List of food NOT to feed chickens

[Russ in Tuscany]

Not really sure about this list Bruce, far too many absolute NOs included.
I agree with some things for sure, like no avocado, limit onion and obviously no alcohol or anything mouldy but I'm not convinced about spinach etc or a few apple seeds. I also have a friend whose grand parents had a citrus orchard near Sorrento. They "trained" their hens to clear up all the windfall oranges and apparently the locals paid extra for their eggs as they were so good.
The "can be toxic in large amounts" is a truism you can apply to just about anything that may also be beneficial in small doses.
Free ranging hens graze all day on a whole variety of plants that we know little about from the tox point of view, but they get along just fine. a little bit of many things won't cause them any significant harm. Just avoid overdosing them on any one thing, make sure that they get a balanced diet and generally things will work out fine.

 

[hippiestink]

I find that most chickens know what to eat and what not to eat in moderation. Here's my list of actually toxic foods.

Chocolate is a poison. It's from the cocoa plant, the same as cocaine. It's toxic for humans too. It just to happens the lethal dose is about 2lbs for humans. It's much less for chickens.

Anything that changes a human's mental state should be avoided. This means coffee,energy drinks, tobacco, etc. It should go without saying but these are technically drugs, and the overdose level for chickens is surprisingly small. They only weigh a few lbs so take care.

Onions, nightshades (the plant parts), avocado and citrus go into my compost with my chickens, but they avoid them. If yours don't, don't give them access to them as more than a little can be toxic.

That's it. Those are the things that are actually legitimately TOXIC to chickens. Can chickens get sick from other foods? Sure. Can those illness complicate into death? Yes. But are they actually toxic? No. Kinda like how hot peppers are not toxic. But eating a few hot peppers can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration, even sore throats or eye irritation, etc. But hot peppers are not toxic.

(FYI, about citrus http://www.furrytips.com/can-chickens-eat-oranges/)

Good list. Finally someone actually explains why it's poison and doesn't just blanket-statement it.

 

[MeepBeep]

I agree with some things for sure, like no avocado

Avocado flesh is perfectly fine, just avoid the skin and pit...

 

[crealbilly]

Birds, including chickens lack the pain receptors to for capsicum, thus they don't feel the heat, hotness or any irritation from peppers, you could spray a chicken with pepper spray and it wouldn't phase them...

Thats exactly why i like this site - i learn something new everytime I come here.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

Mine get left over food. I knew somethings were bad for chickens just didn't know what so we check on the net especially if we haven't gave them anything that they have had before. Pears, banana skins, pasta not to often, can cat food I read they can have, bread, fruit. We have given ours mashed potatoes, shredded potatoes cooked they are left over and all kinds of fruit. Ours don't want fruit when it starts to get cold or cooler temps like right now in PNW. They love oatmeal but not allot. Rice they can have but it should be cooked first never uncooked. Most is like others say just common sense. We don't spray for weeds here because of the hens and plus we just don't want to use weed killer on our property. Juice or liquid from cooking meat in a crock pot is fine in small portions. They get this during the summer. Have to figure out something for treats for the winter besides left overs.

 

[CHICKENJOHN42]

Chickens will eat any thing that don't eat them,if you got sick an died no one found u an fell in the pen ,be bones ia a little while.

 

[DeborahMoyer]

If I peel and core fruits or vegetables, my ladies get the offal.
I cannot see myself giving them salty/sugary/etc. treats. But that's me.

Deborah

 

[FarmerTony]

Foods that chickens shouldn't eat -

End of list.


Foods that some people think chickens shouldn't eat but that are in fact perfectly safe -

Eggs and Poultry - Chickens do not usually suffer from prion diseases like mammals. Hence cannibalism is less of a health hazard.. They do have a few but they rarely effect the birds during their natural lifespan unless the chickens are fed a diet predominantly consisting of infected meat.


Things you might think are bad for them but are actually very good for them -

Egg shells. Extremely digestible calcium, hens naturally eat the shells.

Chickens will literally eat the maggots out of a dead possums butt and then eat the dead possum. IIRC the only other animal that will scavenge a dead possum is a vulture.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

I threw my Great Dane a Ham bone today for her 3rd birthday and the 9 chickens chased her away from her bone HaHA!

 

[danah91]

I read that potatoes were in the cyanide family and shouldn't be given to chickens. I mix oatmeal with fresh plain yogurt and a little water and it is their favorite treat. I also give them hamburger or hotdog buns and I notice more egg production. I also buy them their favorite mealy worms for when I think their mood could use a pick me up and along with some mustard greens. My babies love when I am working out in the yard and I let them out of the pin to follow me around waiting for me to dig them up some worms. Just remember to not let them eat soured food or food that has been rained on and has gotten s grayish tone that might be mold because they could get sour crop which is deadly. Keep all areas free from mildew if at all posable.