Do you know what wild chickens eat? If not, then you’ve come to the right place. Here we will detail their eating habits.
Chickens are the most common and bred birds in the world. But do you know? Most domestic chickens today are descended from wild birds, also called jungle birds. Around 7,500 years ago in Asia, people started keeping wild birds as pets.
People have domesticated the jungle bird because they are an excellent source of nutritious food. And so far, chickens are the most popular birds in the world with a wide variety of breeds and their characteristics.
Despite the ubiquity of domesticated chickens, there are plenty of wild chickens you can keep in your flock. In particular, the wild chickens and the jungle. But you might be wondering what do wild chickens eat?
What do wild chickens eat?
Usually, wild chickens eat grass, worms or worm eggs, various types of insects and various types of plants, fruits, seeds and vegetables such as berries, fruits, nuts, bamboo seeds, young leaves, etc.
Wild chickens are omnivores and will eat just about anything they find edible after scratching the ground.
foraging
Domestic chickens are thought to be descended from wild red waterfowl. And all the red wild birds were gatherers.
In search of food, they vigorously comb the forest floor. Because they are omnivores, they eat almost anything they find edible, such as insects, worms, seeds, berries, small animals, and even reptiles. Wild chickens that live with humans may also feed on discarded human food.
Insects and invertebrates
Wild chickens are very fond of eating various types of insects and invertebrates. And it is a staple in the diet of wild chickens. Winged ants and termites are the favorite insects of wild chickens.
They usually forage at dusk and dawn in search of termites and winged ants. Not only wild chickens but also other birds like to eat termites because they are high in protein and fat.
When scratching the ground in the jungle, wild chickens also eat various types of invertebrates, such as earthworms.
plants
Feral chickens feed on a variety of plant matter found in the jungle, including fruits, berries, young leaves, seeds, and various types of edible plant matter available in their habitat.
Bamboo seeds are available in the jungle and are one of the favorite plant foods of wild chickens. They also like small seeds. They tirelessly search the jungle for such small seeds.
human food
In some places, wild chickens get part of their daily food from humans. Bread, popcorn, and other human foods entered the wild chicken diet. Cooking and other food scraps are also good food for wild chickens.
In a nutshell, wild chickens are omnivores, so they will eat almost anything they come across in front of them, including almost all types of insects and plants.
