There are a lot of tiny and curious critters that roam outside your farm or backyard. It’s inevitable that you will find insects inside your chicken coop or outside where your chickens roam. There are some bugs that you may worry about your chickens eating, but what about grasshoppers?
Grasshoppers are not poisonous to chickens. In fact, grasshoppers are very nutritious for them. It’s natural for chickens to look at insects as food and will snack on them whole. Grasshoppers are a good complement to your chicken’s diet.
The key to keeping your chickens healthy is as simple as doing a little research on their biology and nutritional requirements. Keep reading to learn about what you need to do to keep your chickens happy and healthy.
Are Grasshoppers Poisonous to Chickens?
Grasshoppers are not poisonous to chickens.
Grasshoppers provide the following for the diet of a chicken:
- Proteins
- Mental enrichment
- Other important nutrients
A chicken can even eat dead grasshoppers without a problem. They are found almost anywhere outdoors and are easily available in pet stores to feed your chickens.
What Animals Will Eat Grasshoppers?
Grasshoppers are solitary insects, which make them more prone to be eaten by predators.
For starters, they are prey to the majority of birds and some other animals:
- Chickens
- Owls
- Small songbirds
- Frogs
- Toads
- Snakes
- Rodents
- Cats
- Dogs
- Foxes
- Raccoons
Birds love their insect snacks, but grasshoppers have many natural predators.
Here’s a funny video of a chicken not wanting to share its grasshopper snack:
What Do My Chickens Need to Eat?
Chickens, like people, require several things in their meals. It’s harder for humans to obtain all of these things, because we have grocery stores with plenty of unhealthy (and tasty) food we can buy whenever we want. Chickens? They rely on us to feed them what’s best.
Here is what your chicken feed should have: (source: poultry.extension.org)
- Water: Chickens need water to keep them cool and hydrated. The recommended amount of water for chickens varies on their age, humidity or dryness of their environment.
- Carbohydrates: Popular carbohydrates found in chicken feed are corn, wheat, potatoes, barely, or rye. They use these carbs as an energy source.
- Fats- Fats found in chicken feed can come in the source of corn oil, soybean oil, palm oil, or sunflower oil. Other sources of fat can include rendered pig fat or poultry fat and other forms of grease.
- Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins A,D,E,B,C, and K are vitamins that help the function of the various body systems in a chicken. From metabolism to muscles, these things need to be in their feed.
- Proteins: Making sure that your animal feed has enough protein in it is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy hen and healthy eggs. It plays an important role in an egg’s development and the chick’s growth.
Grasshoppers and other insects provide extra protein for chickens. In fact, they also contain vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids that aren’t found in vegetable-based chicken feeds. Grasshoppers are good for chickens, but there are some bugs that chickens are best to do without.
You can find good deals online for Chicken Coops, Chicken Feeders, and Chicken Waterers on Amazon.
What Bugs Do Chickens Like to Eat?
Luckily, there are a lot of bugs that will not harm your chickens. And luckily, your chickens love them! They enjoy finding these tasty treats, and they are good for your chicken. What’s not to love!
Here are a few of the bugs that can be eaten:
- Grasshoppers
- Ants
- Ticks
- Worms
- Mealworms
- Bug larvae
If it is something you are interested in, there are a lot of supplements or dried bugs that are available for you to add to their feed. Invest in a high quality nutrition to have healthy chickens, chicks, and eggs.
What Foods Are Bad for Chickens?
Regular food for other farm animals can be toxic or even deadly to chickens. Make sure this is not included in their foods or located in a place that can be accessed by your chickens.
Here are a few of the dangerous foods to look out for:
- Avocado skin and pit
- Citrus
- Dried beans
- Cooked or raw white potatoes
- Plants in the Nightshade family
- Onions
- Tomato leaves/plants
These foods are dangerous and will shorten or end the lives of your chickens. There are plenty of foods you can feed your chickens that will give you peace of mind and keep them energized and happy.
What Bugs Can Chickens Not Eat?
Not all bugs are created equal. Some are nutritious chicken snacks, and some are poisonous for your chickens. If you live in an area that contains.
Here is a list of some of the insects that can be poisonous to your chickens:
- Blister Beetles: These beetles contain something named Cantharidin, a toxic chemical that can be fatal to chickens and other predators if it’s consumed. Even if these beetles have died, they still carry the poisonous toxin. Be cautious if you live somewhere these beetles call home.
- Flies in excess: A few flies here and there won’t harm your chickens. In fact, most of them love them and their egg larvae! However, some flies can carry diseases (such as worms) that can infect your chickens.
- Snails and slugs: These garden favorites should be avoided by chickens because they are known to pass tapeworms to your chickens. They are technically edible to chickens, but it’s good to know that there is a risk involved.
Now you know everything about whether chicken can eat grasshoppers, and if they are nutritious for them.
Conclusion
There are a lot of things that can harm your chickens, but grasshoppers are not one of them. Grasshoppers encourage a chicken’s natural tendency to find its own food.
Grasshoppers and other insects have protein and other nutrients that can help your chicken’s immune system and help them eat more protein.
Blister beetles and other small bugs can have the potential of carrying infectious diseases or worms that can be transmitted to your chickens. Feed quality snacks and feed for your chickens to have their best life.