Chickens thrive on high-quality commercial feed. But they also like treats from time-to-time. Take melon rinds out to the hens, and they’ll run over and peck at them like they’re candy.
Joe Hess is a retired extension poultry specialist at Auburn University. He says offering garden scraps is a good way to cut down on waste and give the chickens some variety in their diet.
“I would stick mostly with vegetable matter out of the garden, but also table scraps as well. It’s more of a problem if you feed them leftover meat scraps and things like that,” says Hess. “But most of the garden scraps and plant material is safe to feed.”
Never feed chickens spoiled or moldy food. The scraps can be raw or cooked, but the chickens probably prefer raw. Your birds will happily gobble up all kinds of fruits and vegetables, including berries, apples, and greens, as well as bread and rice. Hess says you do have to be mindful of feeding strong-tasting foods. For example, if the birds eat too much garlic or onions, their eggs could pick up those flavors.
All garden scraps should be given in moderation as a treat. Hess says this is important in order to keep the chickens’ diet in balance.
“There is an issue with that, and being a poultry nutritionist that’s one of the first things I think about. We spend a lot of time formulating feeds so they’re perfectly balanced with the right amount of protein, the right amount of minerals, vitamins, and those sorts of things,” he says. “It is possible to feed too much of the scraps so that they don’t eat enough of the commercial feed that is well-balanced.”
If you allow the birds to roam around, spread the scraps in a weedy spot in the garden and they’ll scratch up the weeds for you.
