Tell me about chicken treats

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   So I've been giving the girls a daily treat of stuff from the kitchen. Leftovers mostly, like celery ends, the heart of some romaine lettuce, apple pieces that William spits out , yada yada. First, how much can I give them every day? They aren't outside much at all yet because of the weather so I know they enjoy the greens I give them as a supplement instead of foraging in the yard. Also, what are the rules of foods they can/cannot have? Are there any hard and fast DO NOT FEED foods I should know about that could harm them? I know they won't eat peels of stuff yet (or ever), and I also know they love cauliflower but don't know if htey should have it. Thanks!!

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stegmanjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invaluable Member Rating(39) P'insane Perennial Pinner 4 years 39 days Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Location: In the Rain Points: 15892	Post Options Post Reply Quote stegmanjessica Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Tell me about chicken treats Posted: 24 Apr 2012 at 8:22pm
	So I've been giving the girls a daily treat of stuff from the kitchen. Leftovers mostly, like celery ends, the heart of some romaine lettuce, apple pieces that William spits out , yada yada. First, how much can I give them every day? They aren't outside much at all yet because of the weather so I know they enjoy the greens I give them as a supplement instead of foraging in the yard. Also, what are the rules of foods they can/cannot have? Are there any hard and fast DO NOT FEED foods I should know about that could harm them? I know they won't eat peels of stuff yet (or ever), and I also know they love cauliflower but don't know if htey should have it. Thanks!!
	Mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2) Please visit my shop, Whirly Girl, for all your hand knit items!

jessmomto2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'integral Member Rating(1) Perennial Pinner 5 years 132 days Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Keuka Lake Points: 11417	Post Options Post Reply Quote jessmomto2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2012 at 9:19am
	Don't overload them with treats. Their feed is the most important thing right now. Do NOT feed: -citrus fruits and peels -bones -large amounts of meat or meat gone bad -garlic or onion -avocado skins or pits -raw potato skins -any potato with any green on it (the whole potato will then be toxic) -long cut grass (cut it shorter) -chocolate I'll post the ok list for you later but i've gotta run right now.
	Jess Wife to my Rick (5/04), homeschooling mama to Kara (11) and Aidan (7), and our preemie Anna 12/31/12. Raising our kids to know and love the Lord.

stegmanjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invaluable Member Rating(39) P'insane Perennial Pinner 4 years 39 days Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Location: In the Rain Points: 15892	Post Options Post Reply Quote stegmanjessica Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2012 at 7:12pm
	Oh that's simple...honestly I don't think I'd give them that stuff anyway. Chocolate? Who does that?! They're chickens! I keep all the chocolate to myself As far as frequency of treats, I would say that daily they are getting (remember I have 11 of them): Maybe 8 worms from the garden Some leftover greens from the kitchen like a celery heart, I've even given them a whole cauliflower to much on, which took them 24 hours to eat it all. Mostly I'm asking because they're going to be cooped up for quite a while without regular access to outside, and I don't want them bored and hen-pecking. I think next time I'll hang the cauliflower from the ceiling so they have something to play with, not just eat. I also put a stuffed dog in there and they think he's evil
	Mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2) Please visit my shop, Whirly Girl, for all your hand knit items!

jessmomto2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'integral Member Rating(1) Perennial Pinner 5 years 132 days Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Keuka Lake Points: 11417	Post Options Post Reply Quote jessmomto2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Apr 2012 at 8:57pm
	I'd cut back a bit on the treats. A whole cauliflower i'd say should last them 4 days. I don't give my chicks that much treats. The feed is designed to provide all their nutrition so if they're getting too many treats they can become deficient on other things. When i give mine treats in the brooder it's like 2 cucumbers, zucchini, yellow squash, etc. quartered lengthwise. When i give cherry tomatoes i give them about 1 cup of them quartered.
	Jess Wife to my Rick (5/04), homeschooling mama to Kara (11) and Aidan (7), and our preemie Anna 12/31/12. Raising our kids to know and love the Lord.

jessmomto2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'integral Member Rating(1) Perennial Pinner 5 years 132 days Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Keuka Lake Points: 11417	Post Options Post Reply Quote jessmomto2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Apr 2012 at 1:09pm
	Here's the list of OK foods i found last year. I keep it posted on my fridge. Apples & Applesauce (unsweetened) Asparagus, raw or cooked, though they usually don't like it Bananas, no peel Beans, cooked, never dry Beets and Beet Greens Green Beans Berries Breads Broccoli and Cauliflower, works well in a suet cage Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts, can hang it Carrots & Carrot Tops, raw or cooked Cereal, unsweetened, like Cheerios Cheese including cottage, in moderation Corn, on cob, canned, raw, or cooked Crickets Cucumbers Eggs, hard boiled or scrambled Eggplant Cooked Fish or Seafood Flowers, marigolds, pansies, etc. Fruit-pears, peaches, cherries (pitted), apples Grains-bulgar, flax, niger, wheatberries, etc. Grapes, seedless only, cut in half Grits, cooked Lettuce, Kale, Spinach, Chickweed Mealworms Oatmeal, cooked in nutritionally better Pasta/Macaroni, cooked, but not very nutritious Peas Bell Peppers Pomegranates Popcorn, air popped Potatoes/Yams, cooked, but not very nutritious Pumpkins/Winter Squash, raw or cooked, seeds are also good Raisins Rice, cooked only Scratch Grain Sprouts, especially wheat or oat Summer Squash, yellow or green Sunflower Seeds, shelled or with their shell Tomatoes, raw or cooked Watermelon, refrigerate in hot weather Yogurt, plain or flavored I would like to note that too much flaxseed is not good for them so althought it's good in small amounts, do not overdue it. And if feeding whoel grains they need a couple weeks to get used to it otherwise their muscles aren't strong enough to grind it and you can end up with other problems (don't forget the grit, too).
	Jess Wife to my Rick (5/04), homeschooling mama to Kara (11) and Aidan (7), and our preemie Anna 12/31/12. Raising our kids to know and love the Lord.

stegmanjessica Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'invaluable Member Rating(39) P'insane Perennial Pinner 4 years 39 days Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Location: In the Rain Points: 15892	Post Options Post Reply Quote stegmanjessica Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Apr 2012 at 11:20pm
	Wow thanks, that's very helpful! I also found this page for future reference, I might print both and keep on refrigerator. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-treat-chart-the-best-treats-for-backyard-chickens
	Mama to John (6), Jeanine (4), and William (2) Please visit my shop, Whirly Girl, for all your hand knit items!

jessmomto2 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List P'integral Member Rating(1) Perennial Pinner 5 years 132 days Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Keuka Lake Points: 11417	Post Options Post Reply Quote jessmomto2 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Apr 2012 at 9:03am
	I'll have to look at your link too when i get some time. I found a list of duck treats from there and saved it on my computer.
	Jess Wife to my Rick (5/04), homeschooling mama to Kara (11) and Aidan (7), and our preemie Anna 12/31/12. Raising our kids to know and love the Lord.