Why You Should Never Feed Wild Bird Suet to Your Backyard Chickens: The Surprising Dangers

Backyard chickens bring joy and fresh eggs to any homestead, but offering the right diet is crucial for their health. Many owners mistakenly believe that wild bird food, like suet, is safe for chickens. This post highlights the serious risks of feeding wild bird suet to your backyard chickens.

Understanding Suet and Its Ingredients

Suet is primarily rendered animal fat enhanced with seeds, dried fruits, and other additives to lure wild birds. While it can be an energy booster for them, it isn't made for chickens, whose nutritional needs differ substantially.

For instance, a typical suet cake may contain over 50% fat, which is too high for chickens. They need balanced nutrition from grains, seeds, and greens to stay healthy. Feeding them suet can cause nutritional imbalances that might not manifest immediately but can have serious long-term effects.

The Digestive Disturbance Effect

Feeding suet to your chickens can trigger significant digestive issues. Chickens possess a unique digestive system that struggles with high-fat content. Such disturbances can lead to problems like diarrhea or more serious gastrointestinal illnesses.

Consider a feeding scenario: if you introduce suet into their diet regularly, chickens may begin showing signs of distress, like decreased appetite and weight loss. Instead of thriving on a diet rich in fiber and low in fat, they could suffer malnourishment despite having food available.

Risk of Obesity and Related Health Issues

Obesity is a significant concern when chickens are fed high-fat foods like suet. Unlike wild birds that have faster metabolisms and are more active, chickens generally spend more time foraging and can quickly gain weight.

Statistics show that over 70% of pet chickens can become overweight if they consume diets high in fat. This weight gain increases the risk of serious health problems, including heart disease, reproductive issues, and a decrease in egg production. Keeping your chickens at a healthy weight is vital for their productivity and overall wellbeing.

Potential Contaminants in Suet

Suet blends available in stores can harbor unsafe preservatives, artificial additives, or treated seeds that pose health risks to chickens. For instance, if seeds in suet are coated with pesticides, consuming them can harm their health or lead to poisoning.

Proper storage of suet is also crucial. If left unrefrigerated, it can grow harmful bacteria like salmonella. For chickens raised for egg production, the last thing you want is to jeopardize their health or the safety of your family's food supply.

Behavioral Changes and Social Dynamics

Chickens are social animals, and their diet can influence their behavior. If one chicken consumes too much suet and becomes dominant, this can lead to aggression over food among the flock. Such competition may stress the group and upset their social dynamics.

Under heightened stress, chickens may engage in harmful behaviors like feather-pecking or, in extreme cases, cannibalism. Creating a peaceful environment is essential for their wellbeing, and a sound diet is a key part of that.

The Best Alternatives for Chicken Treats IS Their Chicken Feed

If you're keen to treat your backyard chickens without the risks associated with suet, there are safer and nutritious options are available called Enrichment Activities using their chicken feed.

• Commercial chicken feed:

  1. Using their chicken feed, place cage cups around the perimeter of the run, it's offering the chickens their feed in a different way and gives all the chickens space to eat their chicken feed without fighting over the feeder.

  
  

  2. Cut small holes in an empty gatorade bottle. Fill the bottle with their chicken feed. They will knock the bottle around in the run trying to get the chicken feed out as it stimulates them and keeps them busy. We call it Chicken Soccer.

  
  
  
  

  By choosing this healthier option, you are ensured they are getting the right nutritional balance.

Final Thoughts

Feeding wild bird suet to your backyard chickens may seem harmless, but it can result in serious health and behavioral issues. From digestive upsets and obesity to potential contaminants and social problems, the risks are significant.

Instead, focus on feeding them a balanced diet with their nutritionally complete chicken feed, providing enrichment activities.