What is considered a treat and what should be a regular staple in addition to feed?

[ZCS2014]

Hello all!

So I have been reading and searching to see whether certain things I feed my birds is considered a treat or should be more of a staple. I do know that fruits and some vegetables are high in sugars so feed sparingly.

But I am unsure about things like live minnows, canned/packet tuna (in water), and the occasional live mouse that I catch in the barn that I will toss to them. Also unsalted sunflower kernels, green leaf lettuce, and cucumbers. Some say anything other than their feed is a treat. Other sources say nutrient-rich protein sources are fine for regular staples but the rest feed sparingly. I like to get them minnows and night crawlers from our local bait shop because they are inexpensive and the ducks love to "fish" for the minnows in their pool when I toss a few in.

They are true free range birds, having 11 acres to roam but generally sticking within a 1 acre radius, eating bugs, dandelion leaves and other natural greenery they find.

thanks in advance!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

You need to stop worrying. When they are kept confined to where you are providing everything they eat it is important that they get a balanced diet. Their chicken feed provides that balanced diet, anything else upsets that balance no matter how good it is for them. That's why you see the recommendation that their feed needs to be 90% of their diet. The rest should only be 10% of their diet. While something may provide a lot of protein it could be short of necessary vitamins, fats, or minerals. The balance of the diet is what is important, not one or two nutrients. it doesn't matter if you want to call it a supplement, treat, or staple, 10% is the recommended limit.

But you free range. You have given up the ability to micromanage their diet. You don't have any control over that. They are going to eat whatever they want to eat. You can't stop them. Chickens have thrived for thousands of years eating like that. They can handle balancing what they need to when given that option.

Mine forage in my orchard. In season they get plums, peaches, apples, mulberries, whatever. I don't try to limit it, they limit themselves well enough.

If you want to give them that stuff, go ahead. Just use moderation. 10% of their daily food intake is probably a good limit. That should not hurt them at all.

 

[GC-Raptor]

The way I look at it anything I give besides Poultry feed is a treat.
I give Scratch Grains daily, 1 Tbsp per chicken, double that during winter season.
My chickens that have been laying for at least a month get to Freerange an hour before sunset daily. I don't consider that a treat.
My chickens have feed and water available 24/7 in their coops that are secure when I close the pop door. GC