Content
- what chickens eat
- amount of chicken food
- Chicken feeding: frequently asked questions
- Is bread good for chickens?
- Can chickens eat nettles?
- Can chickens eat animals?
- Can chickens eat onions?
- what chicken can't eat
Do you want to know what chickens eat? In this PeritoAnimal article, we're going to talk in detail about feeding chickens, but it's important to point out that we're going to focus on chickens as pets, not chickens raised to produce meat and eggs. And this is the main problem when looking for food for them, since it is possible to verify that the commercial feed is directed to specific populations of laying hens or animals destined for slaughter.
To resolve any doubts in this regard, we will explain below which foods are recommended and which are dangerous. Read and find out what chickens eat in this comprehensive guide to chicken feed.
what chickens eat
Before detailing what chickens eat, it is important to know the particularities of their digestive system. As they have no teeth, these birds have an organ we call the gizzard. In this organ, small stones and gravel are kept, to help grind the food that the hen eats practically whole. At this point it is important to consider where the chickens live because if they have access to an outside space, they themselves will consume sand enough for your gizzard to work. On the other hand, if they don't have this possibility or are still too small to leave, you should provide this mineral component. You can buy it at specialty stores, and just sprinkle it under the food.
The veterinary feed industry has made it easier for humans to feed chickens. Today, you just need to buy a proper preparation for chickens, which, moreover, is specific to each time of your life. This way, if you ask yourself what laying hens eat, you can find a specific food for them for sale. The same applies if you are interested in knowing what organic chickens eat. With the adjective organic, we mean birds fed with organic products, whenever possible, without transgenics or drugs that increase their growth or fattening.
Anyway, these terms of laying hens or organic refer to production chickens, which is not the case with pet chickens. All chickens, when they reach maturity and for a few years, lay eggs, one a day depending on the light and their living conditions. So they will all be laying hens, but since you don't want to stimulate this production at home, the food doesn't need to favor this laying of eggs, and of course, we shouldn't artificially increase the light hours so that the amount of eggs is greater.
Therefore, you must tend to respect the natural conditions of the chickens. They need a space where they can have contact with the outside, access to the ground where they will roll, places to climb and protected areas to rest or lay eggs. To complete the chicken's welfare, in terms of food, let's see what chickens eat when they are free, in case you want to offer more than commercial food. The recommendation at this point is to think about which foods are healthy for humans. Cereals, Fruits, Vegetables, but also meat or fish, can be part of our chickens' diet. Even if they have access to the outside, herbs, fruits, seeds, etc. that they can consume are only supplements to the foods that the tutor must provide.
If you've just adopted a chicken, check out our list of cute and original chicken names.
amount of chicken food
Once you have chosen what your hen will eat, you need to know that she will be eating and pecking throughout the day, as long as there is sunlight. Therefore, the chicken must always have food at your disposal which, depending on the space and type of food, can be placed in a bird feeder, offered to her directly or on the floor dispenser.
Likewise, chickens must have clean and fresh water at your disposal. It is important to place it in a drinking fountain, also designed for birds. This way you will prevent the water from tipping over or the chickens defecating in the water. This is especially important if chickens are left alone for many hours.
Chicken feeding: frequently asked questions
You may have already noticed that the question about what chickens eat has several answers, as there are many foods that a tutor can provide for them. Below, we'll focus on a few that often raise questions about chicken feeding:
Is bread good for chickens?
Yes, chickens can eat bread, as the main component of this food is cereal, which can also be offered to the chicken directly, in grain or ground. The only precaution you should take is to moisten it a little with water if it's hard, so the chickens can chop it up.
Can chickens eat nettles?
Yes, chickens can eat nettles. If they have an outdoor space where these herbs grow, they will likely include them in their diet, although some prefer other plants and will only eat nettles if they can't find anything better.
Can chickens eat animals?
Yes, and not just insects, if your hen has access to the outside, it won't be strange to find her pecking at lizards, snakes and even small rodents. They are supplements to your diet.
Can chickens eat onions?
Onion is one of the few contraindicated foods for chickens. A small amount will not be harmful, but it is necessary to prevent them from consuming onions daily or in large quantities. In the next section, we'll indicate which other foods are not recommended for them.
what chicken can't eat
Almost any fresh food can be included in the chicken feed, but there are some exceptions that we'll detail below. It is not recommended that chickens have access to these products because their components include substances harmful to them. Occasional consumption may have no consequences, but it is necessary to prevent these foods from being part of the usual diet or that chickens consume them in large quantities:
- Onion, as already mentioned;
- Avocado;
- Citrus;
- The tomato plant, but they can eat the fruit;
- Rhubarb leaves;
- Dried beans;
- Potato peel, but this peeled tuber can be included in your diet;
Now you know what chicken feeds are like, which foods are the most beneficial and what chickens cannot eat. Do not hesitate to share your experience, questions and comments with us. Also find out at PeritoAnimal why chickens don't fly and how long a chicken lives.