Can chickens eat shelled walnuts?

[Robin'sBrood]

I asked this in another thread but I don't know if it will get answered there, so...

I have a bag of shelled walnuts that has been invaded by pantry pests. Can I feed them to my chickens? If so I'll crush them up real good first before feeding. Thanks!

 

[bills]

I don't know of any reason not to feed then crushed walnuts. They can certainly process them, as cracked corn is far harder. The protein would probably be good for them as well. Might make for interesting tasting eggs too.

I would add a few to their scratch, a bit at a time over a few days, rather than all at once. If you put the scratch in a bowl, rather than just tossing it to them, you can observe what is left behind, and not eaten. If there are the nuts left, you will know they don't like them.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Well I decided to give it a try so I crushed some up and threw a cupful in the run. The birds went nuts over them. Heehee.

 

[Dar]

when that sort of thing happens to me i just throw it in the yard and either the chickens get it or the squirrels get 'em