A high-protein chicken treat your flock will love: my Poultry Protein Platter.

There are times in a chicken's life when a little extra nutritional support can be helpful.

There’s nothing magical about this recipe. You’ll find plenty of similar ideas online and in books.

The key is to combine a variety of well-documented protein sources, using ingredients that are inexpensive, easy to find, and appropriate for short-term use when chickens need extra support.

This is my own Poultry Protein Platter recipe, but it isn’t fixed. I vary it depending on what I have available, and you should feel free to do the same.

Below are the ingredients I use most often — and why.

What's in this yummy treat, and why?

There's nothing magical about this recipe. You'll find plenty of similar ideas online and in books. 

The key is to combine a variety of well-documented protein sources using ingredients which are inexpensive, easy to find and which you may well already have in your kitchen cupboard.

This is my own Poultry Protein Platter recipe, but it isn't fixed. I vary it depending on what I have available, and you should feel free to do the same. 

Below are the ingredients I use most often, and why.

Dry ingredients.

Cayenne pepper.

This often surprises people, but I add cayenne because it's traditionally thought to support circulation and metabolism. Whether it truly speeds metabolism is open to debate, but it does no harm in small amounts.

Despite some online myths, it won't make eggs taste spicy, and chickens have very few taste buds, so it doesn't cause discomfort.

Eggshells.

I use my own eggshells, baked for ten minutes and ground into a fine powder, to provide a little extra calcium.

Chickens don't recognise baked, powdered shells as eggs, so this won't encourage egg eating.

Oats.

I use plain, whole oats rather than the quick or highly processed varieties. They're simple, natural, filling, and easy for chickens to digest.

Sunflower seeds.

Whole black sunflower seeds are an excellent protein and fat source. I grow my own, but shop-bought seeds work just as well.

Peas.

Fresh peas are ideal when available. At other times of year, frozen peas work well, and a can of unsalted sweetcorn is a good alternative.

Wet ingredients.

Cooked eggs.

Hard-boiled eggs, chopped finely, are easy to use. Scrambled eggs also work well and help bind the mixture together.

Avoid using raw eggs, as this can encourage egg eating. When scrambling, don’t add milk : chickens don’t digest dairy products well.

Fish.

This is the most popular ingredient with my flock.

Fresh sardines are ideal and can be mashed whole, including the soft bones. If using canned fish, choose sardines in oil rather than brine, which is too salty.

Garlic.

Garlic is a natural source of vitamin B6 and is well known for its antibacterial properties and immune support.

Despite persistent myths, it does not affect the taste of eggs. And it's easy to grow, even in pots, which makes it a convenient ingredient to have on hand.

Olive oil.

I use extra-virgin olive oil because it's readily available to me, but sunflower oil works just as well. Whichever you choose, make sure it's non-GMO.

Yoghurt.

Many high-protein chicken treat recipes use natural yoghurt as a binding agent because of its probiotic content.

However, chickens don't digest dairy particularly well. If you use yoghurt, choose a plain, unsweetened variety and use it sparingly.

A better solution is to add some probiotic powder (see below) mixed with water.

A word about probiotics.

I don't use medicated feed for my flock, but I do like to support digestive health with natural options.

Probiotics help maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, which supports digestion and overall health. I keep a poultry-specific probiotic supplement (affiliate link) in stock and use it mixed with water as a binder in this recipe.

If I don't have probiotics available I will use plain yoghurt instead, but always in small amounts.

High protein chicken treat: amounts.

Because this is a concentrated, high-protein treat, a little goes a long way.

I usually make two or three times what I need and store the rest in the fridge or freezer, depending on how quickly I plan to use it. The quantities below will feed around 15 chickens on two occasions.

Between feeds, keep the mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How to make the Poultry Protein Platter.

1. Chop the garlic finely.
2. Mash the fish, leaving the soft bones in.
3. If using frozen peas, boil them just long enough to defrost, then strain. Keep the water to one side.
4. Hard-boil the eggs, chop them into small pieces, and set the shells aside.
5. Bake the eggshells for ten minutes, allow them to cool, then crush into a fine powder. A pestle and mortar works well, but a rolling pin and freezer bag are fine too.
6. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sunflower seeds, and cayenne pepper.
7. Add the crushed eggshells, chopped eggs, fish, garlic, and peas, and mix thoroughly.
8. If using yoghurt, add it now. If using probiotic powder, add it and use the reserved pea water to moisten the mixture.
9. The final texture should be firm but not stiff, similar to a cake mixture.
10. Spread the mixture onto a tray, offer it to your flock, and stand well back to avoid the rush!

Storage notes.

If you've made more than you need, the mixture will store well:

• in the fridge for up to one week, or
• in the freezer for up to two months.

A final word about high protein treats.

This Poultry Protein Platter is just one option, and it's meant to be used thoughtfully.

• High-protein treats are best kept for specific situations: moulting, cold winter weather, recovery from stress, or times when natural foraging is limited. Given occasionally and in sensible amounts, they can help support your flock through more demanding periods.

• As always, variety matters. Feel free to adapt my Poultry Protein Platter recipe using other suitable ingredients, and pay attention to how your own chickens respond.

• And remember: good quality feed, fresh water, and a steady routine will always matter more than any single treat.

Did you know some plants are good for chicken health, too?

Here's a short video of my favourite flowers for the garden - and for my chickens' health.

Low in fat, high in beneficial nutrients, excellent as immune system boosters and best of all, easily grown in your garden! Try some now!

My favourite books about making sure your chickens are as healthy as can be!

I have all these books and have learned a huge amount from them. If you're looking for detailed, accurate and easy to read sources, start with any one of these!

(These are affiliate links, which means if you click and buy, I receive a small commission at no cost to you).

To see more detail about different types of supplements to a chicken's diet, click on these picture links.