Can chickens eat my tea leaves?

[ClowesC]

Most of the tannins and caffeine have been removed from steeping and spent tea leaves are then just extra vegetable matter. You have water extracted most of the caffeine, theobromine etc which is what I would be worried about causing problems for chickens. I feed spent tea leaves to my chickens regularly and I have never noticed erratic behavior, anemia, lethargy, or any other abnormalities. They enjoy them but pass on fine tea from teabags usually.

 

[Clark101]

There is a distinction in between putting the tea leaves in the coop for the chickens to consume or leave or including them to their fermented feed where they have no choice however to consume them and potentially poison themselves or go hungry.

A lot of animals instinctly know what is excellent to consume and what not (and might even be poisonous), so provide the option to choose. Starving animals are typically the ones that consume harmful things they should not, so do not put them in that position.
That would be my ideas.

I do not believe that it is safe to presume that if something is not hazardous to us, it will not be harmful to chickens.

Organic tea is overruning with immunity enhancing dietary advantages and a wonderful reward for chickens. Invest some quality time with your birds and host a tea party! Merely brew up some beautiful natural tea and serve-mini teacups are optional.

You can adhere to the standard mint or lemon mint tea or mix it up a little and drink some strawberry ginger or blueberry cinnamon tea. Leave in the brewed herbs when serving and your chickens will no doubt peck them up!"

 

[BoxLady]

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....?

Useful answer I am going to try lavendar. Thanks!

 

[Dianemarie]

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.

I was trying to find a cheep way to get lavender in my chickens nest and I looked up herbal teas and I found this and a couple new studies that say they are useful to chickens with very specific dosing of course, and it should be read carefully, I am not suggesting to feed their chickens anything, however ithe info os there for anyone to make a decision for their flock. A quick Google search would be helpful and put an end to some of the myths or older outdated info that is out there.



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7765034/#:~:text=High concentrations of tannins have,chickens [17,18].


https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.1082009/full


https://www.researchgate.net/public...ext=Green tea leaves, by product,., 2005;2006).