Author: Tanner Barnsley
Tanner Barnsley is the pen name on Chicken Rise's backyard chicken guides: what is safe to feed a flock, breeds, coops and chicks. Chicken Rise is written by a small team under pen names; we are not vets, and if a bird is unwell, call an avian vet.
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Can Chickens Eat Asparagus Ferns? Not as a Treat, and Never the Berries
No, skip asparagus ferns as a treat, and keep your hens off the berries. A spear of the vegetable is the better…
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Can Chickens Eat Artichoke Leaves? Plain Ones, as a Small Treat
Plain artichoke leaves make a small treat for your hens, and one heart covers 2 or 3 of them. Leave out the…
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Baby Chick Feeding: Water First, Then Starter, Then a Crop Check
Water first, then starter on white paper, then feel each chick’s crop. The order for a new batch of chicks, plus feeder…
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Chicken Coop Insulation Ideas: When It Helps and What to Use
A dry coop with no drafts matters more than insulation. What it fixes, why the roof comes first, R-values per inch, deep…
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Predator-Proof Chicken Coop Ideas: Close the 4 Ways Predators Get In
When your hens are shut in a coop and run, almost every predator gets to them in one of four ways. It…
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Prepping Your Chicken Coop for Winter: Keep It Dry, Skip the Heat Lamp
Winter coop prep: open the top vents, stop low drafts, keep bedding deep and dry, keep water open, and leave the heat…
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Can Chickens Eat Arrowroot Powder? It’s Starch, Not Calcium
Arrowroot powder is starch with 40 mg of calcium per 100 g. Why it can’t help eggshells, how it fits a hen’s…
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Can Chickens Eat Acorn Squash Seeds? Yes, Raw and Unsalted
Yes, raw and whole: about 30 to 45 seeds a hen a day, never salted. Why they won’t deworm your flock, and…
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Can Chickens Eat Honey Locust Pods? First Rule Out Black Locust
Honey locust pods aren’t worth gathering for your hens, and black locust, a look-alike tree, has poisoned poultry. Be sure which tree…
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Can Chickens Eat Graham Crackers? A Corner Won’t Hurt, but Greens Beat It
Can chickens eat graham crackers? Better not. One is about as salty as cheddar and sweeter than bread; a shared corner is…
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Can Chickens Eat Honey Nut Cheerios? Grown Hens Can Have a Few
Sure, your hens can have Honey Nut Cheerios, as long as it’s a few at a time and you count them as…
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Can Chickens Eat Honey? A Lick, Not a Spoonful
A grown hen can have a lick of honey, but a level teaspoon is half her treats for the day. It’s no…
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Can Chickens Eat Dried Dates? One Small Date, Not a Handful
Yes, one small date now and then, pitted and chopped. Dried dates are two-thirds sugar, so give it after the feed and…
