For backyard chicken keepers, one of the biggest concerns is protecting their flock from predators. Birds of prey, in particular, are notorious chicken hunters that can threaten even large adult chickens. So an important question for any poultry owner is: will birds actually eat chicken?
The short answer is yes. While it may seem unusual, wild birds like hawks, eagles and crows do sometimes prey on domestic chickens.
Why Would Birds Eat Chicken?
Wild predatory birds are natural hunters designed to eat meat. Raptors like hawks and eagles have powerful talons and hooked beaks perfectly evolved for tearing flesh. A plump chicken in an open run or yard makes for an easy meal.
Scavenger birds like crows and vultures also readily eat carrion. They frequent farms looking for any dead or dying animals to feed on including chickens.
So for these birds, chicken is a convenient source of protein and nutrients. In the wild, they must constantly hunt for food. A chicken coop full of birds is like an open buffet to them.
Large Birds of Prey Are the Biggest Threat
Predatory raptors are among the most dangerous avian hunters of backyard chickens. Their keen eyesight and aerial agility allows them to spot a chicken from high above and swoop down to snatch them.
Bald eagles are one of the primary concerns, especially for free-range flocks. As opportunistic predators, they actively hunt small livestock like chickens. Their powerful talons can lift adult chickens as they fly off.
Hawks are also frequent chicken hunters. Red-tailed hawks and Cooper’s hawks are well known for targeting backyard poultry. They often perch on trees or posts near a farm, waiting patiently to ambush chickens as they come into view.
Owls are stealth nocturnal predators. Great horned owls in particular are a serious threat to chickens. Their silent flight allows them to swoop in at night unseen, crushing chickens with their vice-like talons
Crows, Jays and Other Birds Also Eat Chicken
Along with raptors, other predatory birds will eat chicken when given the chance. Clever crows are problematic, especially for chicks and eggs. Jays like blue jays will also take young chicks.
Some birds even seem to have learned techniques for stealing chickens. Grackles in particular have been observed distracting chickens with food to carry off chicks.
Starlings, pigeons, blackbirds and other large bird flocks can also overwhelm and stress chickens to the point of mortality. So while not direct predators, they still pose a threat.
Why Do Birds Eat Chicken But Not Each Other?
When learning that predatory birds eat chickens, a natural question is why don’t they eat each other? The answer lies in natural aversion behaviors that deter birds of the same species from violence.
For example, raptors use non-lethal shows of aggression like talon grappling to establish dominance. This allows them to resolve conflicts without fatalities. Many also have distinctive plumage signaling they are not prey.
So while hungry predators like hawks may eat a vulnerable chicken, they avoid lethal attacks on their own kind through innate behaviors. This allows them to coexist within their ecological roles.
Protecting Chickens from Avian Predators
Fortunately, there are ways chicken owners can reduce attacks from predatory birds:
- Install bird netting over runs to block aerial assaults
- Use prey decoys like fake owls to deter wild birds
- Keep chickens in a fully enclosed coop at night
- Use reflective tape and noisy deterrents to scare off birds
- Remove exterior roosting spots birds use to approach the coop
- Keep chickens away from dense bushes and trees where birds perch
Following these precautions minimizes a flock’s exposure to wild birds of prey. Being alert and reacting quickly to any signs of predator interest is also crucial to protect chickens.
Providing a Balanced Diet for Chickens
While wild birds eat chicken for sustenance, domestic chickens have their dietary needs met by their owners. Feeding a complete commercial diet and keeping feed in sealed containers limits chickens natural foraging.
Laying chickens need about 15-18% protein in their feed mix. This can come from soybean, fish meal or other non-animal sources. Protein helps produce healthy eggs and keeps chickens energetic.
They also need calcium from sources like limestone or oyster shell to form strong eggshells. And antioxidants from ingredients like flaxseed keep chickens healthy.
Free access to fresh water is essential too. Together with proper housing, a balanced diet will keep backyard chickens healthy and productive without the risks of foraging.
Should Chickens Eat Chicken? The Risks of Feeding Meat and Eggs
Well-meaning owners may wonder if feeding chicken meat or eggs provides a healthy boost to their chickens’ diets. However, this carries some risks that indicate otherwise.
Eating meat and eggs can expose chickens to bacteria like salmonella and parasites like tapeworms. Chickens kept in sanitary conditions are not adapted to handle these pathogens. Their immune systems aren’t conditioned like their wild counterparts.
Feeding eggs also encourages problematic behaviors like egg eating and cannibalism. The protein content in commercial feed eliminates nutritional deficiencies that lead to these behaviors in the first place.
In some cases, chickens may even refuse to eat eggs or chicken meat. Like other bird species, chickens likely have innate senses to avoid consuming their own kind.
Can Eating Chicken Make Birds Sick? How to Feed Chicken Safely
When feeding chicken to backyard birds, keep in mind that raw chicken may contain salmonella. Cooked, unseasoned chicken is safer for birds. Preventing illness is easy:
- Remove skin, fat and bones to reduce choking hazards
- Cook chicken thoroughly to 165°F to kill bacteria
- Cool to room temperature before feeding
- Rinse off seasonings, salt and oil
- Only feed small, bite-sized pieces
High salt levels can also harm birds, so avoid lunch meats and seasoned products. Fatty chicken can lead to obesity-related issues.
With proper precautions, occasional cooked chicken can be a healthy treat. But birds should still get most of their nutrition from quality seeds, pellets and produce.
The Bottom Line: Predatory Birds Naturally Eat Chicken
In the end, it’s natural for predatory birds to prey on chickens as easily accessible food sources. Their instincts drive them to hunt. Thankfully with proper housing and care, backyard flocks can largely be protected.
Determined predators may still occasionally claim a chicken. But attentive owners can quickly shore up vulnerabilities in coop security when this happens. With some vigilance, harmoniously coexisting with local wildlife is certainly possible.
By understanding the motivations and behaviors of predatory birds, we can better safeguard our flocks. Being proactive is key to minimizing losses while still embracing our innate connection with the nature around us.
Control Water Sources
Waterers should be kept inside the coop, and the coop secured against wild birds as detailed above.
Choose a Nipple or Cup Waterer. Not only is the water less accessible to wild birds, but the outlet design prevents contamination.
Open waterers, including hanging bell waterers, have a much higher risk of contamination with disease and are more accessible to wild birds.
Chickens should never be given water in an open container such as a bucket, as this is not only easily contaminated but very attractive to wild birds.
Because waterfowl are often carriers of Avian Influenza, chickens should not drink from puddles or dams, particularly those frequented by wild birds. This is good practice anyway, as dirty water carries many parasites and diseases.
Water can transmit parasites and diseases. Dam water, particularly where the dam is frequented by wild birds, is not recommended for chickens. The same goes for creeks and rivers. Rainwater is also a risk, as it may be contaminated with bird droppings.
The best water source for chickens is mains water, which has been treated to ensure it is free from parasites and diseases. If you do not have access to town water, water can be boiled for 3 minutes and allowed to cool, or treated with chlorine (0.5mg/L) to sanitise.
Control Food Sources
Wild birds generally only come to the chicken coop for food. So preventing access to food is the main way to prevent wild birds hanging around.
Feeders should be kept inside the coop, and the coop should be secured against wild birds as detailed above.
Avoid feeding wild birds if you keep chickens, and never leave chicken food out where wild birds can access it. This includes scraps and treats.
If you give your chickens scraps, use a dish and clean the scraps up after your chickens have eaten their fill. Don’t leave the dish out where wild birds can access it and pick up all uneaten scraps. If wild birds are a problem, stay with your chickens to keep any pest birds away while your chickens are eating or feed your chickens only inside the coop.
When cleaning up scraps, use a dustpan and brush or a shovel to be sure that no feed remains on the ground.
Dine-A-Chook Feeders can help deter wild birds. Combined with other strategies, a Dine-A-Chook Feeder will help keep wild birds out of the coop by making sure feed isnt visible. It will also prevent spilled feed, which is often the main attractant for wild birds.
Containers: Use galvanized steel trash cans or heavy-duty plastic bins with secure lids to store feed. Ensure containers are kept in a locked shed or similar structure to prevent wild birds and other pests from accessing them.
Some wild birds, such as crows, steal chicken eggs. Collecting eggs regularly removes this food source, deterring birds. If you are not home during the day, a Roll-Away Nesting Box can also help deter wild birds attracted to the coop for the eggs.
Will chickens eat chicken meat? #backyardchickens #chickens #shorts
FAQ
Will birds eat chickens?
Hawks and raptors only take one chicken per visit, eating the breast of their kill first. Owls may take one to two birds per night and have even been known to sneak into chicken coops. They eat the head and neck of their kill and will leave talon wounds in the body.
Can I feed chicken to my bird?
Domesticated birds, parrots, do eat meat. It is very common for owners to feed their birds chicken, beef, pork, fish, any kind of meat. My birds love chicken wings. It is also good for them, as long as there is not much added salt.It is a very good source of protein.
Will backyard birds eat chicken feed?
Yes, wild birds can eat chicken feed, but it may not be the most suitable diet for them. Chicken feed is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of chickens, which differ from those of wild birds.
How do I stop birds from eating my chicken feed?
Inexpensive Deterrents
Other ways to keep wild birds from your chicken area can be hanging old CD’s with string or twine, pinwheels or shiny tape like Nite-Guard-Repellent-Tape around your coop or run. When these move in the wind, the sudden flashes of light startle the birds.
Do birds eat chicken?
Birds that sometimes eat chicken include wild birds that you might be lucky enough to see in your garden and pet birds like parrots. Some wild birds may also take chicken meat to their chicks as a food source – although their natural diet (primarily insects) will be preferable.
What can I eat if my bird eats chicken?
Some meats can safely supplement your bird’s diet. Cooked turkey, for instance, offers similar benefits to chicken without the high fat content. Lean cuts, like boiled or grilled turkey breast, are best. Avoid any seasonings or added oils. Additionally, small amounts of cooked fish, such as salmon, can provide beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
Can birds eat fried chicken?
You should never feed a bird meat that has spoiled or rotten. Make sure that you feed only grilled, roasted, or boiled plain chicken to birds. And try to avoid giving birds chicken if it has been salted or otherwise heavily seasoned, as this could pose a health risk to birds. Fried chicken can be very fatty and is best not given to birds.
Can birds eat leftover chicken?
But if you have some leftover chicken, it should be perfectly safe to leave this out for the birds or feed it to a pet bird. Just bear the following in mind: Never be tempted to give any chicken that is suspect for human consumption to wild or pet birds. You should never feed a bird meat that has spoiled or rotten.
Is chicken safe for birds?
Safe chicken options for birds include cooked chicken without any seasoning, small amounts of chicken skin, and raw, soft bones for calcium. All items should be small enough to prevent choking hazards. Why is chicken not recommended as a primary food for birds?
Do birds eat meat?
Protein is an essential part of a bird’s diet, but it can be found in the regular bird food that you would be providing for your bird. Birds will likely eat meat if you give it to them, but this doesn’t mean that they need it in their diet.