Should Chickens Eat Chicken Meat? The Pros and Cons
As a chicken owner, you likely want to provide the best diet possible for your flock. And you may have wondered, can chickens eat chicken meat?
This is actually a debated topic among backyard chicken keepers. Some argue that feeding chickens meat from other chickens is natural and healthy. Others raise concerns that it could lead to disease transmission or problematic behaviors like cannibalism.
In this article, we’ll explore both sides of this issue, looking at the potential benefits and risks You’ll learn about the nutritional value of chicken meat for chickens, health considerations, and cultural perspectives. With the facts in hand, you can make an informed decision about whether to include chicken meat in your chickens’ diet
The Nutritional Benefits
Chicken meat can provide some nutritional benefits for chickens. According to The Homesteading RD, chicken meat contains about 26 grams of protein per 3 ounce serving. It is also a good source of nutrients like niacin vitamin B6, and phosphorus.
The high protein content is one of the biggest advantages. Protein is essential for egg production, growth, and overall health in chickens. When bugs and other protein sources are scarce in winter, chicken meat could provide a boost.
Giving chicken meat may be especially helpful during high protein demand times like
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Spring, when egg production ramps up
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Molting seasons in fall and spring
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Growth spurts in young chicks
Chicken meat may also help provide calories for underweight chickens.
Potential Health Risks
However, feeding chicken meat also carries some potential downsides. The Backyard Chicken Chatter highlights concerns about hormones, steroids, and antibiotics used in commercial chicken production. Traces of these substances could be passed on to backyard flocks through contaminated meat. This could lead to issues like:
- Weakened immune systems
- Reproductive problems
- Antibiotic resistant bacteria
Bacteria like Salmonella are another worry with raw or undercooked chicken meat. Chickens could develop diarrhea, vomiting, or other illnesses if they ingest contaminated meat.
There are also differing opinions on whether chicken meat increases the risk of problematic behaviors like cannibalism. Some chicken keepers argue it can trigger chickens to peck or eat flock members. Others say they’ve fed chicken without any issues. More research may be needed to definitively answer this question.
Cultural Perspectives
Interestingly, feeding chickens chicken meat was more accepted in some ancient and traditional cultures. As The Homesteading RD explains, some farmers intentionally fed small amounts as a nutritional supplement and “medicine.” Others saw chicken meat as helping balance the body’s energy.
In places like rural Korea and Africa, the practice continues today, viewed as a necessary protein source. But in Western countries, feeding chicken meat is often seen as taboo or unethical. Concerns about animal welfare and disease transmission make this a controversial practice.
How To Feed Chicken Meat Safely
If you do choose to feed chicken meat, proper handling is crucial to avoid illness. Here are some tips from backyard chicken experts:
- Cook meat thoroughly to 165°F to kill bacteria like Salmonella
- Cool before serving to prevent choking or crop burns
- Remove skin, bones, fat, and seasonings
- Chop into bite-size pieces for easier digestion
- Limit to 10-15% of diet to prevent nutritional imbalances
- Introduce slowly to avoid upsetting digestive systems
- Store safely at under 40°F to prevent spoilage
It may be safest to use organic, antibiotic-free chicken when possible. Strict biosecurity measures should also be followed to prevent disease transmission.
Alternatives to Chicken Meat
If you decide against chicken meat, no worries – there are alternatives! Backyard Chicken Chatter suggests options like:
- Cooked eggs – an excellent source of protein and calcium
- Canned cat food – high in protein and easy to digest
- Mealworms – contain up to 60% protein
- Beef, turkey, or fish – lean red meats provide iron and protein
- Soybean meal – quality plant-based protein
You can also feed your flock vitamin-rich treats like leafy greens, squash, or fruit. A nutritious commercial feed combined with snacks and free-ranging usually provides adequate nutrition without chicken meat.
Conclusion: A Personal Decision
Whether chickens should eat chicken meat comes down to your own preferences as a chicken keeper. There are decent arguments on both sides of this debate. The key is making sure your flock’s nutritional needs are met, no matter which diet you provide.
If fed and handled properly, chicken meat could offer some benefits. But there are also understandable concerns about health, behavior, and ethics. Commercial feeds, eggs, mealworms, and other proteins offer alternatives if you wish to avoid chicken meat.
As with any decision about your backyard flock, research the facts and risks thoroughly first. Consult your vet, experienced mentors, and chicken keeping resources to make the best choice for your situation. With proper care and management, chickens can thrive on a variety of healthy diets.
The Risks Of Feeding Raw Meat to Your Chickens
It’s wise to think twice before you let your chickens eat raw meat, including ground beef, hamburgers, chicken, pork, and steak as it comes with certain risks of foodborne illnesses—the most common of which are Norovirus, Salmonella, Listeria, and E.Coli.
And while it’s perfectly natural for your chickens to scratch and forage anything and everything and even peck at morsels straight from carcasses and bones, feeding carcasses to your flock goes against general recommendations as they can be the source of contamination—and this especially goes for Newcastle disease and Salmonella.
With Salmonella, in particular, alongside carcasses, there are other sources of transmission posing a risk of contaminating your flock and these include rats and mice, contaminated droppings as well as manure piles.
Importantly, having Salmonella spread among your flock is no small concern. Chicks under 3 weeks old are the most vulnerable, with experts reporting whopping mortality rates reaching up to 100% within the first 2–3 weeks of age. And it doesn’t stop at that.
Poultry contaminated with Salmonella can spread the infection to your human household members via contact with chicken feces, tasting undercooked chicken, or eating contaminated eggs. Now get this. Salmonella is found in 8% of the chicken parts tested by the USDA and 25% of ground chicken which goes to show how common it is among the poultry population.
Everything being said, it makes sense to go easy on the raw meat in your poultry diet and to exercise some caution when meat’s on the menu (which brings us to our next section).
Can I Feed Raw Meat to My Chickens?
Claiming that chickens are vegan or vegetarian is a widely spread misconception. These evolved “mini dinosaurs” can take an odd piece of meat here and there, though raw meat may not be an ideal type of feed to give to your flock regularly.
So, is it ok for chickens to eat meat? Absolutely. Meat sources are certainly where chickens got their protein from when they were freely roaming in the wild. Chickens are highly apt foragers and can even be considered scavengers as they won’t turn up their noses on a piece of carrion if they stumbled upon one in the wild.
So, yes, your chickens would eat raw meat if they lived in genuinely free-range conditions, quite enthusiastically so. Yet, raw meat can carry harmful bacteria and toxins such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, or Clostridium perfringens.
This is why for safety reasons you should consider cooking meat before feeding it to your chickens. Furthermore, if you do decide to treat your birds with an occasional meat morsel, but you’re still in doubt if raw meat is okay for chickens, just make sure you offer them some well-picked fresh pieces.
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FAQ
Can you eat chicken 2?
Eating chicken that is half-cooked can pose serious health risks due to the potential presence of harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter. These bacteria can cause foodborne illnesses, leading to symptoms like: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal pain Fever.
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.
Why would chickens eat another chicken?
Chickens may resort to eating another chicken, a behavior known as cannibalism, due to a combination of factors including overcrowding, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental stressors.
Do chickens really need chicken feed?
Even if you feed them things like seeds, fruit, veggies, and let them free range, they’ll still need chicken feed. Also you’d need to look up what they can and cannot eat. They can’t live on just table scraps.
Can chickens eat meat?
Chickens can eat meat, but you have to be careful with the kind of meat that you feed your chickens. Chickens should only eat fresh and cooked meats. Do not feed your chickens with food sources that will make them sick. Always give your chickens healthy feeds and treats. One downside of raising chickens, however, is the high cost of feed.
Can chickens eat other chickens?
While it’s true that chickens are omnivores and naturally eat other chickens, it’s not recommended to feed chicken meat, organs, or products back to chickens. However, some people argue that it’s safe for chickens to eat chicken as long as it’s fresh and properly handled.
Should chickens be cooked properly?
Properly cooked meat minimizes the risk of bacterial contamination and safeguards the health of your chickens. Ensure that the meat is cooked completely, reaching the appropriate internal temperature for safe consumption. 3. Avoid Seasoned or Processed Meats
Should you feed chickens a chicken?
One of the most significant concerns of feeding chickens a chicken is the potential for disease transmission. Chickens can carry diseases such as avian influenza and salmonella that can easily be passed to other chickens. Feeding them chicken meat can cause these diseases to spread quickly.
Why do chickens eat meat?
Meat gives chickens several health benefits. Some advantages are: 1. Protein-rich meat is great for chicken: Chickens get more protein from meat. Their body needs protein to create muscle and repair themselves. Lack of protein delays chickens’ recovery from injury and weakness. So, feeding chickens meat keeps them healthy.
Can baby chickens eat meat?
It is advisable to avoid feeding chickens their own species’ meat or by-products and stick to a balanced omnivorous diet. Baby chicks can start eating meat from their first day, but precautions such as avoiding processed meats and seasoning should be taken. Chickens are omnivores, meaning they eat both plant and animal matter.