Well folks, I learned something new about my feathered friends the other day that surprised me.
It all started one sunny morning last week when I was sitting at my kitchen table enjoying a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast.
As I was crunching away on that sweet cereal, my three chickens – Henrietta, Beatrice, and Penelope – came pecking at my legs under the table begging for a taste.
At first I thought, wait a minute, cereal can’t be good for chickens, can it?
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Chickens Go Nuts for Cheerios
But the pleading faces of my three girls made me reconsider.
I figured just a few Cheerios couldn’t hurt as a special treat.
Boy was I wrong!
As soon as I tossed a couple Honey Nut Cheerios to the chickens, they went absolutely nuts.
Henrietta gobbled up the first one so fast I barely saw it go down.
Beatrice lunged for the second cheerio mid-air and swallowed it whole.
And Penelope darted around trying to steal leftovers from the others.
They looked up at me with those beady eyes begging for more.
Being the softie I am when it comes to my flock, I caved and gave them a few more handfuls of Honey Nut Cheerios straight from my bowl.
Soon there was a full on frenzy in the chicken coop as all three birds fought each other for the cereal.
Feathers were flying everywhere as they aggressively flapped their wings and pecked at each other to claim their sugary prize.
Beatrice even drew a little blood on Penelope’s comb in the tussle.
It was utter chaos.
The Aftermath Wasn’t Pretty
Later that day when I went to the coop to collect eggs, let’s just say it was a real mess.
Apparently the sugar rush from the Honey Nut Cheerios had given my chickens some violent diarrhea.
It seriously looked like a muddy war zone inside the hen house.
There was sticky, goopy chicken poop everywhere – all over the roosts, the feeder, the waterer, and the egg boxes.
It was like a poop tornado had ripped through the coop.
As I scrambled to hose down the coop and replace all the soiled bedding, I realized that Honey Nut Cheerios are probably not the best snack for chickens after all.
I felt really bad for sending my girls’ digestive systems into total turmoil.
So Can Chickens Eat Cheerios Safely?
After doing some frantic research online, I learned that plain original Cheerios are actually fine for chickens to eat in moderation.
But the added sugar from the honey and nuts in Honey Nut Cheerios can cause digestive upset if chickens eat too much.
A few plain Cheerios here and there as an occasional treat is perfectly ok and won’t cause issues.
But I made the mistake of dumping almost a whole bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios to my flock, which was way too much sugar for their small bodies.
The sugar overload gave them severe diarrhea and tummy troubles.
So the bottom line is this:
Keep Cheerios as an occasional snack, not an everyday diet staple.
And only share a few plain Cheerios at a time – no honey or nuts!
Healthier Treat Options
If you want to spoil your flock with snacks, try healthier options like:
Chopped veggies like lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, peas, and sweet potato.
Frozen corn, green beans, or peas (thawed first).
Cooked rice, quinoa, or oatmeal (let cool before serving).
Chopped fruits like apple, banana, berries, melon.
Mealworms, sunflower seeds, dried currants, or pumpkin seeds.
Make sure treats make up no more than 10% of their daily diet.
And vary the treats – don’t just give one thing all the time.
Rotation is key to a healthy balanced chicken diet.
Their main food should always be a complete layer feed to ensure proper nutrition.
So now you know my cautionary tale of chickens, Cheerios, and poopageddon.
I learned the hard way, so you don’t have to!
Here’s hoping my embarrassing blunder can help fellow chicken owners make better snack choices for their flocks.
We live and learn.
How Much is Too Much?
When giving chickens treats like Cheerios, it’s important to control portions.
Chickens don’t have an off switch – they will eat as much as you give them!
For a standard size hen, a good treat portion is around 1-2 tbsp max per day.
This equals roughly 15-30 plain Cheerios or 10-15 Honey Nut Cheerios.
Even though the cereal pieces are small, chickens fill up quickly.
Too many portions in a day can lead to weight gain or upset stomach.
To avoid overindulging, use a measuring cup for treats.
Only put small amounts in your hand to feed them by hand – don’t dump from the box.
Free-feeding cereal in a shared treat dish is a bad idea – they will binge!
Treat time should be a special supervised activity, not an all-day grazing session.
Portion control prevents tummy aches and keeps your flock fit and healthy.
Avoid Artificial Additives
When selecting any people food for chickens, read the ingredients list carefully.
Many cereals and snacks contain artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
These additives provide no nutritional value for chickens.
And some may actually be toxic to their sensitive digestive systems.
Steer clear of snack foods with: Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, BHT, etc.
Stick to all natural foods without additives.
Plain Cheerios only have 5 simple ingredients – whole grain oats, corn starch, sugar, salt and tripotassium phosphate.
Honey Nut Cheerios have more sugar plus honey and nut flavoring.
For optimal nutrition and health, natural unprocessed foods are best.
Avoid anything artificially colored or flavored.
Read the box and know what’s in their treats!
Beware of High Fat Content
While chickens love fatty treats, too much fat can make them overweight.
Excessive fat can also lead to liver damage and other health issues.
Nuts and seeds are healthy in moderation but high in fat.
Limit fatty treats like sunflower seeds, peanuts, pecans, almonds, etc.
Coconut and high oil fruits like avocado should also be occasional.
Avoid giving chickens greasy leftovers like bacon fat or fried foods.
Stick to lean protein sources like cooked egg or plain Greek yogurt.
Low fat dairy like cottage cheese or plain kefir are better than whole milk.
And limit high fat treats to small portions – a few almonds not a whole handful!
Avoid Choking Hazards
Any treat you feed chickens poses a choking risk if not sized properly.
Chickens don’t chew – they swallow food whole.
Large pieces or tough textures can get stuck in their crop or throat.
Always dice snacks into bite sized pieces no larger than 1/2 inch.
Soak hard items like dry cereal or big seeds to soften before feeding.
Avoid round, whole grapes or cherry tomatoes – cut them in quarters.
Don’t give chickens tough greens like kale – chop finely instead.
Remove corn kernels from the cob before serving.
Dice apple and root vegetables into tiny pieces.
If in doubt, cut it smaller!
Proper sizing prevents choking hazards.
Mix It Up!
Variety is key when feeding chickens treats.
Rotate options to provide a diverse nutritional profile.
Don’t just feed one thing over and over.
Mix in produce, leafy greens, healthy grains and proteins.
Try different fruits and veggies – kiwi, mango, beets, cauliflower.
Swap out oats for quinoa, barley or brown rice.
Use different protein sources like mealworms, plain yogurt, chopped hard boiled eggs.
Rotate seeds and nuts – safflower, chia, dried peas, pistachios.
Herbs and spices add variety too – parsley, cilantro, basil, cinnamon.
Give apple one day then try banana or melon cubes the next.
A varied mix provides balanced nutrition and keeps flock interested.
New textures and flavors keeps treat time exciting!
