What people food is ok to feed my chickens??

[treeowl]

I have just began my adventure as a chicken owner so I have alot of questions. I have read so many things on this forum and I am alittle confused. Other then grass, bread, corn and berries and of course scratch, laying crumbles, apples and sunflower seeds I haven't even considered feeding my chickens other foods. My chicks are confined in a pen and I bring them food throughout the day.What other foods are acceptable to feed them? I would like to make sure they have a well balanced diet. I lost my favorite rooster to my dogs and so I fenced in their entire yard six foot under a covered roof and six foot with just wire on the top and then of course they have a large house complete with a wooden floor with plenty room and area to wander around in, hopefully nothing will get in to harm them now. But that restricts their ability to eat anything except what I feed them. Any suggestions out there for me please? I centainly don't want to be the one to feed them something that is bad for them.

 

[DianeB]

Mine love yogurt, greens, fruit (especially melons). Most human food is ok to feed to chickens. Salty and fatty food, chocolate, coffee or anything caffinated and avocados are strick nonos. Also, they should not eat too much meat or cat food. It has way too much protein.

DB

 

[sonew123]

Tonight-my babies ate left over corn, 5 over ripened bananas, an overlyripe apple, veggies scraps, corn chips, left over roni's, and mashed potatoes! They get that on top of endless supply of laying pellets and scratch treats ( just a handfull a day)

 

[fldiver97]

Check out this sticky :

The Treats Chart is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

Mine did not show interest in most treats when they were little (2-3 months). The first thing they went crazy over was leftover whole wheat spahgetti (cooked). Even now they eye many treats for a while before trying them. But they do love watermelon, squash,grapes, strawberries, raisins, corn on the cob, cottage cheese, yoghurt, black sunflower seeds, and especially blueberries. Bananas were not such a hit but I will try thm again. No Avocado, raw potato peel/green potato peel. Fish, onion, garlic in moderation, eggs can have funny taste

 

[DianeB]

Funny, my chickens won't eat any cooked food or junk food (i.e. potato chips) but love yogurt, melons and any fresh food. I really want to get them to eat my leftovers.

DB

 

[sonew123]

I have never had a chicken snub any leftover except left over stewed veggies-they all tried it and flung it off the beaks! But the rest of the food or treats love them! especially mashed taters, cheerios, and cantelope

 

[HBuehler]

If it's healthy for you it's healthy for your chickens.In other words no sugar,white flour,processed foods etc.
Whole grains,fruits,berries,yogurt-the good stuff all natural sugar free...scrambled eggs.
Just be careful with the stronger foods like onions,garlic,salmon mine love the skin though when we get done eating...not nice enough to give them the good stuff.

 

[treeowl]

Quote:
The web site you provided was great. Thanks

 

[BigBen]

How about hotdogs..my wife was about to throw away a bunch of them and I said "wait..let me check with the folks at BYC"

 

[thekla]

Quote:
mine love chopped-up hotdogs - I even buy them when they are on a good sale just for treats (one 12-16 oz pkg chopped small for about 65 chicks) but only a time or two a week, I give them some sort of treat everyday - but vary it depending on what I have left-over or can get on sale, check the sale rack at your grocery store's produce section, today I picked up several large bags of tomatos for $1.50 each plus some cheap melons.