The winter months can be a time of increased food consumption and strain on a chicken’s daily energy needs. Cold weather and exposure can all increase a chicken’s need for energy in order to stay warm, keep the circulatory system working good, and ensure all other body functions remain healthy too. Paying attention to your homestead flock’s diet during the winter can help them deal with the cold stress and stay healthy despite the winter conditions. Not only is a daily diet of balanced chicken feed essential for their winter health, but nutritious winter treats can also improve and supplement your flock’s winter diet. The following 7 best winter treats for chickens are helpful foods that I use during the winter to keep my flock healthy and warm!
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#1. Sprouts & Fodder
Adding greenery to your flock’s winter diet can be one the best, and healthiest, ways to treat your flock during the winter months. Greens are often low in fat and carbohydrates (dietary elements already supplied by foods in your flock’s diet) but high in essential vitamins, minerals, and other dietary elements.
Greenery can be a beneficial addition to your flock’s diet during the winter when they don’t have access to pasture or free-ranging. When chickens free-range, they naturally munch on grass, weeds, and other greenery as they forage. During the winter, that variety in their diet is often lacking.
Leafy greens can come in the form of lettuce, spinach, kale, bok choy, microgreens, and any other leafy green vegetable that you may grow on the homestead or incorporate into your own diet. For the homestead flock, one of the easiest ways to get them greens during the winter months is by sprouting seeds or growing fodder for them.
Sprouts and fodder are super simple to grow in the homestead kitchen, and they can be a frugal way to supply nutritious greenery for your flock. All you need are some whole grains or seeds, some water, and a system to sprout the seeds or grains!
Benefits of Sprouts & Fodder for Chickens:
- Nutritional Value– Sprouting seeds and grains increases their nutritional value, including vitamins, minerals, healthy omega 3’s, and enzymatic activity within the seed.
- Protein– Grains and seeds that have been sprouted will have a higher protein content. Protein is an essential part of a flock’s winter diet.
- Digestibility– Sprouted grains and seeds are easier for chicken’s to digest. Sprouting allows them to get more nutrients from the food with less strain on the digestive system.
- Feed Supplement– Fodder can become a part of your flock’s daily feed consumption. A chicken can eat 2-3% of their body weight in fodder in addition to their daily feed.
- Frugal– Just a few handfuls of seeds or grains can be sprouted or be grown into fodder that will feed your entire flock!
#2. Quinoa
When it comes to feeding chickens a warm treat during the winter, oats are often the go-to grain of choice. However, oats are not the healthiest grain to feed on a regular basis. While there are some benefits to incorporating oats into your flock’s winter diet, it is a good idea to have other ‘oat substitutes’ in order to keep your flock’s winter diet varied and balanced.
Meet quinoa! Quinoa is a pseudo-cereal grain that is technically not a true grain. Quinoa contains minimal beta-glucans (the main health offender in whole oats for chickens) and is packed with protein. You can easily make up a pot of quinoa just as easily as a pot of oatmeal. A scoop or two of quinoa goes a long way when prepping a bowl of warm grains for your flock!
Quinoa is a great warm treat option instead of oatmeal for chickens. It can easily be incorporated into your flock’s winter diet and is especially helpful for providing warm energy during cold snaps.
Benefits of Quinoa for Chickens:
- Protein Composition– Quinoa is one of the few plant-based sources of protein that contains amounts of every essential amino acid. There is about 12 grams of protein in a 1/2 cup of uncooked quinoa compared to about 6 grams of protein in a 1/2 cup of whole oats.
- Fat & Carbohydrates– Quinoa is low in fat and has a healthy carbohydrate composition so as to provide energy in a chicken’s diet.
- Nutrients– Quinoa is also rich in nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and B vitamins.
- Oatmeal Substitute– Keep your flock’s diet varied by cooking up a bowl of quinoa for them instead of oatmeal. A small amount of quinoa can go a long way, just like with oats!
- Warm Treat– Quinoa is an easy winter treat that can be fed as a warm food for your flock on cold winter days to help them deal with cold stress.
#3. Whole Grain Feed
While it may seem kind of weird to include whole grain feed on a list of best winter treats for chickens, I chose to include it in the list because it is a healthy way to treat your flock without causing dietary imbalances. A whole grain feed can be a special treat for your flock as substitute for daily scratch grains.
Even though a whole grain feed will be more expensive than scratch grains, it will provide a more balanced nutritional element in your flock’s winter diet. Choose a whole grain feed that is different from what you already feed your homestead flock. The various grains and seeds contained in the feed will be fun for your flock to forage for in their enclosure.
Whole grain feed can supply extra energy and protein in your flock’s winter diet while still providing a stimulating and engaging winter time treat.
Benefits of Whole Grain Feed for Chickens:
- Balanced– A whole grain feed will be in balance with your flock’s regular diet. It can help avoid dietary imbalances which can sometimes become an issue when scratch grains are fed too often.
- Digestion– Whole grains take longer to digest compared to processed or crushed grains. The extra time spent digesting the whole grains can generate internal heat for staying warm.
- Energy– Whole grains will supply fat and carbohydrates, both of which are dietary elements that can help a chicken stay warm.
#4. Supplemented Fermented Feed
As with whole grain feed, I chose to include fermented feed in this list of best winter treats for chickens since there are so many ways you can turn fermented feed into a healthy winter treat for your flock! Fermenting your flock’s feed (or any whole grain chicken feed) is a great way to stretch the feed bag without compromising nutrition. When feed is fermented, it increases its nutritional value.
Whole grain feed increases in volume when it is fermented. It is also more nutrient dense and easier to digest. All of these factors means your flock can eat less fermented feed versus dry feed and still get the nutrition they need.
As for turning fermented feed into a fun winter treat for your flock, there are several ways you can do that! First, you can serve fermented feed as a warm treat. Simply heat up the fermented feed before bringing it out for your flock to enjoy. Secondly, you can easily supplement the fermented feed with healthy seeds, herbs, spices, or any of the other winter treats in this list!
Benefits of Fermented Feed for Chickens:
- Nutritional Value– Fermenting chicken feed increases the nutritional value and nutritional availability. Protein content will increase and vitamins and minerals and will become more readily digestible.
- Probiotics– Fermented feed is a natural source of probiotics for chickens. Probiotics can help a chicken’s gut stay in good health for fighting disease and parasites.
- Frugal– Whole grain chicken feed nearly doubles in volume when it is fermented. Plus, chickens can consume less fermented feed because of how nutrient dense it is.
- Warm Treat– Fermented feed can be served as a warm treat that is still a balanced part of your flock’s daily diet.
- Supplement– Fermented feed can easily be turned into a natural supplement! Add herbs, spices, and other natural supplements that are beneficial for your flock’s winter time health.
#5. Black Soldier Fly Grubs
Black soldier fly grubs, or BSF grubs, are one of the few healthy snacks that you can actually feed your flock on a daily basis during the winter. The grubs are healthy, nutritious insects that add a natural source of protein to your flock’s winter diet.
When your flock can free-range during the spring, summer, and fall, they will of course be foraging for insects and bugs to consume. During the winter, that part of their diet is usually lacking. Giving your flock BSF grubs is a great way to treat them with a food that would be a natural part of their diet.
Black soldier fly grubs are not mealworms. Black soldier fly grubs are naturally high in protein and contain a healthier fat profile than mealworms. They also contain an optimal calcium and phosphorus ration for making both calcium and phosphorus usable in the diet. Black soldier fly grubs are also more sustainably grown than mealworms and can be legally sold as food for chickens.
Giving your flock a handful of BSF grubs on a daily basis during the winter months can stimulate foraging and activity. They are a natural food for chickens to consume that can supplement your flock’s winter diet perfectly.
Benefits of BSF Grubs for Chickens:
- Natural– Insects and bugs are a natural part of a chicken’s diet. Black soldier fly grubs add nutrition to your flock’s daily diet rather than detracting from their daily feed consumption.
- Daily Snack– Since BSF grubs are a natural food for chickens, they are a healthy snack that can be fed on a daily basis in moderation. Most other foods cannot constitute such a regular part of a chicken’s diet.
- Protein & Energy– Black soldier fly grubs supply an excellent source of complete protein, which is especially important during the winter. The fat contained in BSF grubs also provides a source of energy for staying warm.
- Scratch Grain Alternative– Instead of feeding your flock scratch grains on a regular basis, use BSF grubs! Your flock can forage for the grubs just like they would for the scratch grains.
#6. Vegetables, Berries, & Healthy Table Scraps
Healthy table scraps can be a part of your flock’s winter diet on an as-available basis. As you have various scraps and leftovers from your homestead meal prepping, your flock can help you compost them. Remember, when it comes to table scraps, what your flock eats will reflect your diet too. If you eat a seasonal diet with a balanced portion of nutritious foods, than your flock will get those nutritious leftovers too.
With two major holidays often happening at or around winter time (Thanksgiving & Christmas) you may have a few more leftovers hanging around than at other times of the year. Table scraps should not constitute a daily part of your flock’s winter diet. If you have lots of leftovers at one time, consider freezing some leftovers to give to your flock at a different time.
Of the many table scraps or leftovers you may give your flock, the healthiest for them will be fruits and vegetables. Fruit and vegetable scraps can be fed more frequently than other table scraps. Both fruits and vegetables can provide a variety of vitamins and minerals to your flock’s winter diet.
Healthy table scraps, like fruits and vegetables, can add variety and nutrition to your flock’s winter diet. You can also prevent any foods from going to waste by sharing them with your flock!
Guide to Healthy Table Scraps for Chickens:
- Frequent Winter Veggies– winter squash & pumpkin (including the seeds and skin), Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, sweet potato, parsnips, carrots, beets, turnips, broccoli & cauliflower
- Frequent Fruits– any kind of berry, pears, apples, melon, pomegranate, grapes (Note: avoid giving your flock citrus)
- In Moderation– breads, buns, pastas, crackers, fat, holiday side dishes (casseroles, sauces, etc…)
- Protein Leftovers– Your flock can help take care of protein-rich leftovers like the leftovers from cooking a turkey or making bone broth.
- Frequency– Healthy table scraps, like fruit and vegetables, can be offered 2-3 times a week. Table scraps that need to be fed in moderation should be limited to no more than once a week or less.
- Amount– All table scraps should be fed in moderation. A general guidelines is no more than 10% of your flock’s daily diet. In reality, just use common sense when it comes to giving your flock leftovers and base the amount off of your flock size.
#7. Sunflower Seeds & Healthy Scratch Grains
Lastly, another healthy winter treat for chickens are seeds and scratch grains. I’ve mentioned scratch grain alternatives a few times previously, but here they are for real on the list. With that being said, scratch grains should be used with a few guidelines in mind.
Your flock’s daily feed already contains the appropriate mix of grains and seeds necessary to meet their daily nutritional needs. Any scratch grains you give them will be additional energy and fat added to their diet. Scratch grains should be fed in moderation and kept varied, which is why it is a good idea to have scratch grain alternatives so you don’t have to feed your flock scratch grains on a daily basis.
Some scratch grains and seeds are healthier for your flock than others. In general, it is a good idea to make your own scratch grain and seed blend for your flock based off of their diet. See what grains and seeds are in their daily feed, then choose different seeds and grains to put in the scratch grain blend. That will at least help keep the scratch grain blend varied and different from their daily diet.
Sunflower seeds are a great addition to any scratch grain blend. They supply vitamins, antioxidants, protein, and essential linoleic acid. Keep in mind that the black-shelled sunflower seeds will be healthier for your flock than the striped-shelled sunflower seeds.
Making your flock up a homemade scratch grain blend can be a healthy winter treat for them. A properly blended scratch grain mix can supply protein for good health, energy for staying warm, and nutrients to supplement their diet.
Benefits of Scratch Grains & Seeds for Chickens:
- Best Scratch Grains/Legumes– green peas, whole oats, wheat, non-GMO corn in moderation, barley, millet
- Best Seeds– sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds
- Energy– Scratch grains and seeds are often high in fat, which provides long term energy, and carbohydrates, which supply quick bursts of energy. Both fat and carbohydrate sources of energy can help chickens stay warm.
- Protein– Commercial scratch grain blends are notorious for being high in energy but low in protein. Protein is an essential part of a chicken’s diet and is also a source of energy. By making your own scratch grain blend, you can be sure that your flock gets both energy and protein from their scratch grains.
- Stimulation– Scratch grains can be used to encourage your flock to get active during cold weather. While being active does require energy, it can also stimulate the circulatory system which will help your chickens stay warm.
- Internal Heat– Whole grains and seeds that are part of a scratch grain blend will often generate some internal heat as they are digested and converted into usable energy.
How to Best Use Winter Treats for Chickens
So, you may not have noticed, but I chose the 7 best winter winter treats for chickens for a reason. Since you now have a list of 7 healthy treats, you can actually give your flock one treat during each day of the week during the winter! Of course, that is not completely necessary, but it is helpful for when you get a prolonged period of severe weather or if your region is known to have harsh winters.
You should feed your flock winter treats with a purpose. That purpose can be to help them stay warm when the temperature drop suddenly. Or it can be to add variety to your flock’s boring winter diet. At times, it can even be for the purpose of keeping them entertained.
Use these 7 winter treats for chickens to…
- add variety to your flock’s winter diet– variety in the diet can also help stretch the feed bag when feed consumption increases due to cold weather
- keep your flock warm– these treats are healthy foods that provide energy for staying warm
- increase dietary nutrition– most of these treats add nutrients to your flock’s diet so as not compromise their daily nutritional needs
- prevent over feeding of one specific treat– keep your flock’s winter treats varied and avoid feeding the same treat too frequently
- create boredom busters– foraging for BSF grubs or scratch grains, pecking at vegetable pinatas, and munching through a bed of fodder can all provide stimulation and prevent boredom
- incorporate supplements– these healthy treats can also provide you with an avenue for adding winter supplements to your flock’s diet, like herbs, spices, garlic, and other natural supplements
- prevent cold stress– nutritious and energy rich foods can help prevent cold stress in your flock
Winter Treats Guide
Scratch Grain Alternatives:
- Black Soldier Fly Grubs
- Homemade Seed & Grain Blend
- Sunflower Seeds
Oatmeal Alternatives:
- Quinoa
- Heated Fermented Feed
- Check out this list of Alternatives to Oatmeal for Chickens!
Natural Supplements to Incorporate:
- Crushed Garlic
- Cooked Elderberries
- Dried Herbs (oregano, echinacea, calendula, thyme, dandelion)
- Spices (ginger, turmeric)
- Kelp
- Probiotics
With this list of the 7 best winter treats for chickens, you can keep your homestead flock healthy and happy all winter long! These treats add nutrition to your flock’s diet, supply a source of energy for staying warm, and can help keep them entertained and active. Activity will keep your flock warm and prevent them from building fat reserves. Extra energy in your flock’s winter diet is essential during cold snaps for preventing cold stress. And nutrition is important in any food you give your flock so as not to detract from the nutrients they should be getting from their daily diet. My homestead flock loves all these winter treats and I’m sure yours will too!
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by Alexa
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