Can Chickens Eat Meat?

If you’re owning a chicken for the first time, you’ve probably pondered a common question “Can chickens eat meat?” Luckily, you’re not the only one because poultry owners and farmers across the globe have been curious about the same burning topic and many have questioned whether life food is indeed safe for chickens.

Turns out, it is, because chickens are bonafide omnivores. That means they will eat all forms of food ranging from plants and grains, small insects, and tiny animals, to other types of live or cooked meat. 

Having said that, what live meat works best for chickens? Can chickens eat raw meat? Can chickens eat cooked meat? We will find that out and more in the following few sections. 

Can chickens eat beef? 

When occasionally given as a treat or fed in moderate amounts, beef is completely safe for chicken. In this section, we will discuss the types of beef that are best for chicken ranging from raw to the cooked beef. 

First, cooked beef is a completely safe meal for your chicken. Because it isn’t raw, it won’t contain any toxic bacteria or organisms. As you’ve cooked the meal, the heat from your oven or wok will already kill the bacteria. What’s more, chickens can easily peck and digest beef. However, always give cooked beef in a moderate amount even if it’s really good for the chicken. 

Next, we come to the beef liver which is one of the ideal parts to feed your chicken. Not only does it contain copious amounts of protein, but it is also believed to improve the strength and health of chickens according to certain farmers. You can cook beef liver and give it to your chicks in tiny chunks. 

Third, you would like to consider beef fat for your chicken during the colder months. If you feed this occasionally, the calories will boost your chickens’ energy thus keeping them warm. However, make sure this is treated as a treat and only given occasionally. 

How occasionally should you feed beef?

Avoid feeding beef regularly to your chicken because it might later lead to digestive issues. Also, avoid raw beef because it comes with several toxic microorganisms that can potentially disease your chicken. In the worst-case scenario, they will experience food poisoning and may potentially die. 

Can chickens eat deer meat? 

Yes, you can give raw deer meat to your chicken. Alternatively, you can also give a cooked or dehydrated version. For best results, we recommend ground and dehydrated deer meat fixed with your usual chicken feet. This is not just an excellent treat but will also boost their energy and keep them more active. 

With that said, make sure you only do this, three to four times a month. Do not overfeed or regularly feed raw deer meat to your chicken. 

Can chickens eat fish? 

Yes. Chickens can eat and digest both raw as well yes well-cooked fish. Do not give your chickens stale fish and avoid giving them fish coated in breadcrumbs. Because this processes the fish, it automatically contains additive and high-fat content. 

What type of fish do chickens eat? 

Ideally, you should give any form of organic and plain, white fish to your chicken. I feed my chickens fresh fish because they’re easily available at my nearest farmer’s market. However, if such is not the case with you, you can always try canned fish instead. 

Preserve your canned fish with any neutral oil instead of brine. That is because brine is high in sodium content which might affect your chicken’s digestive system. Once you’ve added the oil, drain it as much as possible to avoid the high-fat content. 

Ideal fish for your chickens would be mackerel and tuna. Depending on your location, you can also feed them sardines. However, avoid any type of fatty fish like salmon. You should also limit herrings because of their high-fat content. 

Can chickens eat pork?

While it is safe for chickens to eat pork, you should always give this in moderation. Also, avoid giving any form of uncooked pork as it might lead to digestive issues and food poisoning. You can occasionally treat your chicken with cooked pork meat or cooked pork sausages. Avoid excessive pork fat and uncooked pork sausages.

As with the other featured meats, pork boosts the protein of your chicken when fed moderately along with a plant-based diet. Additionally, pork meat will also boost your chicken’s immunity to a range of ailments.

Can chickens eat insects? 

Insects are a part of a chicken’s natural diet. Why? Because it oozes with nutrition and keeps the bird consistently healthy. You might want to feed live insects to your chicken because it’s their regular diet, it comes with multiple vitamins and mineral compounds and is loaded with protein. The best part: insects are also rich in amino acids that you wouldn’t otherwise get in a completely vegetarian diet. 

Can chickens eat mice? 

Chickens are a bunch of opportunistic birds, and they will be elated to grab the first mouse nest in their proximity. But because chickens enjoy simple and easy meals, they won’t go the extra mile to look prey on mice. 

You needn’t worry if your chicken eats a couple of mice once in a while because mice meat is known to contain high amounts of protein, amino acids, and calcium. This will help them lay solid eggs with tough shells and creamy yolks that’ll give you the tastiest of treats. 

Mice are only unsafe for chicken if it is diseased due to some reason. That is why even if you experience mice infestation avoid spraying mice repellants near your barn. 

Bottom Line

At this point, you probably know that chickens are omnivores, and you can therefore feed them anything ranging from beef, pork, small mice, deer meat, fish, and pork. However, always make sure you feed the chickens in the right quantities so that they aren’t overfed or underfed. 

While some meats like beef can be part of their regular diet, others like pork and pork fat should be reserved as an occasional treat. Either way, since I’ve discussed the various food options for your chicken, I’m pretty sure you can easily navigate your way from here. 

References

The Bugs Your Chickens Love And Hate! – Hobby Farms

Do Chickens Eat Mice? Are Mice Bad for Chickens? | Pet Keen