Wild bird food for hens

[Iheartbirds]

To both Handload and girlsat1435,

First off and foremost its a fun place to be thats all there is to it.

They make a block with maple with all the sunflower and birdseed mix and the block foods they are a treat but they will not do at all for a healthy well balanced meal for new chix growing or juveniles growing or egg layer feed. You need to remember as babies they have baby stomachs and need to be fed like babies. Chopped and almost prepared foods. Remember that babies have food processed foods like carrot, pea's, and other veggies whipped or pureed up well that what Im saying baby food to start them right. Then to get medicated chicken feed for young chickens you will feed them until week 25 and then you will switch to another feed. During this time you will have the opportunity to feed them any on this list. So best of luck and welcome to the BYC.

Food Treat Chart From the BYC
Treat

Type

General Opinions
Apples

Raw and applesauce

Apple seeds contain cyanide, but not in sufficient quantities to kill.

Asparagus

Raw or cooked

Okay to feed, but not a favorite.
Bananas

Without the peel

High in potassium, a good treat.
Beans

Well-cooked only, never dry

Also, green beans.
Beets

Greens also.

.
Berries

All kinds

A treat, especially strawberries.
Breads

All kinds - good use for stale bread or rolls

Feed starches in moderation.
Broccoli & Cauliflower

.

Tuck into a suet cage and they will pick at it all day.
Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts

Whole head -

Hang a whole cabbage from their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to play with and greens to eat.
Carrots

Raw and cooked

They like carrot foliage too.
Cat food * (see bottom of page)

Wet and dry

Feed in strict moderation, perhaps only during molting * (see bottom of page)
Cereal

Cheerios, etc.

Avoid highly sugared cereal such as Cocopuffs, etc.
Cheese

Including cottage cheese

Feed in moderation, fatty but a good source of protein and calcium
Cooked Chicken

.

They may like it and it won’t kill them, but it just seems so wrong.
Corn

On cob and canned, raw and cooked

.
Crickets (alive)

Can be bought at bait or pet-supply stores.

Great treat – provides protein and it’s fun to watch the chickens catch them.
Cucumbers




Let mature for yummy seeds and flesh.
Eggs

Hard cooked and scrambled are a good source of protein, and a favorite treat.

Feed cooked eggs only because you don’t want your chickens to start eating their own raw eggs.
Eggplant

.

.
Fish / Seafood

Cooked only.


Flowers

Make sure they haven't been treated with pesticides, such as florist flowers might be.

Marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies, etc.
Fruit

Pears, peaches, cherries, apples


Grains

Bulgur, flax, Niger, wheat berries, etc.

.
Grapes

Seedless only.
For chicks, cutting them in half makes it easier for them to swallow.

Great fun - the cause of many entertaining "chicken keep-a-way" games.
Grits

Cooked


"Leftovers"

Only feed your chickens that which is still considered edible by humans, don't feed anything spoiled, moldy, oily, salty or unidentifiable.


Lettuce / Kale

Any leafy greens, spinach collards, chickweed included.

A big treat, depending on how much other greenery they have access to.
Mealworms
(see photo after the chart)

Available at pet supply stores or on the internet, although shipping is expensive!

A huge (!) favorite treat, probably the most foolproof treat on the books.
Meat scraps of any kind.

Not too fatty.

In moderation, a good source of protein
Melon

Cantaloupe, etc.

Both seeds and flesh are good chicken treats.
Oatmeal

Raw or cooked

Cooked is nutritionally better.
Pasta / Macaroni

Cooked spaghetti, etc.

A favorite treat, fun to watch them eat it, but not much nutrition.
Peas

Peas and pea tendrils and flowers

.
Peppers (bell)

.

.
Pomegranates

Raw

Seeds are a big treat.
Popcorn

Popped, no butter, no salt.


Potatoes / Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Cooked only - avoid green parts of peels!

Starchy, not much nutrition
Pumpkins / Winter Squash

Raw or cooked

Both seeds and flesh are a nutritious treat.
Raisins

.


Rice

Cooked only

Pilaf mixes are okay too, plain white rice has little nutrition.
Scratch

Scratch is cracked corn with grains (such as wheat, oats and rye) mixed in.

Scratch is a treat for cold weather, not a complete feed. Toss it on the ground and let them scratch for it for something to do.
Sprouts

Wheat and oat sprouts are great!

Good for greens in mid-winter.
Summer Squash

Yellow squash and zucchini

Yellow squash not a huge favorite, but okay to feed.
Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds with the shell still on is fine to feed, as well as with the shell off.

A good treat, helps hens lay eggs and grow healthy feathers.
Tomatoes

Raw and cooked.


Turnips

Cooked.

Not a huge favorite
Watermelon

Served cold, it can keep chickens cool and hydrated during hot summers.

Seeds and flesh are both okay to feed.
Yogurt

Plain or flavored

A big favorite and good for their digestive systems. Plain is better.
The most favorite chicken treat of all – mealworms

Apple seeds are toxic to chickens.