Toxic Foods: Don't feed these to your chickens!

Leftover food would normally head to the trash or garbage disposal in a chicken-free household, but in our house we always question whether we can feed our leftovers to our clucky friends!

Just like humans and other animals, some foods are toxic to chickens. Here is a comprehensive list of what foods you cannot feed to chickens...

Plants in the Nightshade Family

Potatoes, tomatoes and tomato plants
in addition to...
eggplant, tobacco, and pepper (bell, chili, etc.) leaves.

Avocados

Especially the pit and the peel. The pit contains a fungicidal toxin called persin, which is fatal to many animals. Don't feed them to your dog or cat either!

Fruit Pits & Seeds

Peach pits, apple seeds, cherry pits, and apricot pits all contain traces of a compound that turns to cyanide in the bloodstream.

Citrus

We've tried to give our chickens grapefruit in the past, and after a few initial pecks, they strut away in disinterest. Since then, I've come across articles that have stated not to feed chickens citrus because it can cause a build up of citric acid that may cause excessive feather plucking. No citrus from now on!

Onions

Onions contain a toxin called thiosulfate, which causes damage to red blood cells. Thiosulfate is also toxic to cats and dogs!

Raw Meat

Chickens can eat meat, but to avoid any chance of your flock contracting a disease, always cook meat before feeding it to them.

And of course...

No chocolate, candy, sugar, alcohol, rotten food, and nothing that has been sprayed with pesticides or chemicals!

Know of any other foods you can't feed to chickens? Post it in the comments below!

- Rita

Helpful References: Fresh Eggs Daily City Girl Farming The Prairie Homestead Ready Nutrition

Did you know? Chickens Love Watermelon!

If chickens had a favorite season, it would be summer. Lush foliage, lots of bugs, and scrumptious summer fruit are just a few reasons!

I give our chickens an extensive variety of foods to keep them healthy and to make sure their eggs are as nutrient rich as can be. One of the summer foods they love most is watermelon - they peck it right down to the rind!

You have a little something on your beak there, Nuggy... 

- Rita