Any one give apples to their chickens

[chickendude]

Is it good for them and do they like them? My inlaws have an apple tree that always gives us plenty and I mean plenty of apples. So I was thinking of sharing with the chooks.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Yes! Mine love them.

 

[chickendude]

Thanks, do you cut them up or let them have at it whole?

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Both. They just peck at it and get whatever chunks they want.

 

[Tala]

Mine only eat them if I put the apples in a dish. Throw them out in the run and they ignore them.

 

[Holly O]

The seeds are poisonous. To us as well BTW.

 

[chickendude]

Quote:
But the meet is ok for the birds?

 

[gritsar]

You'd have to eat a ton of apple seeds to make yourself sick. Anyhow, my chickens had an apple this morning, they didn't eat the seeds. As soon as the crabapple tree in the orchard starts dropping some, they'll be helping themselves.
ETA: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bot00/bot00208.htm

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I do

 

[Soccer Mom]

I make "applesauce" with the ones that have gone soft. I just remove the seeds and toss them in the food processor and blend them up really well with yoghurt. My birds go nuts for it.