What Can You Feed Chickens as a Natural Treat? A UK Chicken Keeper’s Guide

One of the most common questions chicken keepers ask is also one of the most sensible: what can I safely feed my chickens as a natural treat? Whether you’re new to keeping hens or have had a flock for years, it’s normal to want to give them something extra from time to time. Treats are a way to reward your birds, add interest to their day, and support their health when chosen carefully.

In the UK, however, not everything that looks like a good treat actually is one. Feeding chickens responsibly means understanding what fits with their natural diet, what supports their nutritional needs, and what is appropriate under UK feeding rules. When you take all of that into account, the best natural treats are those that work with a chicken’s instincts, not against them

Why Natural Treats Matter for Chickens

Chickens are natural foragers. Long before modern feeds existed, they survived by scratching through soil, leaf litter, and vegetation in search of insects, seeds, and plant matter. That instinct hasn’t disappeared. Even well-fed chickens will spend hours exploring their environment, and that behaviour plays an important role in their wellbeing.

Natural treats tap into this instinctive behaviour. They encourage movement, mental stimulation, and engagement with the environment. This is particularly important for backyard flocks or chickens that don’t free-range every day. A good natural treat should feel familiar to a chicken, not confusing or overly processed.

The Difference Between Natural Treats and Convenience Treat

Many people assume that if something is sold as a chicken treat, it must be suitable. In reality, there’s a big difference between treats that are convenient and those that are genuinely natural for chickens.

Some treats are designed primarily for ease of feeding rather than nutritional value. Chickens may enjoy them, but enjoyment alone doesn’t make something beneficial. Natural treats are those that resemble what chickens would choose if left to their own devices. Insects are a prime example of this, as they form a natural part of a chicken’s diet in the wild.

This is why so many experienced keepers gravitate towards insect-based treats once they understand what chickens are really meant to eat.

Why Live Insects Are a Natural Choice for Chickens

Insects offer something that many other treats don’t: a combination of nutrition and enrichment. When chickens eat live insects, they aren’t just consuming food, they’re engaging in natural hunting behaviour. Chasing, pecking, and scratching are all part of the process.

Live Calci Worms fit perfectly into this category. They are a natural, high-value food source that chickens instinctively recognise. Unlike static treats, they encourage activity and focus, which contributes to both physical and mental health.

If you’re interested in understanding why they’re so highly regarded, this post explains why live Calci Worms are a must-have superfood for chickens in more detail:
https://syntects.co.uk/why-calci-worms-are-a-must-have-superfood-for-chickens

Nutritional Benefits of Natural Treats

Natural treats should offer more than just entertainment. Ideally, they provide nutrients that support a chicken’s overall health. Protein is particularly important, especially during moulting or periods of stress, while calcium plays a key role in eggshell strength and bone health.

Live Calci Worms naturally contain both protein and calcium, which is one of the reasons they are often considered among the best treats for chickens. They offer nutritional support in a form that chickens can easily digest and use, without the need for artificial additives or processing.
https://syntects.co.uk/best-treats-for-chickens-why-live-calci-worms-are-the-best-choice

What UK Chicken Keepers Need to Know About Safety and Legality

Feeding chickens responsibly in the UK also means being aware of what is legally appropriate. Poultry are permitted to eat live insects, which makes live insect treats a suitable and responsible option when sourced correctly.

This distinction matters, and it’s one of the reasons choosing the right supplier is important. Freshness, quality control, and transparency all play a role in ensuring that natural treats remain safe and beneficial.

If you want a clear explanation of this topic, the guide Are Calci Worms Safe for Chickens? What UK Chicken Keepers Need to Know covers it in depth:
https://syntects.co.uk/are-calci-worms-safe-for-chickens-what-uk-chicken-keepers-need-to-know

How Often Should Natural Treats Be Fed?

Even natural treats should be fed with moderation in mind. Chickens still rely on their main feed for balanced nutrition, and treats are there to supplement, not replace, that foundation.

Most keepers find that offering natural treats a few times a week works well. This keeps chickens interested and engaged without encouraging them to ignore their regular feed. Because live Calci Worms are nutrient-dense, small amounts are usually enough to see benefits.

For a more detailed look at feeding frequency, this practical guide explains how often you should feed Calci Worms to chickens:
https://syntects.co.uk/how-often-should-you-feed-calci-worms-to-chickens-a-practical-guide-for-any-flock

Choosing a Natural Treat You Can Trust

One of the challenges for chicken keepers is knowing where their treats come from. Natural doesn’t just describe the treat itself, but also how it’s produced and supplied. UK-based production, freshness, and quality control all help ensure that what you’re feeding your chickens is genuinely suitable.

Syntects produces live Calci Worms in the UK, with a strong focus on responsible production and consistency. This allows keepers to feed natural treats with confidence, knowing they align with both chicken welfare and UK best practice.

If you’d like to explore live Calci Worms for your flock, they’re available here for smaller flocks:
https://syntects.co.uk/product/live-large-larvae

And here for larger flocks or regular feeding routines:
https://syntects.co.uk/product/live-large-larvae-bulk

Natural Treats That Support Healthy Chickens

Natural treats should enhance chicken keeping, not complicate it. When chosen thoughtfully, they support natural behaviour, provide valuable nutrition, and make caring for chickens more rewarding.

For UK chicken keepers looking to feed responsibly, live Calci Worms offer a natural solution that fits how chickens are meant to eat. They encourage foraging, support health, and give keepers confidence that they’re making informed choices.

With Syntects, natural feeding is about balance, understanding, and care — and that’s what makes the difference.