15 Best Treats for Chickens (And 5 Foods to Avoid)

Your chickens will eat just about anything you toss into the run, but not every snack is good for them. The best treats for chickens are nutrient-dense foods that supplement their regular feed without throwing off their diet. Think mealworms, fresh fruits, leafy greens, and cooked grains.

Treats should make up no more than 10% of your flock's daily diet. The other 90% needs to come from a complete layer feed or grower feed, depending on their age. Go overboard with snacks and you'll see fewer eggs, weight problems, and nutritional deficiencies.

Quick tip: Don't introduce treats until your chicks are at least 8 weeks old. Their growing bodies need the balanced nutrition from starter feed first.

What You'll Learn

• •Best Protein Treats for Chickens
• •Best Fruits for Chickens
• •Best Vegetables and Greens
• •Best Grains and Seeds
• •Foods You Should Never Feed Chickens
• •How Often Should You Give Chickens Treats?
• •DIY Chicken Treat Ideas
• •Frequently Asked Questions

Best Protein Treats for Chickens

Protein-rich treats are hands down the most popular with backyard flocks. If you've ever tossed mealworms into the run, you know the chaos that follows. Here are the top protein treats your chickens will go crazy for.

◆Mealworms

Dried mealworms are the gold standard of chicken treats. They're packed with protein (about 50% by weight), and chickens absolutely lose their minds over them. You can buy them in bulk on Amazon, and a 5-pound bag will last most small flocks a few weeks.

Mealworms are especially helpful during molting season when your hens need extra protein to regrow feathers. Toss a handful into the run each afternoon and watch the flock sprint.

◆Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL)

These are the newer alternative to mealworms, and many flock owners say their chickens prefer them. BSFL are high in protein and calcium, which makes them a better choice for laying hens. The extra calcium supports strong eggshells without needing a separate supplement.

◆Scrambled Eggs

It sounds weird, but feeding chickens their own eggs (cooked) is perfectly fine and incredibly nutritious. Scramble them up without oil or seasoning. This is a great way to use cracked or dirty eggs that you wouldn't eat yourself. Just make sure they're fully cooked so your hens don't develop a taste for raw eggs in the nesting box.

◆Live Crickets and Bugs

If you want entertainment with your treat time, toss a handful of live crickets into the run. Chickens will chase them down like tiny dinosaurs. It's great enrichment that mimics their natural foraging behavior. You can order live crickets from pet supply stores.

Best Fruits for Chickens

Most fruits are safe for chickens, and they're a fantastic way to cool down your flock on hot summer days. Here are the favorites.

◆Watermelon

This is the ultimate summer treat. Cut a watermelon in half and set it in the run. Your chickens will peck it down to the rind within an hour. Watermelon is hydrating and full of vitamins A and C. The seeds are safe too, so don't bother removing them.

If you're looking for more summer care tips, frozen watermelon chunks make a great cooling snack on days above 90°F.

◆Berries

Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are all chicken favorites. They're loaded with antioxidants and vitamins. Blueberries especially seem to drive chickens wild. They're small enough for bantam breeds to eat easily, and you can scatter them around the run to encourage foraging.

◆Grapes

Cut grapes in half to prevent choking (especially for smaller breeds) and scatter them around. Chickens love the sweetness. Both red and green varieties work fine.

◆Bananas

Peel them first and mash or slice them up. Bananas are high in potassium and make a good treat in moderation. Some chickens are picky about the texture, but most flocks will devour them.

◆Apples

Apples are a great treat, but you need to remove the seeds and core first. Apple seeds contain trace amounts of amygdalin, which can release cyanide when digested. The flesh is perfectly safe and packed with fiber and vitamins.

Best Vegetables and Greens

Vegetables are some of the healthiest treats you can offer. They're low in calories, high in nutrients, and help keep your flock entertained.

◆Leafy Greens

Kale, spinach, lettuce, and Swiss chard are all excellent choices. Hang a head of cabbage from a string in the run for a "chicken piñata" that'll keep them busy for hours. Leafy greens are rich in vitamins A, K, and calcium.

One tip: rotate your greens. Spinach is high in oxalic acid, which can interfere with calcium absorption if fed in large amounts every day. Mix it up with different varieties throughout the week.

◆Pumpkin and Squash

Fall is pumpkin season, and your chickens will love you for sharing. Cut a pumpkin in half and let them go to town. The seeds are particularly beneficial because they contain cucurbitacin, a compound that some flock owners believe acts as a natural dewormer. While the science isn't conclusive on that, pumpkin seeds are still an excellent source of zinc and protein.

◆Sweet Potatoes (Cooked)

Cooked sweet potatoes are safe and nutritious. They're packed with beta-carotene, which can actually deepen the color of your hens' egg yolks. Mash them up or cut into small chunks. Never feed raw sweet potatoes because they're too hard for chickens to digest properly.

◆Corn

Corn on the cob, frozen corn, or cracked corn all work. Corn is higher in carbohydrates than most treats, so it's best in moderation. During winter, a handful of cracked corn before bedtime can help chickens generate body heat overnight. Check out our winter care guide for more cold-weather feeding tips.

◆Broccoli

Hang a broccoli head from the coop ceiling and watch your chickens jump for it. It's high in vitamins C and K, and the florets break apart into perfect bite-sized pieces. Broccoli stems are fine too; just chop them smaller so your hens can manage them.

Best Grains and Seeds

Grains make solid treats when you want something quick and easy to scatter.

◆Oats

Plain oats (rolled or steel-cut, uncooked) are a healthy, affordable treat. Some flock owners mix oats with a bit of plain yogurt for a probiotic-rich snack. During winter, warm oatmeal is a popular treat, though it should be plain with no sugar, salt, or flavorings.

◆Sunflower Seeds

Black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS) are a flock favorite. They're high in healthy fats, protein, and vitamin E. The extra fat is especially helpful during molting when your hens need the energy to regrow feathers. Scatter them in the run to encourage natural scratching and foraging behavior.

◆Scratch Grains

Scratch is a mix of cracked corn, wheat, and other grains. It's the classic chicken treat, but it's basically junk food. Low in protein, high in carbs. Use it sparingly as a training tool or afternoon snack, not as a dietary staple.

Foods You Should Never Feed Chickens

Not everything in your kitchen is safe for chickens. These five foods are toxic or harmful and should always stay out of the run.

◆1. Avocado (Skin and Pit)

Avocado skin and pits contain persin, a compound that's toxic to chickens and can cause heart failure. The flesh is debated, but it's safest to just avoid avocados entirely.

◆2. Raw or Dried Beans

Uncooked beans contain phytohaemagglutinin (a type of lectin) that's extremely toxic to chickens. Even a few raw kidney beans can be fatal. Fully cooked beans are safe, but most flock owners skip beans altogether to avoid the risk.

◆3. Chocolate and Coffee

Both contain theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to chickens (and most animals). Keep all chocolate, coffee grounds, and caffeinated products away from your flock.

◆4. Green Potatoes and Tomato Leaves

The green parts of nightshade plants contain solanine, which is poisonous. This includes green potato skins, potato sprouts, tomato leaves, and tomato stems. Ripe tomato flesh and cooked regular potatoes are perfectly safe.

◆5. Onions and Garlic (in Large Amounts)

Small amounts of garlic are actually used by some flock owners as a natural health supplement. But large quantities of onions can cause hemolytic anemia in chickens by destroying red blood cells. It's best to keep onion scraps out of the treat pile.

How Often Should You Give Chickens Treats?

The 90/10 rule is the standard: 90% complete feed, 10% treats. For a typical laying hen eating about 1/4 pound of feed per day, that means roughly 1 to 2 tablespoons of treats.

Here's a simple weekly schedule that works well:

• •Monday: Leafy greens (cabbage piñata or scattered kale)
• •Tuesday: Mealworms or BSFL (protein day)
• •Wednesday: Fruit (watermelon, berries, or apple slices)
• •Thursday: Oats or sunflower seeds
• •Friday: Veggie scraps (broccoli, squash, or sweet potato)
• •Weekend: Mix it up or skip treats entirely

During molting season (usually late summer through fall), increase protein treats like mealworms and BSFL to help your hens regrow feathers faster. If you notice a drop in egg production, check out our guide on egg laying problems to rule out other causes.

DIY Chicken Treat Ideas

Want to get creative? These homemade treats are fun to make and your flock will love them.

Frozen Fruit Blocks: Fill a container with water, add berries, corn, and peas, then freeze. Perfect for hot summer days when your chickens need to cool down.

Suet Cakes: Mix melted coconut oil with oats, sunflower seeds, mealworms, and dried fruit. Pour into a muffin tin and refrigerate until solid. Great winter treats that provide extra calories and fat.

Cabbage Tetherball: Hang a whole cabbage from a rope in the run. Your chickens will peck at it throughout the day, getting exercise and entertainment at the same time. This is one of the best boredom busters for flocks that can't free range.

Yogurt Parfait: Mix plain, unsweetened yogurt with oats and berries. The probiotics can support gut health, though chickens are technically lactose intolerant, so keep dairy treats occasional and small.

If you're just starting out with chickens, our beginner's guide covers everything you need to know about feeding, housing, and flock management.

Frequently Asked Questions

◆Can chickens eat bread?

Chickens can eat small amounts of bread, but it's not a great treat. Bread is basically empty calories with little nutritional value. Too much can cause crop impaction, especially with dry bread. If you do offer bread, tear it into small pieces and make it an occasional snack, not a regular one.

◆What's the best treat for chickens in winter?

Warm oatmeal, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds are the top winter treats. Cracked corn fed in the late afternoon helps chickens generate body heat overnight through digestion. Suet cakes with mealworms and seeds also provide the extra calories your flock needs during cold months.

◆Are mealworms safe for baby chicks?

Yes, but wait until chicks are at least 2 weeks old and provide chick grit alongside any treats. Start with a few small mealworms per chick. Dried mealworms should be crushed or broken into smaller pieces for very young chicks to prevent choking.

◆Can chickens eat kitchen scraps?

Most kitchen scraps are fine for chickens, including vegetable peels, cooked rice, pasta, and fruit scraps. Avoid anything moldy, salty, greasy, or processed. Skip onion skins, potato peels with green spots, and anything on the toxic foods list above.

◆Do treats affect egg production?

They can if you overdo it. Too many treats dilute the balanced nutrition in layer feed, which can lead to fewer eggs, thinner shells, and nutritional deficiencies. Stick to the 90/10 rule and prioritize high-protein, calcium-rich treats like BSFL for the best egg production.

Healthy treats keep your flock happy, entertained, and well-nourished when you use them wisely. For a deeper dive into everyday feeding, check out our complete feeding guide to make sure your flock's diet is dialed in.