, Pepper, Potato, Eggplant or Nightshade Plants

Onions-Onions contain a substance called “thiosulphate” which will kill red blood cells, cause anemia and sometimes even result in death.

Potatoes-Surprisingly, potatoes contain solanine which causes diarrhea, heart failure and kills red blood cells. However, sweet potatoes do not contain this substance and are perfectly fine and dandy to feed to your flock. Sweet potato fries are also fine as long as they aren’t salted.

Processed Foods and Sweets

Raw, Dry Beans

Raw Peanuts and Other Nuts

Rhubarb leaves-Rhubarb leaves surprisingly contain oxalic acid which is poisonous to chickens.

Tobacco

 

[sophiesmith1010]

Mine eat everything!

 

[Fancypants1]

Is finch food ok to feed 3 week old chicks? It's sunflower seeds, canary grass seeds and Nyjer seeds. If it is ok should I offer them chick grit? They have never had it before since they have only had their starter crumble and have not needed grit.