Red pepper flakes

[Buckeye Amy]

If the chickens didn't like it then they wouldn't eat it either then, though, right? I mean you can't force them to eat anything?

I’ve read people are mixing it in their feed. I think it would be hard for them to pick it out.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I’ve read people are mixing it in their feed. I think it would be hard for them to pick it out.

Not really. Birds can pick out stuff very easily. Otherwise whole grain feeds wouldn't be as unpopular as they are.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

As for peppers, mine will eat any human food plants that I throw, including hot and sweet peppers. Darn birds even gobble them right off the plants

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Not really. Birds can pick out stuff very easily. Otherwise whole grain feeds wouldn't be as unpopular as they are.

Agreed, but I feed crumbles. Grain is a treat I use to call them in. At any rate, in the grand scheme of things I guess it’s not that important.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

As for peppers, mine will eat any human food plants that I throw, including hot and sweet peppers. Darn birds even gobble them right off the plants

Mine will also not eat onions!

 

[azygous]

Here is my experience with red pepper flakes from chickens to squirrels.

Chickens will happily eat them but not taste the capsaicin as they lack the taste receptors for that. I, on the other hand, sneeze my sinuses out of my head when the red pepper flakes that spill get mixed with the dust in the run.

Squirrels ignore the red pepper flakes and blissfully mow down my flowers anyway.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Mine will also not eat onions!

Onions cause issues for a handful of animals. I know dogs can't eat much at all

 

[azygous]

Chickens instinctively avoid onions because the allium in them in enough quantities can damage red blood cells. Garlic possesses allium in smaller quantities, so it must also not be given to chickens in large amounts, even though some chicken keepers swear by it.

 

[Genene]

I have heard they cannot taste it so it does not hurt them. Agsin I do not know if that is true. @azygous, thoughts?

 

[Genene]

I mix cayenne powder & red pepper flakes in with my chicken feed both are nutritious & birds cannot taste spicy. Some say it eliminates & controls worms.