They love our garden so much! There is a tall fence between our chicken run and garden, and the chickens stand at the fence and beg me for their favorite vegetables. It’s hilarious! I’ll toss over some cucumbers, zucchini, a few tomatoes or other rainbow-colored snacks. They go wild and it’s fun knowing they love these treats so much all while being good for them.
Chickens can eat a variety of vegetables as part of their diet, providing them with essential nutrients. Vegetables not only add nutritional value but also stimulate their natural foraging instincts, as chickens are attracted to the colors and textures. I give them high-quality chicken feed as their main food source to make sure they get all the nutrients they need, but I also like to give them vegetables as healthy treats and snacks.
Vegetables can also reduce feed costs, especially if chickens are allowed to free range or if you supplement with garden produce. However, it’s crucial to maintain a balanced diet for optimal health and egg production. Here are some safe and nutritious vegetables that you can offer your flock.
What to Feed Chickens Without Chicken Feed 10 Smart Alternatives
Chicken feed provides chickens with the balanced nutrition they need. However, in a pinch, there are alternatives you can use to feed your flock. With some creativity and planning, you can keep your chickens happy and healthy without relying solely on store-bought feed.
Here are 10 smart alternatives to feed chickens when chicken feed is not available:
- Kitchen Scraps
Fruit and vegetable scraps are a great snack for chicken. Some good choices are kale, tomatoes, zucchini, apples, berries, melon rinds, citrus peels, and more. Avocado skins and pits, onions, and spoiled food should be avoided. Chop larger pieces to prevent choking. Kitchen scraps provide vitamins and minerals.
- Cooked Grains and Pasta
- Sprouted Seeds and Grains
- Fresh Produce and Greens
- Bread and Pasta
- Dairy Products
- Cooked Beans
- Mealworms and Insects
- Fruits and Vegetables from the Garden
- Commercial Flock Raiser or Scratch Feed
Even though chicken feed gives laying hens a balanced diet, there are many other things you can use instead if you need to. Include a range of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains, bugs, and supplements. Avoid spoiled foods and undercooked beans. With some imagination, you don’t have to buy commercial feed to keep your chickens fed and happy.
Vegetables Chickens Can Eat
1. Leafy Greens like lettuce, spinach, kale and Swiss chard are great options for chickens. These vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that support overall health.
2. Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable that chickens can enjoy. It is high in antioxidants and vitamins, making it a healthy treat for your feathered friends. My chickens don’t actually care for broccoli that much, but it is good for them! I guess they’re a lot like humans! Haha!.
3. Carrots are a good source of beta carotene and fiber, and chickens enjoy pecking at them. You can feed carrots to your chickens either raw or cooked.
4. Peas are a good source of protein and fiber for chickens. You can feed them fresh or frozen peas as a tasty treat. Peas in a Flock Fixer frozen treat are really fun.
5. Bell Peppers are rich in vitamin C and can be a colorful addition to your chickens’ diet. They can peck at slices of bell peppers for a crunchy snack.
6. Pumpkin are a seasonal favorite for chickens. They can eat the flesh and seeds of pumpkins, which are good sources of nutrients. Pumpkin seeds are also really good for their gut.
7. Cucumbers are hydrating and low in carbs, making them a refreshing treat especially in the summer. My chickens go absolutely wild for cucumbers!.
8. Zucchini is another vegetable that chickens can enjoy. You can feed them raw or cooked zucchini as part of their diet. I love throwing a large overgrown zucchini in the run. It’s fun for the chickens to peck at it, keeping them from boredom.
What Kitchen Scraps Your Chickens Can And CANT Eat! Some Are Toxic For Chickens!
FAQ
What can I feed chickens when I’m out of feed?
Vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, green beans and lettuce are also great for their diet. Chickens love grains, so treats like corn or oatmeal can be given as a special snack. But they shouldn’t eat foods like chocolate, avocado, and junk food that are high in sugar, salt, or fat.
What is an alternative to chicken feed?
Comfrey, sorghum, amaranth, oats, cowpeas, acorns, fruits, wheat, buckwheat, millet, & sunflowers all come to mind as quality chicken food that have other useful functions too. Whether or not you have the space or climate is another thing.
What to feed chickens if there is no chicken food?
Because chickens are omnivores, they will eat a wide variety of foods. Lawn clippings/Grass. Snakes, frogs and lizards. Eggs (hopefully not their own)Bugs. Kitchen scraps (greens, sprouts, etc. )Hay. Animals (mice, snakes, frogs, lizards)Crops (leftover broccoli leaves and stems, squash, and other garden scraps).
What do the Amish feed their chickens?
Amish chickens are often fed a diet of locally sourced, natural foods, including grains like corn and soybeans, along with vegetable scraps, edible wild plants, and even some insects. They prioritize a varied diet to ensure the chickens get a range of nutrients.