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10 DIY Healthy Homemade Treats For Your Chickens

In the winter, treats serve as a substitute source of nutrients for the plants they love to eat, which are hibernating and buried in snow. It keeps them preoccupied during winter, hydrated and cool in the summer.

Do you like to give your chickens treats? That is a great way to spoil them rotten.

After all they do for us, a little spoiling never hurt anyone. However, a lot of spoiling with unhealthy treats can hurt your birds. That is why it is important to be sure to feed our chickens healthy snack alternatives.

Just like any pet, chickens deserve occasional treats too. They may not be as affectionate as your dog but they certainly help a lot in the backyard. The treats are not just given to make them happy, they serve a purpose too. Treats help in keeping your chooks healthy all year round.

Now, I know what you are thinking. Healthy snacks usually equate to a hefty price tag.

Now there are plenty of chicken treats out there available for purchase, but your chooks can also eat certain types of human food. You can make the treats yourself by using ingredients already found in your kitchen. It’s a great way to make use of excess food (instead of throwing them to the trash) and save money!

If you are new to raising chickens or are looking for new ideas, this list will help. So keep scrolling and learn the different ways you can keep your chooks entertained and healthy with treats!

Watermelon

Chickens cool down on a warm summer day by eating watermelon in a backyard chicken coop, Hobart, Wisconsin, USA

Chickens love fruits, especially watermelon. I think it’s because the fruit is mainly made up of water so it keeps them hydrated and cool during a hot day with the extreme juiciness of it.

I have always noticed that every time I put a watermelon in their chicken yard, my birds go bananas for it. So keep these fruits in mind as chicken treats when planting your garden.

Frozen Muffin Treats

For a quick and easy summer treat, put a little amount of corn kernel in each muffin cup and add water. Keep in the freezer for a couple of hours and that’s it! You can also do this idea using various ingredients.

Pumpkin Seed Treat

This pumpkin treat is very simple. You will cut a pumpkin into chunks. Then you’ll put the chunks into the food processor.

When that is complete and well pureed, then you’ll mix a little of their feed in with it and give the pumpkin seed puree to your birds. Hopefully, they’ll be as pleased with it as your budget will be.

Make this chicken treat.

Apple Garland

This apple garland idea is really cute and one that your chickens are sure to love. The lady who does this just slices and cores the apples.

Then she strings them with popcorn and runs them as a garland. I can only imagine the fun chickens would have to try to get the food from the garland.

Scrambled Eggs

Overhead view of a couple cooking scrambled eggs together.

Scrambled egg pops help cool your chickens down during a hot day. However, if you don’t feel like taking that extra step on a regular day with normal temperatures, then you don’t have to.

Actually, feeding chickens scrambled eggs is one of the best protein sources you can give them during the fall when many chickens are going through a molt. Keep this protein-packed treat in mind when you are considering healthy chicken treats.

Oatmeal Balls

Another idea for the bakers out there! This recipe is proven to be a hit with the owner’s chickens. So the next time you bake oatmeal cookies for the kids, don’t forget to make this version for your chooks afterward.

Hanging Chicken Scratch Feeders

This idea is simple but perfect for the winter. It keeps the food off the snow and it’s an entertaining way for the chickens to eat their treat. 🙂 Here is the article for the hanging chicken scratch feeders if you are interested.

Ginger

Ginger is considered a super-food. It is highly recommended that you feed your chickens ginger because of the benefits that can be passed on to you through their eggs.

If you’d like the benefits of ginger without consuming it yourself, then give it to your chickens. They’ll love it and hopefully, you’ll still reap quite a few of the benefits of ginger through your bird.

Fodder

Now here’s something we highly recommend that you have if you’re raising chickens.

By growing your own fodder system, you don’t have to worry about your livestock’s food at whatever time of the year it may be. It’s easy, low-maintenance and you definitely don’t need large cultivated land to do it. 

You can learn more about it here.

Pasta

I give my chickens small amounts of leftover pasta. If possible make it whole wheat pasta in order to keep things as healthy as possible.

My chickens absolutely love pasta. It is funny to watch them run around the yard with pasta stringing behind them while other hens are in hot pursuit trying to snatch it from them.

Well, there are 10 DIY chicken treats that you can easily make for your flock. Some of them require a little more preparation than others but all come with some pretty amazing benefits for your flock.

If you liked this project, you will also like viewing these dust bath ideas for chickens…

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