What is toxic to chickens?

[CacklingCarolyn]

What should my girls absolutely not get to eat because of toxicity? I want to give them treats but certainly don't want to accidentally harm them.

 

[debid]

For most things, you can go by whether it would harm you to eat it. I'd also avoid giving them chocolate (although why would you share that?!), dried fruit that is preserved with sulfites, alcohol, potato peels that have gone green, and anything that has mold on it.

 

[callahanfarmgirl]

I know alvacados are poisonous to parrots, not sure about chickens. Also, I have seen post on here about apple seeds containing cianide.

 

[debid]

Quote:
It's not the avocado flesh that's the problem, it's the brown seed coating. And yes, apple and pear seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide but it's generally accepted that a seed here and there isn't going to harm them.

Also, dried beans have to be cooked first.

 

[sjmarshall87]

I have read somewhere that Morning Glorys are not good for them if you plan to allow free ranging..



https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart



The link above if you scroll all the way to the bottom it provides a list of TOXIC items to avoid

 

[GiddyMoon]

Quote:
If you try to plant a toxic plant free zone, you will drive yourself crazy. Oleanders are also poisonous but our rabbits live in them. While Morning Glories are toxic, they usually won't eat them..in fact, you can find quite a selection of vintage books and post cards about chickens and Morning Glories together...I know..I used to grow like 90 varieties

 

[Celtic Chick]

Common Foods and Plants Toxic to Chickens
raw potatoes and peels
avocado
citrus fruits
rhubarb leaves
chocolate/caffeine
apple seeds
onions
garlic
mushrooms
alcohol
potato, eggplant, and tomato plants/leaves
salt
mistletoe or holly berries
raw beans
nutmeg
sweet pea plant
tobacco
stone fruit pits
asparagus

Read more: http://www.grit.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=4294967388&tag=Chickens#ixzz1KaHbNV3Z

 

[GiddyMoon]

Quote:
This list is not accurate. apple seeds can only hurt them in large quantities, salt is vital to their health, raw beans just need to be cooked, and citrus is not toxic either...some people say it can make their stools loose but I have seen many people throw out oranges for their chickens...nor is garlic or onions they can just make the eggs taste funny, or peas nor tomatoes nor eggplant.... and asparagus isn't toxic either.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I agree! I have thrown oranges out for them and it hasn't hurt them. People put them in with chickens when they ship them. Chickens have been around for a long time and without so much human intervention. How do you think chickens faired way back when? They knew what to eat and what not to eat. They didn't have humans to ration out their food. They just ate whatever they found on the ground which begs the question - What do you think baby chicks ate back before we had chick starter? Did momma find food for them or teach them how to find bugs etc???

 

[AKsmama]

As far as plants go, this is a pretty extensive site: http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

I don't feed dried beans or avocados in any form; I don't feed anything with a lot of onions or garlic b/c it can make the eggs taste funky; I don't give them any potato peelings; and I try not to give anything too loaded with sugar and salt. I don't feed anything with mold or that has obviously gone off.