Which Treats are Okay for Your Flock?

Keeping chickens is a great way to reduce food waste in your home. Many table scraps can be taken out to your coop and given as treats to your flock. As with all animals, there are some foods that are fit for human consumption that may be dangerous to your chickens’ health. Today, we’ll take a look at some of the goods that are great for your flock and which ones you should simply take to the compost bin.

The Good:

• Fruit: bananas, apples, berries, and watermelon are fantastic treats to give to your chickens. The vitamins and nutrients in these fruits supplement your chicken’s feed.
• Cabbage: In addition to being a nutritious snack, many chickens enjoy playing with cabbages. Hang a whole cabbage from the ceiling in their coop and let them peck at it throughout the day.
• Leafy Greens: lettuce, spinach, and kale all have a way of staying on our family’s dinner plates, but chickens love them! Just make sure the greens don’t have an abundance of dressing left on them. Most chickens won’t appreciate your love of ranch dressing.
• Leftover Rolls: Rather than letting your dinner rolls get stale, give them to your chickens!

The Bad:

• Coffee Grounds: While coffee grounds are great for your compost pile and your garden, they’re bad for chickens. The high caffeine content wreaks havoc on their bodies and can lead to heart failure.

• Moldy Food: If you wouldn’t eat it, you probably shouldn’t give it to your chickens. Mold can upset your chicken’s digestive system.

• Avocado Skins and Pits: While the actual flesh of the avocado is safe for chickens, the skins and pits contain a toxin that can kill your flock. If you do feed your chickens avocados, make sure to give it to them in moderation and always double check for any bits of peel and pit in the fruit.

Coop Tender wants your chickens to be a happy and healthy addition to your home. This is why we developed our automatic chicken coop door. Our doors operate on a timer, so you can keep your chickens on a schedule, even when you’re not at home. Order your coop door today!