Chickens, like any other pets, really like their treats. I’ve been asked many times what kind of snacks, if any, to give to the flock. Here are the top ten favorite treats of my chickens:

1. Peaches with the peel still on
2. Kefir, yogurt or cottage cheese at room temperature, mixed with scratch – especially good when you’ve had sick chicks
3. Bugs, bugs, bugs(and worms)
4. Cooked spaghetti – just throw it to them and watch them run!
5. Kale leaves – for chicks you can tie a string around the ends and hang them for both a toy and treat
6. Hanging millet treats, from the exotic bird section of Petsmart – use the same as #5 for baby chicks one week and up
7. Bananas in small amounts
8. Apples – throw them out whole and this will entertain them for hours
9. Pecan shells – living in Georgia there are several pecan farmers who use automatic shelling equipment. The leftover shells still contain a lot of bits and pieces of pecans. Our chickens really love the challenge, and when they are through the shells go to the compost pile.
10. Watermelon – the fruit and the rind. The overall favorite of our chickens, geese and turkeys.

***One treat to never give chickens: raw potatoes, including the peel. They are very toxic to poultry!