What NOT to Feed Chickens in Summer (And What to Give Instead)

Summer is all about garden scraps, BBQ leftovers, and juicy fruits — but not everything that’s good for us is good for chickens.

When the temperatures rise, your flock’s digestion changes, and the wrong foods can quickly lead to heat stress, sour crop, or even spoiled feed. I’ve made some of these mistakes early on, and believe me — it’s not fun cleaning up after a sick chicken on a 95°F day.

So here’s a summer-specific list of what not to feed your chickens — plus a few treats they’ll love instead.

1. Corn & Scratch Grains in the Heat? Be Careful

Corn is a cold-weather favorite because it creates internal heat during digestion. But in summer, it can actually push your chickens closer to overheating.

Why it’s risky:
High-carb treats like cracked corn and scratch mix heat up your flock from the inside out.

What to do instead:

• Save corn for evening or cooler days.
• Swap in chilled watermelon, cucumbers, or frozen peas for hydration without extra heat.

🧊 Want to use corn? Try frozen corn as a treat — it cools them down and feels like dessert.

2. Don’t Feed Spoiled or Moldy Fruit

It’s tempting to toss overripe fruit to the flock — but in hot weather, those sugary scraps can go bad in just hours.

Why it’s risky:
Spoiled fruit ferments fast in the heat, attracting flies and leading to sour crop or digestive upset.

Better idea:

• Feed fruits fresh and remove leftovers after an hour.
• Freeze chopped melon, grapes, or berries in muffin tins for icy treats.

3. Avoid Salty or Processed Human Food

BBQ season is full of tempting scraps — but your chickens don’t need fries, deli meats, or anything salty.

Why it’s risky:
Salt and preservatives can damage a chicken’s kidneys, especially in summer when they’re already working harder to stay hydrated.

Stick to:

• Veggie trimmings
• Unsalted, unseasoned rice or pasta (chilled)
• Cooked eggs (plain, cooled)

4. No Dairy When It’s Hot

Even small amounts of yogurt or cheese can lead to a mess in the coop when temps are high.

Why it’s risky:
Chickens don’t digest lactose well, and heat amplifies digestive issues — especially with soft dairy.

Instead:

• Give cold, hydrating treats
• Add a splash of apple cider vinegar to waterers (2 tsp per quart) for a gut health boost

5. Skip Anything Sticky or Gummy

This includes peanut butter globs, melted sweets, and soft doughs.

Why it’s risky:
Sticky foods can get lodged in the throat or crop — and that risk goes up when your chickens are panting and gulping more air.

🐔 Better snack: Freeze chopped veggies or make ice blocks with chopped greens and fruit inside.

6. No Rotten Kitchen Scraps — Ever

Even if it looks okay, warm-weather bacteria multiply fast. Feeding questionable scraps is a quick path to sour crop or worse.

Summer Rule of Thumb:
If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t give it to your chickens.

What They Can Eat in the Summer

Here’s a few go-to hot weather favorites that are safe, fun, and flock-approved:

• Frozen corn or peas
• Cold melon rinds (especially watermelon)
• Shredded cabbage, lettuce, or spinach
• Frozen veggie “ice pops” in muffin tins
• Cooked, cooled rice with chopped herbs

Final Thoughts

Summer is a great time to treat your chickens — just keep it clean, cool, and safe. When in doubt, stick to simple, hydrating foods and skip anything that might spoil, heat them up, or upset their bellies.

Trust me — your flock will thrive, and you’ll spend way less time scrubbing gross surprises out of the coop.