Every morning I let my birds out of the coop to roam the backyard. I started getting into a habit of giving them a treat when they wake up, cheese.

I used to have to call to get their attention yelling, “beep, beep, beep.” Now all they need to see is that dark yellow cheese slice and they come running! My Tom turkey is very aggressive when it comes to cheese. If you’re not careful, he will walk behind you and grab it out of your hand if you are carrying it low enough.

Now you shouldn’t give your flock treats all day. I hand them out first thing in the morning and right before bed. Cheese needs to be fed in moderation. Unfortunately, it’s a fatty food but is fortified calcium and protein. This is good for your egg layers. I spread one piece of cheese between the 6 of my birds.

On hot summer days, water melon rinds are a good afternoon snack. I’ve even frozen the rinds before and put them in their coop. It works like an air conditioner then. On occasion, I’ve fed my flock frozen greens. For instance, I’ve put day-old salad in a bowl and froze it then dumped the bowl outside for them to peck at. Just a reminder, never give your birds moldy food. This can make them sick.

Here’s a list of food my flock has enjoyed over the past year:

•Apples and applesauce

•Bananas – without the peel

•Broccoli and Cauliflower

•Cereal – Cheerios

•Corn on the cob, cooked or raw

•Eggs – scrambled (never give your flock a whole egg to peck at)

•Flowers – mine fancy petunias and geraniums

•Mealworm – can be bought at your farm store

•Meat scraps – in moderation

•Melons – Cantaloupe or Watermelon

•popcorn – popped with no butter or salt

•cooked rice-white or brown

•cheese-sliced

•cottage cheese

•yogurt-good for their intestinal health

•bugs- the kids and I catch cicadas, moths, and grasshoppers

Remember, these foods are just treats and should be giving sparingly in addition to your flock and chicken feed. Obviously, they can eat as much grass and bugs as they want since these are nature made foods. But not every chicken will like the same foods as mine enjoy. Every flock has their personal favorites.

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