Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is good for both your chickens and your garden. It’s better-known for sending cats into a state of euphoria, but chickens can eat it too. This herb is a natural insecticide and ...
Can Chickens Eat Chives? (Yep + Other Healthy Foods)
Chickens can eat chives, yes. Chives are a nutrient-dense vegetable, so it’s a great way to add some variety and a range of good nutrition to a chicken's diet. With an onion-like flavor, some people ...
Can Chickens Eat Honey? (Surprising Health Benefits!)
Chickens can eat honey, yes. In fact, there is some evidence to suggest that added honey to their water helps relieve heat stress, improves egg quality, and works as an antioxidant. If you have some ...
Can Ducks and Chickens Mate? (Possible Problems!)
It’s an interesting question that often comes up when raising chickens and ducks together. The short answer is, no, ducks and chickens cannot mate. This doesn’t mean they won’t try though, which is ...
Can Chickens Eat Pea Pods? | How to Feed Them
Pea pods are fine for chickens to eat. It’s a good way to reduce wastage and provide a healthy snack for your hens. Just chop them up so it’s easier for your hens to eat, and they’ll munch them up in ...
Can Chickens Eat Baked Beans in Sauce? (Yes!)
Chickens can eat baked beans, yes. Baked beans are not toxic in any way, in fact, most cooked beans are fine. You need to be aware of the salt and sugar content, and never feed chickens raw or ...
Can Chickens Eat Apricots? (Risks & Benefits Explained)
Chickens can eat apricots, yes. It’s recommended you don’t give them the pits or leaves as they contain the plant toxin amygdalin, which converts to cyanide after digestion. It’s a very, very small ...
Can Chickens Eat Fish Bones? (They're Safe and Nutritious)
Chickens can eat fish bones. In fact, fish bones contain some decent nutritional value. Obviously, you need to be careful with large bones or sharp edges due to breaks. But the bones are good for ...
Can Chickens Eat Crab Shells? (A Calcium-Rich Supplement)
Chickens can eat crab shells just fine. If you’re eating fresh crab, it’s a great way to recycle the shells and reduce wastage. They’re high in calcium, which is great for laying hens and helps them ...
Can Chickens Eat Lobster Shells? (A Calcium-Rich Supplement)
It’s fun and resourceful to give chickens any food scraps we don’t eat. Chickens can eat lobster shells, as well as oysters, crab, and shells from other seafood. They’ll definitely enjoy picking off ...
Can Chickens Eat Barley? (Why Grains Are Good for Chicks)
If you have some spare barley, there are few better uses than giving it to your chickens to eat. Barley is packed with good nutrition, gives hens something to scratch and forage for, and compliments ...
Can Chickens Eat Corn Husks? | Don't Waste Your Husks!
Chickens can eat corn husks, the green leaves on the outside of a corn cob. They’re not that high in nutritional value, but it’s perfectly safe for them to eat. So, next time you have a corn cob, feel ...
Can Chickens Eat Pears? (Nutritional Benefits of Fruits)
Chickens love pears! It’s perfectly fine to feed your hens pears. Personally, I remove the core and seeds, and they gobble up the soft flesh and skin in a hurry. The only downside is that softer ...
Can Chickens Eat Nectarines? (+ Other Healthy Treats for Chickens)
Chickens can eat nectaries, and in my experience they absolutely love them. You don’t want them to eat the pit - although it’s very unlikely as the seeds are so big - they’ll gobble up the flesh and ...
Can Chickens Eat Tomatillos? | Precautions With Nightshade Fruits
Chickens can eat ripe tomatillos just fine. A word of warning, however, tomatillos are part of the nightshade family of plants. Unripe fruit and parts of the plant; such as the leaves, husk, and stem ...
What to Use as Chick Grit Substitute | Why Grit Is Important
Looking for a chick grit substitute? Not sure if you need to supplement your chicks or chicken’s diet with grit? Here’s everything you need to know regarding why chicks need grit in their diet, if ...
Do Chickens Cry? (No, but They to Get Sad)
Chickens do not cry. In fact, they are not physically able to cry as they do not have tear ducts. This doesn’t mean that chickens do not get sad or depressed, because they do. They show these emotions ...
Why Do Chickens Puff up Their Feathers? | 4 Reasons Explained
Why do chickens puff up their feathers sometimes? Is it a sign of aggression? Are they happy to see you...maybe they’re cold? There are a number of reasons why chickens puff up their feathers. It ...
How Many Chickens Can You Put in a 4x8 Coop?
Need to know how many chickens you can put in a 4x8 coop? There is some simple math to work out how much space you need per chicken as follows: The minimum space you need per chicken in a coop is 2 ...
How to Use Garlic Juice to Rid Chicken Mites
If you’re looking for a powerful and effective natural remedy for getting rid of chicken mites - a lot of backyard chicken owners swear by using garlic juice for chicken mites. Garlic is quite the ...
How to Get Rid of Chicken Mites on Humans | Treatment & Prevention
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info. No one wants to find mites on their chickens or in their coop. Mites are horrible little pests that can be ...
Do Chickens Eat Ladybugs? + Other Bugs and Insects
Chickens do eat ladybugs or ladybirds as they’re also called, yes. It’s perfectly fine for them, some types of ladybugs are capable of producing a foul-smelling odor as a defense mechanism - but it's ...
Do Chickens Have Periods? (No, Here's Why..)
Do chickens have periods? Are eggs chicken periods? Are you eating a chicken period when you’re eating eggs? Saying that eggs are “chicken periods” is something vegans and organizations like Peta ...
Do Silkie Roosters Crow? (Yes, Video Included)
Silkie roosters do crow, yes. Generally speaking, they are usually able to start crowing from around 3 months old. Not all Silkie roosters will crow, some are louder than others, and their crow is ...
Is Blood in an Egg Bad? | Blood & Meat Spots Explained
Is blood in an egg bad? Does it mean the chicken was ill? Are there any dangers to eating what’s known as “meat spots” in eggs? I think we all remember the first time we cracked open an egg and ...
How Do Chickens Reproduce Without a Rooster? (It's Not What You Think)
Chickens will lay eggs with or without a rooster present in the flock. However, hens can only lay fertilized eggs and reproduce with a rooster present if they successfully mate. Otherwise, their eggs ...
Do Chickens Imprint on Humans? | How Chicks/Owners Imprint
Yes, chickens do imprint on humans - or other objects or animals. Baby chicks are pre-programmed to imprint on the first moving object after hatching, so that should either be their mother hen or ...
Will Mothballs Keep Chickens Away? (Why Mothballs Are Dangerous)
If you’re looking for ways to keep your neighbor’s chickens out of your yard - or even your own chickens out of your flower beds and other areas - mothballs are one of the ways some people do ...
How to Keep Chickens off Your Porch: 5 Effective Methods
Are you looking for ways how to keep chickens off your porch? You’re not alone, I’ve been there, and thankfully I found a way to stop my hens hanging out on my porch area. I love seeing my chickens ...
Can Chickens Eat Chickpeas? (Important Safety Advice)
Yes, chickens can eat chickpeas. Chickpeas are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and some other key nutrients. Plus, chickens seem to go for crazy for them so go ahead and feed some to your ...
Can Chickens Eat Lima Beans? (Potentially Toxic!)
Cooked lima beans are fine for chicken and they’ll happily eat them, yes. Raw lima beans, however, and this applies to most beans, are toxic to chickens and can even be fatal in some cases. Are ...
How Many Toes Does a Rooster Have? 4 Plus a Spur (Usually)
How many toes does a rooster have? I’ve heard people say 3, 4, and 5 before. The answer is four. Roosters have four toes, like almost all chickens (a few breeds have five toes). They also have a ...
Can Chickens Eat Strawberry Leaves? (Surprisingly Nutritious!)
We know chickens love strawberries. But, can chickens eat strawberry leaves? Are strawberry tops also fine for chickens? Backyard chickens are notorious for eating all the parts of plants that we ...
Can Chickens Eat Jackfruit? (Some Caution Needed)
Can chickens eat jackfruit? Are the seeds or the fruit toxic to chickens? Should you be sharing jackfruit with your flock? Jackfruit is one of the more interesting fruits. It’s billed as a “healthy ...
Why Do Chickens Dig Holes? Two Reasons Explained
So, you have backyard chickens and you’re wondering why they’re digging up holes around the yard? First of all, this is perfectly normal behavior. Although, it shouldn’t become a huge problem. It’s ...
Are Chickens Herbivores, Carnivores, or Omnivores?
A question I often see come up in trivia quizzes is, “are chickens herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores?” If you’ve raised chickens, this is an easy one to answer - chickens are omnivores. What ...
Can Chickens Love Their Owners? (Scientific Evidence Says "Yes")
Chickens can and do demonstrate they “love” their owners. I know this for sure as I’ve been around chickens for a number of years. This isn’t purely anecdotal though, there is also scientific evidence ...
Do Chickens Like to Be Pet? (Some Love It! - Video Included)
It depends on the individual chicken, their breed, and how they’ve been socialized. But generally speaking, yes, chickens like to be pet. In fact, some LOVE being petted, stroked, and fussed. Do ...
Can Chickens Eat Peanut Butter? (Messy but Nutritious!)
Chickens can eat peanut butter, yes. It’s a favorite among most birds, provides some good nutrition, and there’s no doubt they love it. It should only be given in moderation though as it’s high in ...
Can Chickens Eat Marshmallows? (Too Squishy and Sugary!)
Chickens can and will eat marshmallows if you offer them this sugary treat. It’s not advisable, however, as they pose a choking hazard and are far too high in sugar content. What Are Marshmallows ...