Natural chicken diet: key to healthier and more sustainable feed

In their breeding space they love to eat grass, plants and clover, but what they love most is finding rich sources of protein in the soil. They love everything from beetles and grasshoppers to fly larvae, maggots and even ticks. These insects not only provide them with a delicious source of nutrition, but also give them the opportunity to practice their natural foraging instinct. Thus, they find worms, centipedes, mealybugs and other organisms visually invisible to the human eye, supplementing their diet with a diversity of animal protein and forage naturally, thus reducing dependence on cereals.

It is important to note that chickens are omnivorous animals and require a balanced diet to remain healthy. In fact, they have a featherless face to facilitate cleaning after feeding meat, which is completely natural for them.

Their anatomy is similar to that of scavenger birds, such as vultures, and interestingly, the T-Rex, a famous carnivorous predator, is believed to be adistant relative of these birds.

The need for protein is crucial for poultry, and their instinct drives them to seek it out. If it is not provided in their diet, they may begin to peck at each other for a variety of reasons, such as stress and boredom. Unfortunately, this is common in confined mass production facilities, where the lack of space and freedom can increase violence among them. To avoid this, factory farms often cut off the birds’ beaks, a shocking solution.

Animals deserve respect, as living beings, and just like us, chickens need their space and freedom to carry out their natural activities, such as foraging for fresh food and living outdoors.