Chicken treats
Treats made for pet chickens — herby blocks, corn and grit mixes, hanging peck feeders — are a genuine part of keeping backyard poultry entertained, but they work best as an occasional extra alongside a proper layer feed, not as a replacement for it. Offered little and often, they give hens something to work for rather than simply more food sitting in the run.
What poultry treats actually are
Most chicken treats fall into a few types: a corn and grit scratch mix scattered for foraging, a compressed herby block or peck feeder designed to hang and be pecked at over time, and dried mealworm or similar high-protein snacks. Each does a slightly different job — scratch mixes encourage natural ground foraging, while hanging blocks and feeders slow hens down and give them something to do during the day.
None of these are formulated to be a complete diet on their own, and treating them as one is the main way owners accidentally unbalance a flock's nutrition, particularly for laying hens who need a properly balanced layer feed as the bulk of what they eat.
Why enrichment matters for chickens
Hens are natural foragers, spending much of their day in the wild scratching, pecking and investigating rather than eating from a single dish. A run with nothing to forage in leads to boredom, which in a flock can show up as feather pecking or bullying between birds. A hanging treat feeder or scattered scratch mix gives them something closer to that natural foraging behaviour.
Rotating where and how treats are offered — moving a hanging feeder, scattering scratch in a different corner of the run — keeps the novelty working rather than the flock losing interest in a fixed spot.
Keeping treats a small part of the diet
A general guide many keepers use is to keep treats to a small fraction of a hen's daily intake, with the bulk of the diet coming from a proper layer feed formulated for their nutritional needs. Too many treats, particularly scratch corn which is calorie-dense, can lead to overweight birds and reduced laying over time.
Fresh water needs to be available at all times alongside any treat, and anything left out that has gone damp or mouldy in the run should be cleared away rather than left for the birds to find later.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Supa Poultry Mixed Grit
A mixed flint and oystershell grit for chickens, combining grinding grit with a calcium source
From£4.75
Johnson's Poultry Corn 'N' Grit Treat
A 270g corn and grit treat for poultry keepers, sold to help digestion
£3.85
Johnson's Poultry Housing Spray
An HSE-approved 250ml aerosol to kill mites, lice and fleas in poultry housing
£6.25
Johnson's Poultry Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner
Apple cider vinegar water conditioner for chickens, ducks, geese and other poultry
£6.99
Johnson's Poultry Tonic
A 500ml multi-vitamin conditioning tonic for chickens and other poultry
£11.99
Johnson's Poultry Mite & Lice Powder
A 250g diatomaceous earth powder to keep bird housing dry and discourage red mite
£6.79
Supa Anti Perch Chick Trough Feeder
A 30cm trough feeder for young birds with an anti-perch bar to stop fouling
£7.99
Supa Poultry & Bird Feeder
Gravity-fed 6kg feeder for poultry and game birds, stands on the ground or hangs
£14.99
Supa Poultry & Bird Drinker
A 6 litre gravity drinker for poultry, with a dome top birds cannot perch on
£9.99
Supa Poultry Aviary Bird Feeder
Supa gravity-fed poultry and aviary bird feeders in two capacity options
From£5.99
Supa Poultry & Avian Bird Drinker
Supa red and white 3-litre gravity bird drinker for ground or hanging use, made in the UK
£6.99
Mr Johnson's Poultry Grit
A 1kg bag of insoluble grit to help hens grind food down for better digestion
£2.06
Common questions
- How often should I give my chickens treats?
- A little most days is fine, but treats should stay a small addition to a proper layer feed rather than a large part of the diet. Too much scratch corn or similar calorie-dense treat can lead to overweight hens and can affect laying.
- Are hanging peck feeders good for chickens?
- Yes, they encourage natural foraging behaviour and help keep a flock occupied through the day, which reduces boredom-driven problems like feather pecking. They work well alongside, not instead of, a proper layer feed.
- Can chicken treats replace layer feed?
- No, treats are not formulated to be a complete diet and should never replace a proper layer feed, which is balanced for a hen's nutritional and laying needs. Treats are an extra, not a substitute.
- What treats are bad for chickens?
- Avoid anything mouldy, salty processed food, or large amounts of anything sugary, none of which suit a hen's digestive system. Purpose-made poultry treats and small amounts of appropriate fresh vegetables are the safer choice.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.