Top 7 Organic Chicken Treats For A Happy, Healthy Flock

Spoiling your chickens isn't just about giving them tasty treats —it’s about adding a  boost to their their nutrition, encouraging natural behaviors, and helping to support their growth. From fresh, vitamin packed greens to grubs, here are the top 7 organic chicken treats to keep your flock thriving, plus tips for balancing their diet for optimal health and even egg production.

1. Black Soldier Fly Larvae: A Nutrient-Packed Chicken Treat

Grubterra Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) is a snack packed with nutrients, offering 75x more calcium than mealworms alone. These grubs are perfect for cold weather and molting season since they support strong bones, healthy feathers, and can help increase healthy egg production. Treats full of calcium like BSFL also support stronger chicken eggs, reducing risks of thin shells.

• Why Black Soldier Fly Larvae?: High in protein, calcium, and essential amino acids.
• What's the best age to provide: 2+ weeks.
• Serving Size: A small handful mixed with starter feed for balanced diet.
• Sustainability is a plus!: BSFL align with sustainable poultry farming practices, making them a staple for eco-conscious homesteads.

2. Boiled Eggs for Chicks: A Protein-Rich Start

If you're hatching chicks in an incubator, boiled eggs provide a familiar nutrient source for post-hatch chicks. Boiled eggs that are mashed up are a soft, digestible treat loaded with the nutrients chicks absorbed in the egg and ideal for day-old chicks! 

• Why Boiled Eggs for Chicks?: Rich in protein, vitamins A, D, and B.
• Best Age: Day-1 Treating is Great!
• How to prepare?: Fully boil, cool, and mash into small pieces.

3. Chick Grit: Essential for Healthy Digestion

The one weakness of chickens? They don't have teeth, so grit helps grind food in their gizzard. A must when you're introducing solid treats!

• Why Chick Grit?: Supports digestion for chicks 2+ weeks.
• Serving Tip: Offer integrated into treats like BSFL or cracked corn (more on that later).

4. Chopped Greens: A Vitamin Boost for Your Flock

Healthy Greens like spinach, kale, and dandelion leaves encourage foraging and provide essential vitamins to your chickens.

• Why give your chickens leafy greens? : Vitamins A, C, K, and calcium.
• What's the Best Age for greens?: 2+ weeks.
• How to serve greens?: Finely chop to prevent choking when swallowing .

5. Cracked Corn: Energy-Boosting Chicken Treats

These natural treats are high in carbs and fiber, plus, cracked corn fuels active, growing chicks.

• Why give my chickens cracked corn? : It's great for energy and digestion (paired with grit of course).
• Best Age for cracked corn: 3+ weeks.
• Serving Tip: Always offer grit to aid digestion of cracked corn or any other grains.

6. Oatmeal: A Gentle, Fiber-Rich Option for Chicks

Oatmeal, always a staple in the kitchen can be a great treat for your chickens too! Cooled cooked oatmeal is a tummy-friendly treat that promotes healthy digestion.

• Best Age to treat your chickens: 1+ week.
• Serving Suggestion: Mix with starter feed for variety.

 

7. Fruit Scraps: A Sweet, Nutritious Treat

Who doesn't love a great fruit salad? Providing your chickens with this selection of healthy (in moderation) snack will make you even more popular than you already are with them. As an added bonus, apples (seedless), berries, and bananas offer vitamins and antioxidants—in moderation!

• Why feed chickens fruit scraps?: Vitamins A, C, and antioxidants.
• Best Age: 1+ week.
• Serving Tip: Chop finely and remove seeds (apple seeds are packed with small amounts of arsenic) for safety before serving.

 

How to Keep Treats Balanced for Healthy Chicken Growth

The golden rule is that Treats should only make up about 10% of your flock’s diet. Follow these rules:

• Prioritize Starter Feed: A high-quality chick starter provides core nutrients.
• Use Grit: Essential for digesting solid treats.
• Avoid Overfeeding: Too many treats cause nutritional imbalances.

Remember, no matter how cute your chickens look, over-treating can be bad for their health.

 

Why Choose Hatching Time for Your Chicken Treats?

We offer organic, easy-to-serve treats like BSFL, Treats for Chickens and chick grit, made to:

• Boost your flock's health and happiness.
• Encourage their natural foraging instincts.
• Simplify feeding and add variety to mealtime.

 

How Often Should You Feed Treats to Your Chicks?

While some treats like Black Soldier Fly Larvae or chopped greens are always a fun way to bond with your flock and boost their nutrition, moderation is key. Chicks and young chickens especially require a precise and balanced set of nutrients for healthy bone growth, feather development, and immune function—all of which should come from their high-quality starter feed. Since over-doing treats can lead to a dilution of their intake of these essential nutrients it can lead to deficiencies or even stunted growth.

• How often should I give my chickens snacks?: Offer treats 2–3 times weekly.
• How many treats should I give my chicks? : Make sure to stick to small handfuls per chick to avoid overfeeding them, which can lead to stunted growth.

This helps make sure treats stay supplemental, allowing starter feed to stay as the dietary foundation while still giving them variety and enrichment time.

 

 

Feeding Chicks the Right Way: A Healthy Chicken Diet Starts Here

Prioritizing Chick Health Through Nutrition

A healthy chick diet hinges on providing nutrient stacked starter feed while using treats to complement—not replace—the core of their nutrition. Starter feed is actually formulated to deliver a precise level of protein, vitamins, and minerals that are crucial for muscle development, immune health, and bone strength. However, remember that overloading on treats can disrupt that balance, and can lead to deficiencies or uneven growth for your chicken. However, if you reserve 10% of their diet for treats, it adds diversity, helps to engage their natural foraging instincts, and gives them extra nutrients like calcium and antioxidants.

• 90% Starter Feed: Ensures consistent, balanced growth.
• 10% Treats: Enhances nutrition and mental stimulation.

By sticking to this ratio, you can raise chicks that are both physically robust and mentally engaged, without affecting their dietary needs. If you want an extra input, we recommend to follow a trusted poultry feeding guide to maintain the 90/10 starter feed-to-treat ratio. Remember that pairing a balanced diet with a clean, warm brooder environment ensures chicks can thrive during their early weeks.

 

 

Supporting Your Chickens with Healthy, Safe Treats

Treats like BSFL, greens, and oatmeal aren’t just tasty—they’re tools to raise healthy, active birds. Pair them with Chick Grit and feeders for a seamless feeding experience for your flock. Healthy treats, combined with a well-ventilated chicken coop, help create an ideal habitat for egg production and remember to complement treats with natural mite killer spray to protect your flock from pests that may be attracted to your flock, ensuring they stay healthy and productive.

Ready to Treat Your Flock? Explore Hatching Time’s range of organic chicken treats and accessories, and give your birds the healthiest start possible from day 1!

 

By integrating these organic treats into your flock’s routine, you’ll nurture happier, healthier chickens while enjoying the rewards of a thriving coop. Happy feeding!