What counts as "treats"?

[DanielleOrbach]

I've heard of the 10% rule on treats, and read a rather entertaining thread about volume vs. weight. I was just wondering what actually counts as treats? Is it all kitchen scraps and whatever they get if they free range, or something else?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Treats are anything in addition to chicken feed. Other than kitchen scraps, it includes scratch grains and anything chickens go for that aren't a complete feed.
That is often fruit, vegetables, grains, etc. But other things like eggs, meat, fish and insects may be excluded from the 10% rule unless overfed.

 

[igorsMistress]

I count treats as anything I provide outside of feed...mealworms, scratch, fruits, veggies.

In all honesttly, pastured chickens have been shown to be some of the healthiest...what do they eat? Anything they find and you can't realistically calculate how much they forage. It'll change seasonally based on availability.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I count treats as anything I provide outside of feed...mealworms, scratch, fruits, veggies.

In all honesttly, pastured chickens have been shown to be some of the healthiest...what do they eat? Anything they find and you can't realistically calculate how much they forage. It'll change seasonally based on availability.

Can I add that the quality of forage in a suburban small yard is very different than the quality of forage in the country?

It also varies greatly by region. For example there are exactly zero lizards where I live.

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Ask your chickens they know what treats are! My chicks know if I come out with a bag it's usually treats. We give ours the heel of the bread. Its a once a week thing. Other than that scratch is their treat. About a handful once a day or two. I might give them something special if it's really hot or cold out (frozen pumpkin or watermelon for hot days and warm scrambled eggs for cold). Really anything thats not a basic part of their normal diet is a treat.

 

[igorsMistress]

Can I add that the quality of forage in a suburban small yard is very different than the quality of forage in the country?

It also varies greatly by region. For example there are exactly zero lizards where I live.

Very true! I have lots of lizards but not many greens here. I concentrate on providing greens to my flock, veg next and fruit last. Bugs are a daily thing along with corn free scratch.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I consider everything as a treat unless offered specifically to boost something that's lacking in their normal feed; I live in Panama, and their standards for animal feed are inferior to most published norms. It's a delicate balancing act to boost some things, without compromising the overall protein. I'm forced by lack of availability at my feed store (and my budget) to feed rice and split peas to bolster their methionine & lysine levels and ground up dry cat food to bolster the overall protein level as the standard feed at the store is sorely lacking. There's two main suppliers of feed, that provides for the four feed stores; it's pretty much a monopoly. They won't do custom orders, and certainly not for someone that only needs 2-40kg bags a year.
That said, my definition for treats would be things like watermelon, cucumber, iceberg lettuce, popcorn, scratch, corn, oatmeal, raisins and probably a lot of things that I just don't remember right now Treats aren't bad, but if you can watch what you treat, and when you treat it can make a world of difference in your flock and their health. Fruit can be a very beneficial treat, not so much for nutrition, but for hot days when they really don't want to eat, drink, or move much... I've yet to meet a chicken (or quail) that didn't love, and wouldn't run to get some watermelon. It's an excellent source of WATER and electrolytes.