Coffee grounds -- okay?

[brandywine]

A comment on another thread raised the question.

I give the chooks almost all the kitchen waste. I don't give them:

Citrus peels (they don't eat 'em)
Anything moldy or really bad meat/dairy
Coffee grounds

The coffee grounds and citrus go onto the compost heap that is well away from the chickens.

I just figured, they're active enough, they could hardly need the caffeine.

But is it okay to let them have the coffee grounds? Will they eat it? Is there any benefit to it?

 

[arlee453]

I don't know about benefits per se, but they sure will be lively chickens

Hey...wonder if you can make caffeinated eggs by feeding the chickens coffee?? It's be some new 'specialty' product... I can just imagine the marketing now:

Liven up your morning with Zippy eggs! 300mg of caffeine in every egg!!

 

[roosmom]

GOOD ONE!

 

[spatcher]

Quote:
Does that mean you give them semi bad meat/dairy?

 

[LynneP]

I think coffee grounds would be very hard on their kidneys.
I use mine in the garden though, makes sandy soil very organic and rich...

 

[redkan]

Our coffee grounds go at the base of our azaleas and rhododendruns as they make the soil more acidic which the "evergreens" love. No artificial fertilizers for any of them.

 

[smom1976]

Quote:
Does that mean you give them semi bad meat/dairy?

anything that I feel is too long of leftovers in the fridge that I wont eat.. I give to the chickens.. they LOVE it all ...

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

ZOMG...caffienated chickens. I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

 

[shay20]

Quote:
Does that mean you give them semi bad meat/dairy?

 

[shay20]

i don't think it would be good idea to feed them coffee grounds, were the coffee grounds come in handy on birds is u use the cooled off juice from the coffee grounds on irritated eyes of any type, u squeeze the grounds in a filter over the eyes it helps with infections/scratches.
Citrus is good for getting rid of mites /fleas. u put it on ur birds skin/feathers if they get any of these.