Fresh Eggs Daily® | Lisa Steele

It's been ten years since the first edition of Gardening with Chickens came out. It was time for an upgrade. I originally wrote my third book Gardening with Chickens right as we were in the process of moving to Maine from Virginia back in 2015.  To say that I've learned a lot over the past decade would be an understatement! 

Corn in all its forms is a delicious and nutritious year-round treat for chickens. Believe it or not, corn has become a controversial topic when it comes to chicken keeping.  You might have been told - or read - not to feed corn to your chickens in the summer because it will raise their body temperature as they expend energy trying to digest it and they will overheat. 

Watermelon is one of the best summer treats for chickens, providing them essential hydration as well as beneficial nutrients on a hot day. Watermelon is  one of the best summer treats for your chickens . Its high water content helps keep them hydrated on hot summer days.

Blueberries are a nutritious treat for your chickens. Blueberries are one of the best treats you can give to your chickens. They are a "super food" packed with all kinds of health benefits and nutrients.

Chocolate and other sources of caffeine can be very harmful for chickens. Chocolate, coffee grounds, tea bags, and other sources of caffeine can be very harmful for chickens.

Onions should not be fed to chickens because they contain the toxin thiosulphate. I don't recommend feeding onions to your chickens because any potential health benefits are far outweighed by the potential health risk.

While raisins aren't toxic to  chickens, they should only be fed in moderation. Raisins are toxic to dogs and cats, but oddly enough, they are not harmful to chickens. But, they still should only be fed in moderation.

Apples are nutritious treats for chickens, but take care feeding the apple seeds, which contain cyanide. Apples are nutritious treats for chickens that they'll love. You can cut them in half, slice them, or hang them for the chickens to have fun playing their own game of tetherball with. 

Iceberg lettuce and other leafy greens are great additions to your chickens diet, but some types are more nutritious than others. Giving your chickens plenty of leafy greens is a great way to supplement their diet and provide them with some variety, as well as extra hydration and nutrients.

Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family which contains the toxins solanine and tomatine .   Members of the nightshade family all contain the toxin solanine. Unripe tomatoes also contain the glycoalkaloid tomatine.  

Strawberries, and other types of berries, are nutritious treats for your chickens.    Strawberries are a nutritious treat for your chickens - and they will love them. I always save the strawberry tops for my chickens when I buy strawberries.