Can chickens eat spicy food?

[Gdurham]

Well, I tried to offer my hens leftover habanero before it went bad and they all shook their heads at me after a taste. I thought chickens have that taste receptor turned off, maybe not for salmon favorelles?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Well, I tried to offer my hens leftover habanero before it went bad and they all shook their heads at me after a taste. I thought chickens have that taste receptor turned off, maybe not for salmon favorelles?

It could just be that they don’t like the taste, or are slow to adopt a new food...not that the heat bothered them.

Unless after a taste their heads turned red and they ran around screaming before dunking their head in a bucket of water. If that, it was probably the heat (and you may have cartoon chickens).

 

[0die]

cayenne pepper will keep the rats out but chickens don't care??? is this legit?

I used to have a sizable rat problem since the feeder was accessible at night. I added a feed tube cap that "closed" at night but not always completely effective.

A new cat I got a couple years ago "seems" to have resolved or at least reduced the rat issue. But a secondary line of defense would be a good thing too.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Not sure if the pepper will deter the rats or not. I do “paint” my front porch pumpkins with it to deter squirrels. It won’t bother the chickens any.

 

[NatJ]

cayenne pepper will keep the rats out but chickens don't care??? is this legit?

The capsaicin in the pepper makes mammals (like people and rats and squirrels and dogs) feel like their mouth is burning. But birds (including chickens) are immune to it.

Hot pepper in birdseed is pretty common too, because people don't want squirrels eating the birdseed.

 

[animallover2019]

One time, when I was in the Flock Talk channel, the owner gave her parrots hot peppers to eat.

Yes they can eat spicy food! In fact they can’t taste spice! I feed mine red pepper flakes for health benefits

 

[Aapomp831]

Chickens don’t have capsaicin receptors; cannot feel the heat at all

 

[mommiesrcool]

Yes they can eat spicy food! In fact they can’t taste spice! I feed mine red pepper flakes for health benefits

could you say what the health benefits are and does it change the taste of their eggs?

 

[animallover2019]

could you say what the health benefits are and does it change the taste of their eggs?

hi! Yes! So it works as an internal de-wormer, increase egg production, and makes ur egg yolks darker I love the benefits it’s gave my hens, and no I have not noticed a difference in egg taste!

 

[mommiesrcool]

hi! Yes! So it works as an internal de-wormer, increase egg production, and makes ur egg yolks darker I love the benefits it’s gave my hens, and no I have not noticed a difference in egg taste!

Wow good to know thanks for your reply I'll try to see if they like it