Can chickens eat my tea leaves?

[stone_family3]

I drink a lot of tea and usually toss the tea leaves into the compost, wondering if I can dump them in the fermented feed bucket instead. The top five types of tea I drink are lavender, sassafras, red clover, chai, and darjeeling.

 

[chfite]

I don't know anything about fermented feed. Most of whatever is in the tea leaves is gone after steeping. Toss them in there and see what happens.

My chickens eat most anything leftover from human food preparation.

Chris

 

[Mom2Sav]

I drink a lot of tea and usually toss the tea leaves into the compost, wondering if I can dump them in the fermented feed bucket instead. The top five types of tea I drink are lavender, sassafras, red clover, chai, and darjeeling.

Did you end up feeding your tea leaves to the chickens? I buy loose organic tea and was wondering the same thing. I guess it can't hurt. I'm going to give it a try but was wondering if you had good success.

 

[lazy gardener]

There would be no food value in the tea leaves. Depending on what kind of tea it is, they would be getting a lot of tannins from the leaves. Not good for feed, IMO. better to put them in the compost where they will do some good.

 

[Folly's place]

Tea leaves and coffee grounds are NOT chicken food!!! Neither are tea or coffee. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I forgot to add chocolate! Mary

 

[MysteriaSdrassa]

Nonscence,,, chicken food is whatever a chicken will eat,, including grass, bugs, mice, and even snakes

 

[rebrascora]

There is a difference between putting the tea leaves out in the pen for the chickens to eat or leave or adding them to their fermented feed where they have no option but to eat them and possibly poison themselves or go hungry. Most animals innately know what is good to eat and what not (and may even be toxic), so give them the option to decide. Hungry animals are usually the ones that eat toxic things they shouldn't, so don't put them in that position.
That would be my thoughts.
I don't think that it is safe to assume that if something is not toxic to us, it will not be toxic to chickens.

 

[lazy gardener]

Old thread. Still same answer.

 

[chloeonz]

Hi, this is from backyardchickencoops.com.au

“Herbal tea is overflowing with immunity boosting nutritional goodness and a delightful treat for chickens. Spend some quality time with your chooks and host a feathery tea party! Simply brew up some lovely herbal tea and serve-mini teacups are optional. You can stick to the traditional mint or lemon mint tea or mix it up a little and sip some strawberry ginger or blueberry cinnamon tea. Leave in the brewed herbs when serving and your chooks will no doubt peck them up!”

So whats the answer to this then....?