Can chickens eat beef and other meats? I made homemade meatballs.

[Browniethechicken]

My general question is if it’s okay to feed chickens meat and if so what kinds? I have 14 week pullets who love treats. I just made some meatballs for dinner and have extra. Is it okay to feed them beef? What is okay and not okay in terms of meat?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Chickens are omnivores meaning they eat veggies and meat.

As long as the meat is fresh and without a lot of herbs and salt or sugar, it's fine.

As to what kind of meat? Pretty much everything, though I'd be sure of course pork and fish were cooked well.

As to what they'll eat in nature? Anything they can get their little beaks on. They eat lots of bugs, of course, and grass, seeds, berries...and a mouse or two...or rat.

My friend had a cat playing with a mouse in the yard. The cat dropped the mouse that ran panicked into the chicken run. "He chose poorly." In a manner of seconds the chickens had shredded the mouse to nothing, gulping down what they could grab. There wasn't a speck left.

So, yeah. Chickens eat meat. (Watch your back in the yard).

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

A hundred years ago it was even recommended to feed your chickens beef (and/or milk) to keep them laying well!

 

[FBMcrazy8]

I have kept reading a lot about them being able to eat meat. Just not a lot of seasoning. I haven’t fed mine any yet but grasshoppers are their favorite so far. 8i will catch them and take them out there. We are a family of 8 and we don’t normally have left overs.

 

[cassie]

My general question is if it’s okay to feed chickens meat and if so what kinds? I have 14 week pullets who love treats. I just made some meatballs for dinner and have extra. Is it okay to feed them beef? What is okay and not okay in terms of meat?

Keep in mind that chickens are scavengers. They can and do eat anything they can find or catch.

 

[Browniethechicken]

Chickens are omnivores meaning they eat veggies and meat.

As long as the meat is fresh and without a lot of herbs and salt or sugar, it's fine.

As to what kind of meat? Pretty much everything, though I'd be sure of course pork and fish were cooked well.

As to what they'll eat in nature? Anything they can get their little beaks on. They eat lots of bugs, of course, and grass, seeds, berries...and a mouse or two...or rat.

My friend had a cat playing with a mouse in the yard. The cat dropped the mouse that ran panicked into the chicken run. "He chose poorly." In a manner of seconds the chickens had shredded the mouse to nothing, gulping down what they could grab. There wasn't a speck left.

So, yeah. Chickens eat meat. (Watch your back in the yard).

This is good info and funny! Thanks! Been avoiding this question because it seems wrong from my point of view …. Do they also eat chicken? Is it wrong to feed them chicken dinner scraps?

 

[Browniethechicken]

A hundred years ago it was even recommended to feed your chickens beef (and/or milk) to keep them laying well!

Good info!!!

 

[Browniethechicken]

Keep in mind that chickens are scavengers. They can and do eat anything they can find or catch.

Good point! Even chicken meat scraps?

 

[drdoct]

I give my chickens all kinds of meat including chicken. They're nuts for meat. I just make it a treat though. Not like a whole bowl full of meat scraps.... Mine forage for food all day and rarely eat pellets but occasionally do. But boy do they love the meat.

I always get a laugh when I see 'vegetarian' eggs. Like they can control if a chicken wants to eat bugs. Sadly though I guess they can in huge cages with zero unscreened air. Sad chickens is what they have though. My chickens are happy.

 

[Browniethechicken]

I give my chickens all kinds of meat including chicken. They're nuts for meat. I just make it a treat though. Not like a whole bowl full of meat scraps.... Mine forage for food all day and rarely eat pellets but occasionally do. But boy do they love the meat.

I always get a laugh when I see 'vegetarian' eggs. Like they can control if a chicken wants to eat bugs. Sadly though I guess they can in huge cages with zero unscreened air. Sad chickens is what they have though. My chickens are happy.

Yeah the chicken industry must change and I like how in Massachusetts we at least voted for all stores must only sell cage free eggs now so big factory farmers have to change their practices but there’s still much progress to be made.