Bananas killing chickens?

[ruth]

I'm posting this as a possible warning about feeding chickens bananas and asking for information as well. Here's why -

I talked to Geebs yesterday about the sudden death, apparent heart attack, her rooster suffered while she and the 4-H kids were watching him and feeding him bananas. She said he was eating the bananas and then just dropped dead.

Her story reminded me of another that I read here on BYC recently (I couldn't find the thread) but I remember the story was the same - the person was feeding their rooster bananas and he suddenly dropped dead. I remember the responses were "maybe he choked" or "maybe he just had a heart attack".

So I was telling my husband about these stories when he said (and he's a chemist), "probably potassium imbalance". He said you can give a person a heart attack just by giving them a shot of potassium so a banana could quite possibly kill a chicken.

In any event, I have no proof of this theory and certainly don't want to try it out myself but I know in the last few weeks I've heard of two identical episodes so there must be something to it so I thought I would post this as a possible warning to others.

I wish I could find the thread that had the story but my searches are coming up empty.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I almost fed my chickens a banana this weekend but I opted to eat it myself!

Just to be on the safe side, I won't be feeding my kids any bananas.

 

[Shared Acres]

Ick, hubby was feeding ours bananas a couple of days ago!

 

[thechickenchick]

Wow! Thanks for sharing your theory. I eat 2 bananas every day and always give my chickens the peel. Once in a while they get a chunk or two if I can't finish it. I am going to stop doing that now.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I feed my fowl bananas, mainly just the roosters. However, I don't do it all the time and I don't feed them a whole banana. I've not heard of it being harmful, but I can see the argument your husband makes. Sort of a "too much of a good thing" issue.

 

[chickenfever]

But if they died WHILE eating the bananas, the potassium wouldn't have gotten into their system yet. It would be sitting in their crop still.

I give mine bananas all the time.

 

[Nivrocco]

I have fed mine bananas also...but it is shared among 19 chickens...

 

[Imp]

I'm not so sure about chickens, but I work with a dietitian who used to work at a kidney dialysis center. She told me that patients who didn't want to deal with their renal disease anymore would load up on potassium and kill themselves. Suicide by potato chip.

Imp

 

[Blue_Myst]

Wow

And to think I've been letting my chickens eat the leftover banana pieces off the peel!

I would think it would take maybe half a banana eaten by a single chicken to give that kind of potassium overload, but I'd rather not take the risk!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Quote:
That's a good point also.