What CAN I Feed My Chickens To Keep Them Healthy And 10 Things That Will HURT Them?

[@trdi]

One time we gave a huge whole birthday cake to our chicken (long story why, nobody wanted to touch it). We placed it at the center of the coop. After a minute of circling around it at a safe distance, they finally got to peck it a few times. What followed was mayhem that has never been seen before or after in the chicken universe. They demolished the cake in no time. I still don't understand where that volume of cake could have disappeared.

[@scottm.franklinnc7942]

I grew up on a dairy and took that dairy over from my dad, now my son runs it.. we've have had chickens all my life...( I will turn 70 in Oct.) We feed our hens everything from our tablein the morning but goes with out saying no chicken meat( that's just weird😳) then we open the gate and let them roam the farm....chickens are naturally carnivorous.. think about it, worms,bugs ever see them go after a mouse or snake.. unless you have a wounded hen ( but you shouldn't have her in the main stream if she is) I've never had them go after each other. watch how much corn you feed in the winter corn produces heat and they will blow their feathers .. I have found when left up to them ..they know what they can and can't eat...we had a group that wouldn't touch broccoli and another that you couldn't get them to eat rice...so you'll find a vas difference in personalities as well as appetites.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I appreciate your thoughts Scott. I will watch the corn in the winter for sure. The chickens sure are funny. Mine like both broccoli and rice. They sure are fun to have around.

[@lucindamuniz2100]

Wow I give my girls plain Greek yogurt in their bake potato and they seem to love it and I haven’t seen any issues with them after they eat it

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is good you have not seen any ill effects. I just went by the book on this video.

[@anam9621]

I also gave my girls occasionally string cheese, and they love it

[@friendlymomma]

My flock has had quite a bit of dairy and been fine.

[@TriNguyen-ci8sn]

Gave a thumbs up for the Ron Paul shirt.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome!

[@jenniferberghan5768]

Great videos, Our produce agency’s home made chook food mix has dried broad beans, crushed up in it.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. I am going off of established research from Ag extension offices of several universities like Texas A&M.

[@reneebrown2968]

Only COOKED eggs for the reasons you stated. I've fed young chicks scrambled eggs or boiled eggs

[@ravenreine]

Thanks for this video! Our chickens LOVE blueberries. I actually didn't know about the beans- thank goodness we haven't had any go off yet (We're growing a variety of beans this year). Take care :)

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Glad the video helped. Have a great day.

[@peaceandharvest2817]

I know that my chickens would have died 10 deaths over if all this was true. I feed mine green beans and peas fresh out of the garden. I also feed them walnuts and wash and dry then crush their eggshells and feed them back to them. For a special treat in the winter to warm them up before bed on very cold nights I scramble up a dozen eggs add some pumpkin puree and cayenne pepper and give it to them. I have had my chickens for 7 years and they are healthier then myself. NO YOU CANNOT feed your chicken dried beans or uncooked rice.

[@monicac1904]

I'm new to chickens, I got my chickems as chicks back in March, 5 hens ams 1 rooster. I've given my chickens cut up green beans from my garden and they thankfully are all still living. Crazy

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Good to hear

[@thomasgronek6469]

The calcium in spinach (and most other leafy greens) is in the form of calcium oxalate, (Not bioavailable to humans), are the chickens capable of using the calcium from spinach ? Can chickens eat juniper berries ? Many thanks for the video.

[@davidcrane275]

I feed my chickens cheese a lot. Never a problem. It is a treat. Sometimes even a bit of bacon grease, it's like butter for their food. They love cheese and bacon. They are doing fine. Google agrees with me....but I still like your videos and will continue to watch and enjoy them.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad you never had a problem and we appreciate you watching. Careful of Google.....they like to manipulate info.

[@dennislintz1]

I can't find the list of weeds not to feed chickens. Thanks for the informative video. any up dates to this list since you posted this one? Thanks

[@terryhouben2463]

now we build a great big chicken coop and run for him and needed to know all what you just said and we really appreciate your help thank

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! You’re welcome!

[@debbiegagne3265]

thank you for your videos! I am getting my chicks next week and can't wait! Your videos are full of much needed info, I am new to raising chickens and really appreciate your expertise and knowledge! thank you!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad to help! Have fun with your new chicks.

[@PaulLadendorf]

Thanks for the vid. Would love to know your sources. Lots of people feed them dairy and meat.

[@SoilMatesofGeorgia]

Great video. We’re about a month away from getting our first chickens, so this was very timely! - Alex

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome. You are going to love having them. They are a blast.

[@danrasich1570]

I have beans this year and I guess they have not touched them. Had no idea thanks! They free range and I just learned burdock because they eat a tonight they love it! And bow I see it’s burrs? Shoot! They eat it like crazy tho! Thanks for all the videos much love!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. Glad the vids are helpful.

[@ruby7741]

Thank you! I've been sticking to only the vegs and fruits I know for sure are good and healthy for our Chickens but I was wondering about Beans and Egg Plant. GOOD to know they are toxic and same with the peel on the potato that is green. You have helped me out a lot in this area. :) A Midwestern MI mom. :)

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad we could help.

[@gwenroney3972]

Old school chicken keepers always fed chickens egg shells for I think calcium producing durable shells of newly laid eggs. I'm confused.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

A lot of people do that. I just didn't want to take the chance because it can spurn them to peck their eggs.

[@jeepgirl7254]

I feed mine the shells and toss them back a couple of eggs every once in a while. They absolutely love it! I've never had any to try and steal any to eat.

[@gloryrow100]

Thanks so much for the good work you do!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you so much

[@elsadakota1021]

I had a 12 ft’ of Scarlett’s runner beans, They loved them for all 4 years I had them. I’d open them up and the girls loved them. Had double yolks every day.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Lucky

[@timesthree5757]

Meat is fine. They won’t start pecking at each other unless a dominance issue. Mine get meat scrap. The already T-Rex the snakes on my property.

[@becomingtexian-ahomesteadj6316]

Thanks for the info. I don't have chickens yet, but it'll be my first animal (besides dogs) and as quickly as possible! Funny that there are those similarities between chickens and dogs... no stone fruit and chocolate. Who would have thunk it!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. When are you going to get your chickens?

[@becomingtexian-ahomesteadj6316]

@@CountryLivingExperience Not until I buy property. Hopefully I'll have made a purchase before the end of the calendar year, but of course that depends on things working out! I have a real estate agent now who's going to be helping me.

[@xaviergonzales4146]

My Chickens love Bell pepper and Anaheim Chile leaves, I haven’t had a problem yet

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad you have not had an issue

[@terryhouben2463]

Thanks a lot new to chicken now we have twelve and

[@yaretzicontreras99]

Very informative, thank you!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad it was helpful!

[@darkshaman7087]

Quite some time ago I had one lot of my chickens not laying and tried everything and this small flock was having the same feed as my other flocks and I was about to knock them on their heads but I then give them some pasta and a few days later they started to lay but I thought it might be just a one off so I stopped feeding them with pasta an no eggs again, so then I feed them started feeding them the pasta and eggs again, so now I feed them pasta often and now eggs all the time. So if anyone is having trouble with their egg layers try pasta as it does the trick.

[@omotoshooyindamola]

Pls can pasta be given to Turkey? Cooked or uncooked?

[@callonthenameofjesus1459]

We had an abundance of Tabasco plants and I know how chickens love the leaves from plants so I pulled up a whole plant before a freeze killed them. The next day I found my hen dying by the plants on the ground. Some had been eaten. The hen died but it could have been from impacted crop or anything. I just don’t know. They have oyster shells and grits provided always in their own containers.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Sorry to hear about the hen.

[@Bluegrassdeb]

Thanks for the video!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You’re welcome

[@danruinsfood4002]

I like your easy cutout door for their coop

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you

[@lnelesen]

My chooks do eat peanuts on occasion and I have not seen them get sick.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Just be careful. I am going by the scientific data.

[@chasmarischen4459]

I Puree dry Pinto beans after they have soaked for 3+ days. Sometimes it's mixed with dried peas, rice, or pasta which has also soaked, but not pureed; adding any one of them makes it a complete protein). Started that after the store bought feed 'thing'; which was about 5 to 6 weeks ago(?). The chickens DEVOUR it. The egg production went from 40 to 50% laying each day to 80 to 90% laying each day. As far as 'GRAINS', I buy scratch which I add a 'little' extra Sunflower seeds; instead of 'FEED'. All this is 'supplement'; because they FREE-RANGE. Note: I have 12 hens. I soak a quarter cup of Pinto beans in a cleaned 32 oz plastic Yogurt cup, then fill it 3/4 full of water. Again, soaks for 3+ days. The OLDER hens started laying more too. That was a surprise. Good luck.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Sounds like the soaking may get rid of the poisons potentially.

[@brendajohnson9297]

What about dry peas, split peas from the dry beans section?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

All my research says no beans. Certainly no dry beans.

[@jerialexis5647]

Good video. But there are a few wild plants like Skunk Cabbage (we are in Alaska and Pacific NW climate). They will chew them down and they are on the toxic list.. Dig them up!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thanks

[@MissChievousRN]

Love the Ron Paul tshirt!!!

[@springhollerfarm8668]

Good things to know. I had chickens before and if you want to see them go crazy, toss in a tomato or better yet, seeds from a cantaloupe.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Absolutely! They love both of those.

[@opcn18]

Your chickens don't like peppers? Mine adore them. I have a big costco jar of chili flakes and I will even give it to them as a treat out of hand, one of the small number of things that even the most skittish chickens will eat straight from my hand.

[@MC-rq2wg]

I like that shirt! Great video

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Awesome! Thanks

[@Bluegrassdeb]

I also heard Fruits like apples that have seeds need to be removed.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is not true. They eat seeds with no problem.

[@davidcrane275]

I microwave my egg shells, so it chemically alters them, then crush them into bits. Then they get it with the food. Way different than uncooked egg shells.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I understand that. For me, I am not going to risk them eating eggs in the future. I will give them crushed oyster shell and soldier fly larvae.

[@emkay9508]

Thanks y"all. Very very informative.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You’re welcome

[@johnmccracken5465]

Funny thing. Chickens really like baked chicken. They’ll eat anything man.

[@saraglickman5889]

I like your Ron Paul shirt

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you.

[@kezzatries]

I find that as long as they are not super hungry, they will not eat foods they cannot eat of is not safe for them. In the wild they know the difference, perhaps the only thing is man processed foods like chocolate.

[@kimsullivan8770]

Hi Eric, We've been raising chickens for a couple of years. I was curious about your list but didn't see it "below the line." Do you think you can post it? I went to check your website and think I may have seen a video you did about sunflower seed harvesting last year. If my memory is right, your daughter is a fabulous helper!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Hello Kim. I had forgotten to post that list. I will try to get it up shortly. She is a great helper and has gotten even better, especially with watching her little sister. Have a great day.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Don't feed your chickens: avodaco peels or pits, beans, chocolate, green potato skins, or moldy food. Some say citrus, garlic and onions are bad but only in very large quantities. Also, don't feed them leaves from nightshade plants such as tomatos, eggplant, and peppers. You may feed them the tomato and pepper fruits but not the eggplant. Additionally no leaves from rhubarb or any dairy or raw peanuts.

[@patriciaperry7913]

No salt also

[@marioslawnmower7263]

My dad used to soak their food in milk so the milk thing is news to me

[@CountryLivingExperience]

From what I have studied and read, I would not recommend that.

[@grammydayao7581]

My chickens eat my tomato plant leaves, but not to much , they rather have cabbage leaves.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I wouldn't risk it

[@mikemacinnes6120]

What about yogurt? Heard it’s good for them

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I am not sure. I have never run across information on that.

[@ceacillea]

Oh mi, I thought they were not allowed to have the avocado fruit, so I gave them already a few months the peel and they get crazy with it.... I guess that is past now for them

[@gwenroney3972]

I love your shirt!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you!

[@simplekindofman7417]

I give em cooked beans, yogurt and even tomatoes....no b problem whatsoever

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I am going by the established research. Glad you have not had any issues.

[@dollyhewett2553]

THANK YOU....

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You’re welcome

[@Angie-in8wc]

If the vegetable patch has an explosion of leaf destroying bugs, like blister beetles or caterpillars, could chickens be unleashed on the veg patch to control them? Or would they do more damage than the bugs?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

They will usually go after the bugs first before they eat the veggies. Just have to keep an eye on them.

[@friendlymomma]

My chickens have destroyed virtually everything I have planted. I personally wouldn't let them near anything I wanted to keep.

[@JustJoyHowdy]

I just grab my vinegar, water and soap spray. Kills them bugs. No chickens allowed in garden.

[@whoknowswho7494]

Just found your site, and man I'm enjoying you! And lordy lordy I do agree about the eggs...why in the hell would I feed them their babies???? Just seems all kinds of wrong to fed them things that came out of them....I mean really, right?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. It would be just the shell not the whole egg. Regardless, I still don't want them with the taste in their mouths.

[@micahlantz905]

They say no spent coffee grounds either. Nothing with caffeine in it

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Correct

[@marianmcoy7816]

Nice shirt!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you

[@JoeJohnson1]

Do the chickens not avoid these naturally? For instance, if you put all these in a compost pile and let the chickens pick through it, is there still a concern?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

No, not all of them. They will eat a lot of different things that they aren't supposed to. They are not that smart when it comes to that.

[@omotoshooyindamola]

Pls,can fermented beans or cooked beans be given to the chicken?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Cooked beans are not the best. I have never tried fermented beans.

[@deborahmartin9672]

My local butcher told me today that feeding chicken to chickens is what causes serious diseases, do you know if that’s right please ?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

He is correct.

[@growagarden54]

I was hoping you covered appropriate proteins to feed, and those not good to feed for non-free range chickens. Is it ok to feed them cooked chicken, salmon, any fish, steak, cat food, etc? Great video. Thank you.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You're welcome. Glad it was helpful. I have always been taught to never feed meats to chickens. Although they will probably eat it, it is not their natural diet. In terms of meats, I do not know what is good or bad for them.

[@growagarden54]

@@CountryLivingExperience Thank you for your quick response.

[@nobiedupree5916]

My grandfather many years ago fed his chickens fish, only once. Killed all of his chickens 🐔 💀. Meats apparently can make maggots in their kraw. And the maggots will eat the chicken up from the inside. Who knew? So, no meats. I have also heard that watermelon gives chickens what is called the sore head for many years. But not sure about it. Most sites say its fine. But apparently the sugars are to much for the chickens. Cant confirm either way. Mine have been fed watermelon and done 👌. Potato vine i did not know about. Mine eat grasses mostly and feed. If dont want it they kick it to the curb. Now the mealworm mix came with peanuts in it??? Umm..

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@nobiedupree5916 Absolutely. Meat is terrible for them. Like you, I will stick to their traditional diet too.

[@dianeespinoza8647]

meat is absolutely natural , they are omnivores . In the wild they eat mice and snakes and anything else that they can catch. They lived in the jungle and their diet was more diverse I wouldn’t give them chicken because that is mean. Meat even raw meat is ok. The grandfather probably gave them meat that was rotting without knowing , mold and decay especially on cooked foods, starts before it is visually apparent.

[@HomesteadAlabama]

Great info

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Glad it was helpful

[@TraciMoon]

i heard that onions make the eggs taste weird.. and to avoid onions.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is correct.

[@shusshii]

My 4.5 week old pekin bantam chick just ate 4-5 small leaves of tomato leaves. I don't know what to do.Any help?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

How is the chicken?

[@marklambert9976]

No link for toxic weeds

[@dollyhewett2553]

EXCELLENT

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Many thanks!

[@patjaillet]

How do I prevent 10 week old chicks from eating layer pellets and oyster shell, they are all together in the same yard and coop

[@CountryLivingExperience]

The only way to prevent it is to separate them. They should be fine eating it though.

[@facingfacts7830]

I have 5 chickens about 8 wks old and I noticed their facial skin looks red. I don't see mites or lice on them and there's no feather loss or symptoms but it is normal for that to be red?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

some are more red than others. I cannot physically see them so I cannot really say.

[@facingfacts7830]

@@CountryLivingExperience Do you have a fb page or website I can send a photo to? Thanks either way.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@facingfacts7830 We have FB. It is listed on the top of our channel page.

[@coziii.1829]

Bugs are meat I heard they don’t associate crushed eggs or scrambled to their own .

[@seekerstead8331]

What about sprouted pinto beans?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

I would not risk it.

[@seekerstead8331]

Thanks for the reply. I read that pinto and navy are much lower in phytohaemagglutinin then kidney and lima beans. So just curious if that would dilute even more after a sprout.

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Sprouting may reduce the amount of phytohaemagglutinin but there are so many other things to feed them that I still would not risk it.

[@clp6743]

I read you can’t give chickens onion????

[@CountryLivingExperience]

You can give them some but if you give them too much it will effect the taste of the eggs.

[@brendajohnson9297]

I always feed my chickens their eggs. Scrambled eggs are excellent for them. They don't eat them.

[@dulceibarra7688]

I saw a video that said you can feed your chicken potatoes and tomatoes

[@CountryLivingExperience]

That is true. As long as you do not feed them the green part of a potato. They like both potatoes and tomatoes.

[@dulceibarra7688]

okay thank you for the information. I searched this because I’ve had my hen for a year and it has only been eating seeds, her poop is watery but now it’s going away like every day I get up around 7:00 in the morning and I get her lettuce, watermelon and well I’m not trying to use too much detail but I’m saying I give her fruits and vegetables and it is helping sorry if this is long

[@CountryLivingExperience]

@@dulceibarra7688 No problem. Glad we could help.

[@dulceibarra7688]

I am trying to get as much information as possible I am 10 years old, I have a hen and this is a real challenge for me

[@dulceibarra7688]

And how do you reply so fast!??

[@micahlantz905]

They say onion is not good for chicken

[@CountryLivingExperience]

It will make their eggs have an onion taste that is all.

[@sharonmallory4223]

Can they eat banana, apples?

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Yes

[@reneebrown2968]

Of all the nightshades i think the girls like cooked potatoes but not raw. It's too dense.

[@ChicagoCFH]

Ron Paul!!!!

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Absolutely!

[@taketheredpill1452]

Nice shirt! Wake up people, know our shared enemy

[@CountryLivingExperience]

Thank you. Absolutely!

[@redsailor101]

Chickens are omnivores.....

[@deepakrao1887]

I give my chickens lactose free milk

[@CountryLivingExperience]

There is really no reason to give them milk. Feed them their natural diet.