Foraging is the act of searching for food, an instinct inherited from the chicken’s wild ancestors, the Red Junglefowl. For a domestic chicken, this drive to explore, scratch, and peck is a fundamental part of its nature. Engaging in this activity is as basic as clucking or roosting, fulfilling a biological and psychological need.
Foraging Behavior and Instincts
The most characteristic foraging action is the “scratch-and-peck” method. A chicken will use its strong feet and claws to kick backward, disturbing topsoil, leaf litter, or other ground coverings. This unearths potential food items that are then assessed by its sharp eyes. This behavior is not learned but is an instinctive motor pattern that even young chicks will perform.
This constant searching provides mental stimulation, serving as a natural form of enrichment. When chickens are unable to forage, they can become bored and stressed, which may lead to behaviors like aggressive feather pecking or cannibalism. The act of foraging keeps their minds active, preventing these issues and channeling their energy into a productive activity.
The sensory experience of foraging is also a component of a chicken’s well-being. The process of scratching, finding, and eating a morsel contributes to a fulfilling daily routine. This process satisfies more than just hunger; it fulfills a behavioral need to interact with the environment. Chickens are so motivated to perform this behavior that they will do so even when a complete feed is readily available.
Dietary Finds During Foraging
As chickens explore, they consume a varied diet that supplements their regular feed. A primary target is insects, slugs, and earthworms, which are excellent sources of protein. Chickens are adept hunters of grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and termites. This live prey helps satisfy their need for animal protein.
Green plant matter is another substantial part of their foraged diet. They will readily eat tender greens like clover, dandelion, chickweed, and young grasses. These plants provide vitamins and minerals that contribute to their overall health and egg quality, offering nutrients not always abundant in commercial feeds.
Chickens also consume seeds they find from weeds or grasses. If foraging near mature trees, they may also find fallen fruits and nuts to peck at. A less obvious but important dietary find is grit. Chickens ingest small particles like tiny stones or coarse sand, which travel to their gizzard. This grit is used to grind down tough foods like seeds and insect exoskeletons, making digestion possible.
Setting Up a Foraging Area
Creating a dedicated foraging area requires secure fencing. Predators are a constant threat, so the enclosure must be robust enough to keep out animals like foxes, raccoons, and hawks. The fence should be buried several inches deep to deter digging predators and be tall enough to prevent chickens from flying over.
Enriching the foraging environment makes the space more engaging. Piling up leaves, straw, or unfinished compost gives chickens a medium to scratch through, mimicking a natural forest floor. These materials also attract insects and worms, providing a renewing food source. The chickens’ scratching will also help break down this organic matter.
Planting chicken-friendly vegetation within the enclosure can supplement their diet. Herbs like oregano, mint, and parsley are safe for them to eat and can contribute to their well-being. It is also important to identify and remove any toxic plants from the area. Common ornamental plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and rhubarb leaves are poisonous to chickens and must be cleared from any space they can access.
Potential Foraging Hazards
The most immediate danger to foraging chickens comes from predators. Hawks, eagles, and owls can strike from above, while ground predators like foxes, raccoons, weasels, and even neighborhood dogs pose a significant threat. Supervision is an effective deterrent, but a secure run with overhead netting offers more reliable protection, especially if chickens are left unattended.
Chemical contamination presents another serious risk. Pesticides and herbicides sprayed on lawns or gardens, even on neighboring properties, can drift into the foraging area. Chickens can ingest these toxic chemicals directly by eating treated plants or indirectly by consuming poisoned insects. This exposure can lead to illness or death, so it is best to maintain a chemical-free zone around their enclosure.
The environment itself can hide physical dangers. Chickens may accidentally ingest small, sharp objects like shards of glass, metal staples, or bits of plastic hidden in the soil or leaf litter. These items can cause internal injury or blockages. Foragers are also at a higher risk of exposure to external parasites like mites and lice, as well as internal worms, which are contracted from contaminated soil or infected insects.