Blog

We love to grow zucchini. It’s a great crop for beginning gardeners, it’s prolific, and you can make a tone of delicious recipes with it. With all the love zucchini deserves, can chickens eat zucchini too and share in the joy or will they take an unknowing bite into their last meal?

Keep reading and find out if zucchini is the awesome treat we want it to be!

Can Chickens Eat Zucchini?

Chickens can absolutely eat zucchini. In fact, they will love eating it AND it is good for them too! Generally speaking, zucchini, fruit, leaves, flowers, and seeds, are all safe for your chickens to eat.

On occasion there can be dangerous substances called cucurbitacins that will give the zucchini a bitter taste. You can feed zucchini a couple of times a week but we would recommend no more than three times. A single zucchini, when cut in half or into cubes, can feed at least 5 chickens.

What is zucchini?

The zucchini, or courgette, is the long and green edible part of the zucchini plant. Zucchini is part of the summer squash family. A fun little fact is that while zucchini can be found on a ton of different “top vegetables to grow” lists, it is actually technically a fruit. Chickens love it so much for a couple of reasons.

One, zucchini, when harvested in time, is very soft and easy for them to eat and digest. We technically harvest the zucchini prior to it being fully ripe which is why the outer skin is still soft enough to penetrate with your fingernail. The other reason is that zucchini has a very mild, yet sweet, flavor. The lack of bitterness keeps chickens coming back for more and more of this squash.

Is zucchini safe for my chickens to eat?

Zucchini is very safe for chickens to eat. Despite having a sweet flavor there is, surprisingly, not too much sugar. Unlike when chickens eat peaches, nectarines, cranberries, and raisins, which have a lot of sugar and can cause a ton of health issues, like obesity, sugar addiction, and hypoglycemia.

We all want to keep our chickens well taken care of and safe and feeding them zucchini is a treat that can help you do that.

There is a possibility that zucchini can have cucurbitacins in them. Cucurbitacins are believed to be a naturally occurring substance that some plants use ad a means of pest control. In higher concentrations it will give the fruit or vegetable a bitter taste.

For people, cucurbitacin poisoning, otherwise known as toxic squash syndrome, can result in diarrhea, nausea & vomiting, and in some cases, hair loss. You can imagine if this is the impact on a full grown adult, what it can do to a chicken who is only a fraction of the same size and weight.

What about zucchini plant flowers, leaves, and seeds?

Unlike peach, nectarine, mango, and tomato plants, the entire zucchini plant is safe for your chickens to eat. Most likely they will want to stick with the fruit of the plant, but, if they do eat the plant, rest assured they will be just fine. Also, as a side note, it is possible there is a higher concentration of cucurbitacin in the rest of the plant, so do take a bit of caution if feeding them zucchini greens.

Is zucchini healthy for chickens?

Zucchini is full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients your chicken needs to live a happy and healthy life. Because it has so much water in it, it will also help keep them hydrated. Water, as well as fiber, also helps aid in digestion too.

Additionally, while we could not find any scientific studies or sources saying this is true, there are anecdotal experiences of zucchini being used as a natural dewormer, along with pumpkin seeds and some other gourds. Again, we have not been able to confirm this so keep in mind, if you do consider trying it out, your experience may vary from the experiences of others.

What are the nutritional benefits of zucchini for chickens?

Below, You’ll find the USDA FoodData Center nutritional analysis on a serving size of 1 raw, skin-on, medium size zucchini (196g).

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	186.000	g
Energy	33.300	kcal
Protein	2.370	g
Fat	0.627	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	6.100	g
Fiber, total dietary	1.960	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	4.900	g
Calcium, Ca	31.400	mg
Iron, Fe	0.725	mg
Magnesium, Mg	35.300	mg
Phosphorus, P	74.500	mg
Potassium, K	512.000	mg
Sodium, Na	15.700	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.627	mg
Copper, Cu	0.104	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.347	mg
Selenium, Se	0.392	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	35.100	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.319	mg
Folate, total	47.000	µg
Vitamin A, RAE	19.600	µg
Carotene, beta	235.000	µg
Vitamin A, IU	392.000	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.235	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	8.430	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Here are what some of those nutrients mentioned above do to keep your chicken’s body running right.

How do you feed zucchini to chickens?

If you did not grow it yourself without pesticides or buy it from a pesticide free farm, make sure you thoroughly wash the zucchini to remove any potential residue. It’s always a good idea to wash your fruits and veggies anyway but especially so if they have been exposed to pest control sprays.

You can feed zucchini whole, if you like but most likely some chickens will eat too much while other will not get much, if any, at all. What we recommend is to either cut it into small cubes or cut it in half and put down a pair of zucchini “troughs”.

Can Chickens Eat Rhubarb?

Yes, chickens can eat rhubarb stalks in very small amounts. However, they cannot eat rhubarb leaves due to oxalis acid contained in them. Oxalis acid can possibly lead to kidney failure and, in some cases, death.

When feeding the stalks, it’s best to cut them into smaller, bite-size pieces and scatter them for your chickens. Rhubarb can be a good supplemental snack but only in tiny amounts fed only occasionally.

Can Chickens eat rhubarb stalks?

Yes, chickens can eat rhubarb stalks if fed in significant moderation. They contain many healthy vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Can chickens eat rhubarb pie or crumble?

They can eat rhubarb pie and rhubarb crumble but they really shouldn’t. The amount of sugar is much to high for your chickens and can be a potential health risk.

Can chickens eat rhubarb flowers?

No, chickens cannot eat rhubarb flowers due to the oxalic acid content. More information on that below.

Can Chickens eat rhubarb seeds?

Again, chickens cannot eat rhubarb seeds, due to the oxalic content.

Can Chickens eat rhubarb leaves?

Nope, chickens cannot eat rhubarb leaves. Unlike plants like zucchini which the whole plant is safe for chickens to eat, only part of rhubarb is considered somewhat safe. The rest of the rhubarb plant all fall into the potentially dangerous category.

Oxalate poisoning, or rhubarb leaf poisoning, in humans will present itself initially through symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Your chickens aren’t going to vomit but they can get diarrhea.

It is also sometimes possible to tell when your chickens are experiencing pain. You may also be able to carefully palpate their abdomen and see if they are tender; but this is difficult to really tell.

Other, more chicken specific, signs you may notice during your routine health checks are lethargy, puffed up feathers, abnormal movement, or just acting differently in general. 

Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/rhubarb-leaves

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Oxalic Acid

Oxalic acid, while also found in rhubarb stalks, is much more prevalent in the leaves which is what makes them so dangerous. 

For people, our bodies eliminate about 40 to 50 mg per day and only around 10” of that comes from what we eat. In general, humans take in, through diet or other means, between 200 and 300 mg a day. More than this can cause oxalate to buildup and lead to a variety of health issues. Specifically, buildup of oxalate in the kidneys can cause kidney failure. 

Cooking will reduce the amount of oxalate content as will soaking it raw; but soaking will can also reduce other nutrients, as well.

Rhubarb is not the only vegetable that contains Oxalic acid. There are many others, to varying degrees. Typically, you will find it in their leaves and not the vegetable itself, or at least not in very high quantities. This chart show some vegetables that contain oxalic acid and what levels.

Vegetables	Oxalic Acid (g/100g)
Asparagus	0.13
Beans, snap	0.36
Beet leaves	0.61
Beetroot	0.06
Broccoli	0.19
Brussels sprouts	0.02
Cabbage	0.10
Carrot	0.50
Cassava	1.26
Cauliflower	0.15
Celery	0.19
Chives	1.48
Collards	0.45
Corn, sweet	0.01
Cucumber	0.02
Eggplant	0.19
Garlic	0.36
Kale	0.02
Lettuce	0.33
Okra	0.05
Onion	0.05
Parsley	1.70
Parsnip	0.04
Pea	0.05
Bell pepper	0.04
Potato	0.05
Purslane	1.31
Radish	0.48
Rhubarb leaves	0.52
Spinach	0.97
Squash	0.02
Sweet potato	0.24
Swiss Chard, green	0.96
Tomato	0.05
Turnip	0.21

Is rhubarb healthy for chickens?

Rhubarb can be healthy for chickens, assuming they are eating a moderate amount and avoiding the leaves, flowers, and seeds of the plant. This veggie is packed with many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to keep them running smoothly.

What are the nutritional benefits of rhubarb for chickens?

What do these nutrients do?

Here is a brief rundown of what some of nutrients on the table above mean for your chickens’ health.

• Antioxidants: repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Vitamin E:
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia; assists in blood circulation
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Selenium: Boosts their immune system and helps with over nutrient balance in selenium deficient areas (most of the US)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chickens rhubarb?

We recommend only feeding nectarines around 1 to 3 times a week. This will give them all of the health benefits while also minimizing the risks that come with too much sugar.

Q2. How much rhubarb can I feed to my chickens?

A single rhubarb stalk, when cut into small cubes, can probably feed around 4 or 5 chickens.

Q3. How often can I feed rhubarb to my chickens?

We recommend no more than 4 times a week; reducing if you start to notice a change or decline in their health and temperament. We like to go by the 90/10 rule which says 90% of their diet should come from free ranging and a chicken feed with only 10% coming from other sources like snacks, treat, and supplements. 

Q4. Can chicks eat rhubarb?

We do not recommend feeding rhubarb to your chicks. Until they are old enough to join the rest of the outside flock, it’s best to keep them on a good quality starter/grower feed.

Q6. What other fruits and vegetables are safe for chickens?

Here are some popular foods that your chickens can eat.

Fruits

• Apples (not the seeds)
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Figs
• Kiwi
• Peaches
• Watermelon

Vegetables & Gourdes

• Asparagus
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Sweet Potato
• Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini

Berries

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Raspberries
• Rowan Berries

I don’t know about you but there are few things as delicious and satisfying as biting into a sweet, fresh orange. Oranges have just the right amount of sweet combined with tart to become one of our favorite fruits. Plus, it’s super healthy too. So, we have to ask, can chickens eat oranges and enjoy them the same way we do or will they end up being fertilizer under the citrus tree?

Keep scrolling and you will find out if it’s true when poultry farmers and other chicken owners say that oranges are deadly for their flock!

Can Chickens Eat Oranges?

Yes, chickens can eat oranges as well as other citrus fruits. The peel can sometimes have residue from display wax and pesticides but citrus fruits, like oranges, are not actually harmful. However, some chickens do not like them due to their tartness.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat oranges?

Despite what you may have read on the internet, there is no evidence that citrus fruits, like oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, mandarins, lemons, and limes, are any more harmful than any other fruit. The only real danger, in our opinion, come from overeating and consuming too much sugar.

Of course, whenever you feed any treats, you want to do so in moderation and do regular health checks on your chickens to keep tabs on their health.. As with any fruit, especially those high in sugar, like peaches, nectarines, cranberries, and raisins, too much can become unhealthy with the large levels of sugar; which we will look at a little deeper in just a bit.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Can chickens eat orange peels?

Assuming the peel does not have any wax or pesticide residue left on it, the peel is perfectly fine to give to your chickens. However, because of it’s tough leathery texture, they will probably make use of orange peels as chicken toys rather than snacks.

Are oranges healthy for chickens?

In moderation, oranges can be very healthy. As you may already know, citrus fruits, including oranges, are rife with Vitamin C and, thus, can give your flock a HUGE boost in their immune systems.

The only major problems to look out for, assuming you are feeding oranges to your chickens without the peel, is the extreme amount of sugar. Excess sugar can lead to a multitude of problems including, but not limited too, heart disease, joint and muscle pain, a decline in an appetite for their regular feed, and low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia.

There is evidence to suggest that prolonged exposure to citric and absorbic acids can weaken the strength and thickness of their egg shells.

What are the nutritional benefits of oranges for chickens?

What do these nutrients do?

Wondering what all of the things on the table above mean? Here are a couple examples of how those nutrients affect your chickens’ health.

• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative

How do you feed oranges to chickens?

When it comes to oranges, and most other citrus fruits, you don’t really have a lot of serving options. You get to basically choose peeled or unpeeled.

We recommend peeling the orange first. That way you can eliminate any accidental exposure to pesticides or the wax they use to make produce look shiny in the grocery store. Plus, the peel is tough and will take your chickens more time and energy to get through it.

After peeling it, we like to seperate each of the wedges and then cut each of those in half. You will likely end up with around 20 or so orange pieces, give or take a couple. Then just scatter those pieces around the barnyard or wherever your chickens like to gather for snacktime.

A word of advice, though, keep an eye on how much they eat and if there are any leftovers. You will want to make sure no one is overeating, so you can avoid any of the health concerns mentioned earlier. The other reason is, if there are any leftovers, you don’t want to leave them lying around. They will quickly attract bugs and rodents; neither of which you want to be hanging around your homestead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken oranges?

Yes, you can overfeed oranges to your chickens. Some of the hazards can be heart problems, pain and discomfort, and blood sugar issues.

Q2. How many oranges can I feed to my chickens?

The average orange has around 10 segments. We like to cut each of them in half and scatter them in our barnyard. Given the high amount of sugar, half a slice to 1 slice is plenty for a chicken. So, a single orange can feed between 10 and 20 chickens.

Q3. How often can I feed oranges to my chickens?

We think it’s best to keep orange, or any citrus, treats to around 1 to, no more than, 3 times a week. If they start showing signs of poor health, try decreasing the amount of times or eliminating them altogether to determine if it oranges are the culprit or if it is something else.

Q4. Can chicks eat oranges?

It is not a good idea to feed oranges, or any non chick specific feed to chicks until they are a little bit older. We recommend sticking with a starter/grower feed until they are ready to join the rest of the flock outside.

You can, but the sugar can be even more dangerous to them, due to their small size. Instead of various treats, we find it best to stick with a good starter feed until they are able to handle a wider variety in their diet.

Q5. What other things can chickens eat?

Some other things chickens can eat are:

• Apples (not the seeds)
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Asparagus
• Pumpkin
• Radish
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Ticks

Nothing feels more summery or satisfying than biting into a fresh, juicy, sweet nectarine on a warm afternoon. It’s such a pleasant experience, obviously, you will want to share it with your favorite feathered friend. But, can chickens eat nectarines or will your friendly gesture take a toll on your chickens health?

Keep reading to find out if your chicken can enjoy a tasty nectarine or if you will turn out to be the Brutus to their Julius Caesar.

Can Chickens Eat Nectarines?

Yes, chickens can eat nectarines. Not only can they, but they will wholeheartedly devour any you offer to them. You should, however, feed them sparingly as they contain a high amount of sugar which can be harmful if fed too often.

But, when fed in moderation, your chickens will benefit from the vast amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients packed into nectarines. The only danger is the pit (like in peaches) can be toxic, but they are large enough that it’s unlikely your chickens will eat them; but you can always remove the pit before feeding anyway.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat a nectarine?

There is very little danger involved when feeding nectarines to your chickens. Overall, the entire nectarine is safe for them to eat; both the flesh and the skin.

Can chickens eat a nectarine pit?

Nectarines, like peaches, cherries, and apricots, are stone fruits. What that means is they have a large stone like seed, also called a pit. The reason being is because it contains amygdalin. Amygdalin is dangerous because it will turn hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide, in large enough quantities, can make your chickens very sick and even, in large enough doses, be fatal.

For the most part, this is just good information to have. It’s unlikely your chickens will try to eat the pit. It is very hard and not very flavorful, especially compared to the juicy nectarine surrounding it.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Are the leaves and nectarine tree poisonous to chickens?

Yes, everything other than the actual nectarine is toxic. The leaves, bark, and seeds, as we discussed above, all contain cyanide and are dangerous if consumed.

Are nectarines healthy for chickens?

Despite the leaves, tree, bark, and pit all being toxic, the actual nectarines are a good and healthy treat for chickens. Your chickens immune systems will definitely benefit, due to the high level of vitamin C and other antioxidants. Nectarines are also full of water and can help keep your flock hydrated.

Much like other fruits that chickens can eat like lemons, papaya and oranges, nectarines MUST be fed in moderation. Even though they have a ton of vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients, they are also packed with sugar.

Too much sugar, just like with humans, can be very harmful to your chickens. Excess sugar can lead to many health issues; one of the worst being hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia in chickens

Most of the time we think of hypoglycemia as something that happens to people with diabetes. But that is not the case. It can happen to most of us and many animals, too. Essentially, hypoglycemia just means low blood sugar.

When your chickens eat sugar their body breaks it down and converts it into glucose. Glucose is one of the primary ways the body gets energy. By energy, we don’t just mean it in a sense of having the energy to run or jump. While those are ways the body uses energy, it also takes energy to keep their internal organs running, as well.

When the body has an overabundance of sugar, they will get a sudden spike of energy (hyper-glycemia). Think of a little kid the day after Halloween. But glucose burns very, very quickly leading to a sudden drop in their blood sugar level (hypo glycemia). Think of that same little kid about an hour later.

That sudden depletion of glucose, depending on how severe, can throw a chicken’s entire system out of whack. The result can be anything from being a little dizzy and disoriented all the way up to loss of consciousness and even death.

We don’t mean to scare you. It’s easy to avoid hypoglycemia. Just make sure you monitor what your chickens are eating and they will be just fine.

What are the nutritional benefits of nectarines for chickens?

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	130	g
Energy	67.6	kcal
Protein	1.34	g
Carbohydrates	14.8	g
Fiber	2.2	g
Fat	.397	g
Sugars	12.3	g
Calcium	5.88	mg
Potassium	179	mg
Folate	8.82	µg
Vitamin C	6.03	mg
Vitamin A	35.3	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Here is a brief rundown of what some of nutrients on the table above mean for your chickens’ health.

• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative

How do you feed nectarines to chickens?

Make sure you wash them thoroughly prior to feeding. This will make sure that any pesticide residue will be washed away. We recommend either growing your own or buying from a pesticide free farmer.

Nectarines are soft enough that you can just toss it on the ground and they will likely pounce it. This is definitely the easiest method but is not the most efficient way to feed them.

For one, you will run the risk of a single chicken or two fighting and getting the lion’s share of the nectarine. As we now know, if they eat too much they can develop some pretty severe health issues. Next, one or two nectarines for a whole flock of chickens is going to end up in a dogpiled mess of feathers, dirt, and squashed fruit. How do you eliminate both of those problems?

Cut it into very small pieces!

When you cut it up into, say, 1″ cubes, you can take a handful of nectarine and scatter it across a pretty wide area. That means your chickens will disperse and not get into a bare-cluckled beak fight. It’s also much easier to monitor how much each of your chickens are eating, thus, avoiding hypoglycemia and other health problems.

You can also mix chopped nectarines in with their feed and give that to them. This will make the food a little more dense and give them a larger range of nutrients when eating instead of just a huge sugar dump.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken nectarines?

We recommend only feeding nectarines around 1 to 3 times a week. This will give them all of the health benefits while also minimizing the risks that come with too much sugar.

Q2. How many nectarines can I feed to my chickens?

One nectarine, when cut into small cubes, can probably feed around 4 or 5 chickens.

Q3. How often can I feed nectarines to my chickens?

You will likely not want to feed nectarines to your chickens more than 1 to 3 times a week. It is also a good practice to intersperse them with other fruits, veggies, and supplemental feeds.

Q4. Can chicks eat nectarines?

You can, but the sugar can be even more dangerous to them, due to their small size. Instead of various treats, we find it best to stick with a good starter feed until they are able to handle a wider variety in their diet.

Q5. Other things chickens can eat:

Here are some popular foods that your chickens can eat.

• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Figs
• Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini
• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Raspberries
• Ticks

Pears are a delicious and healthy fruit. They are stacked full of dietary fiber and lots of vitamins. Given this, you may wonder, can chickens eat pears or are they a forbidden fruit of the chicken world?

Will our fine feathered friends survive this fantastic feast or will their discovery become an unfettered fiasco? Keep reading to find out.

Can Chickens Eat Pears?

Yes, chickens can eat pears as a nutrient rich treat. Pears are safe for chickens to eat whole, raw, cooked. The entire pear is safe to eat (except the pit), flesh, skin, seeds, and stem, so no worries about accidentally feeding your chickens something dangerous.

In fact, not only will they find it delicious, but it is also nutritious for them too. Healthy treats are an important part of keeping healthy chickens and should be incorporated into their diet. You can feed them treats during their routine health checks.

Much like when chickens eat oranges and other fruits, pears area also high in sugar content. Due to the sugar content, you will only want to feed about one pear per five chickens and between two and four times a week.

Finally, pears are also soft enough to be given whole but are best cut into small cubes and spread in a wide area to avoid fights.

Can Chickens eat pear skins?

Yes, chickens can eat pear skins. If you are just feeding the skins, they may not enjoy those as much as the whole fruit. The skins contain a majority of the nutrients in the pear, so you certainly dont’ want to exclude it when feeding pears to your chickens.

Can chickens eat pears whole?

Yep, chickens can eat pears whole. Now, they aren’t going to just gobble it in it’s entirety. They will likely peck pieces off and eat it bit by bit.

Can chickens eat pears raw?

Yes, chickens can eat pears raw just like humans do. Raw pears are the most common way pears are eaten.

Can chickens eat pears cooked?

Yes, chickens can eat cooked pears. However, you want to ensure that they weren’t cooked with dangerous additives like sugar, alcohol or other foods that chickens cannot have.

Can chickens eat pear seeds?

No, chickens can’t eat pear seeds. You may have heard that their seeds are poisonous. And technically, like apples, they do contain a small amount of cyanide. However, if they get a seed or two, they will likely be OK.

It would probably take half an orchard to amass the quantity it would take to become dangerous. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I think you get the point.

The only real safety concerns we would have are potential choking hazards and the high level of sugar. We’ll discuss how to avoid choking later when we review how pears should be served. Right now, though, let’s talk about the high sugar content.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Just like when chickens eat nectarines, raisins, and peaches which are also full of sugar, you need to be mindful of how much you are allowing your chickens to eat.

A single cup of Bartlett pear has a whopping 13.6 grams of sugar! That is a ton, especially when you consider the average hen weighs less than 3 kilograms.

Overeating sugar is just as bad for chickens as it is for humans. It can lead to obesity, putting excess strain on their heart, joints, and ligaments, sugar addiction, which can cause them to stop eating their regular food in pursuit of their next sugar fix (no, really), and hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, which can range from feeling a little dizzy all the way up to being fatal.

Are pears healthy for chickens?

Yes, pears can be a healthy snack when given in moderation. In spite of the high level of sugar, pears contain a ton of water which will help your chickens stay hydrated. They are a good source of dietary fiber which assists in digestion as well as improving their heart function with potassium.

Both copper and iron will help your chickens have a healthy circulatory system. And, finally, high levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and plenty of antioxidants keep their immune system running at peak performance.

What are the nutritional benefits of pears for chickens?

The table below, courtesy of the USDA FoodData Center, has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup (140g) raw Bartlett pear.

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	118.0	g
Energy	88.2	kcal
Protein	0.5	g
Total lipid (fat)	0.2	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	21.1	g
Fiber, total dietary	4.3	g
Sugars, Total NLEA	13.6	g
Calcium, Ca	11.2	mg
Iron, Fe	0.2	mg
Magnesium, Mg	8.0	mg
Phosphorus, P	14.0	mg
Potassium, K	122.0	mg
Sodium, Na	9.8	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.1	mg
Copper, Cu	0.098	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.045	mg
Selenium, Se	0.280	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	6.160	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.036	mg
Folate, total	8.400	µg
Vitamin A, RAE	1.400	µg
Carotene, beta	11.200	µg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	5.3	µg
Vitamin B-6	0.2	mg
Vitamin A, IU	11,500.0	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.4	mg
Vitamin D (D2 + D3)	0.0	µg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	1.4	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Earlier we gave you a small list of how nutrients specific to pears affect your chickens’ health. Here are some more nutritional facts to help decode the above table.

• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Copper: helps digestion and elevates the immune system
• Vitamin E: immune system support, cell regeneration
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia; assists in blood circulation
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Phosphorus: bone formation
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Zinc: immune system and mineral retention

How do you feed pears to chickens?

You can avoid the choking by making sure to cut your pears up before feeding them. A whole pear is soft enough that they will have no problem pecking through it. However, they will not have as much control over the size of the pieces they get and a single pear or two between a flock is going to provoke a lot of peck and run style and eating.

If you want to mix things up a little you can literally mix things up by making a fruit salad or chicken treat medley. Most likely, your chickens aren’t going to really care about clashing flavors so feel free to add in whatever snacks you like. You want to give them some blueberries, blackberries, radishes, rhubarb, and leftover unseasoned rice all stuck together with peanut butter? Go for it! They’re going to love it!

You can also take a mix of treats, like raspberries, peaches, and apples, and string them together with fishing line. Now, hang is somewhere your chickens like to hang out and watch them have one peck of a good time with their new chicken toy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken pears?

Just like most things in life, even too much of a good thing can be harmful. As we mentioned earlier, because of the amount of sugar, overfeeding your chickens pears can lead to some health issues like hypoglycemia, obesity, and even sugar addiction.

Q2. Can chicks eat pears?

Technically, yes, but it isn’t a great idea to feed your chicks pears. Keep them on a high quality starter/grower feed until they are a bit older.

Q3. How many pears can I feed to my chickens?

An average size pear, when cut into small chunks or cubes should be able to feed 4 or 5 chickens. The average backyard flock will probably be perfectly happy with one or two pears split between them.

Q3. How often can I feed pears to my chickens?

With the sugar content, we wouldn’t feed our chickens pears more than 3 or 4 times a week and would decrease that if they started to show any signs of poor health. We always advocate for the 90/10 rule when feeding our chickens. All that means is 90% of your chickens’ diet should come from free ranging and a high quality, chicken specific feed; like layer crumbles. The other 10% can then be reserved for other snacks, treats, and supplements.

It is good to mix up their treats, as well. Instead of giving them 4 days of pears, try adding in some cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, or asparagus, to keep things a little more balanced.

At MrAnimal Farm, we can’t get enough sweet potatoes. They are all the starchy, carby goodness of regular potatoes, baked or mashed, but with many more nutrients and much, much healthier. So, will those nutrients cross over to your livestock? Can chickens eat sweet potatoes or will they end up colder than a spud in the fridge?

Keep scrolling to find out if chickens can eat sweet potatoes and what happens if they do!

Can Chickens Eat Sweet Potatoes?

Yes, chickens can eat sweet potatoes. And, boy, do they love them! In fact, making sweet potatoes a regular part of your chickens weekly diet will help them stay happy and healthy.

Are sweet potatoes safe for my chickens to eat?

Sweet potatoes are 100% safe for your chickens to eat. In fact, at one point in time, sweet potatoes were used in chicken feed and as a supplement.

Feeding highly nutritious treats to your chickens can help them maintain their health and will make their regular health checks go much smoother.

Can chickens eat sweet potato skin?

Yes, chickens can eat sweet potato skin, unlike white potato skins which contain solanine and are toxic. You might be surprised to find out that sweet potatoes are not in the same family as white potatoes and, therefore, do not contain the toxic solanine.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Can chickens eat sweet potato flowers, leaves, or roots?

Yes they can eat sweet potato leaves, flowers, roots, as well as stems, and vines, too! The entire sweet potato plant is perfectly safe, nutritious, and delicious for your chickens to eat/

Can chickens eat white potatoes? What about other color potatoes?

You will want to avoid raw potatoes, potatoes with green skin, any part of the potato plant, including the seed pods and even the flowers. Like tomatoes, they are part of the nightshade family and contain solanine, which can be harmful for your chickens.

They also contain some other substances that can affect their heart function, how well they can absorb nutrients, digest their food, and even cause chronic discomfort like itchiness and pain.

Essentially, sweet potatoes are okay but any other kind, whether white, yellow, blue, or red, should be avoided. Technically, the real danger lies with potatoes that have green skin but the others can be harmful, in large quantities.

Are sweet potatoes healthy for chickens?

As we mentioned earlier, sweet potatoes, skin, leaves, roots, and all are a great and healthy snack for your chicken flock. Sweet potatoes are chock full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients essential to good health.

What are the nutritional benefits of sweet potatoes for chickens?

Below, You’ll find the USDA FoodData Center nutritional analysis on a serving size of 1 small (60 g), baked sweet potato with skin.

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	45.500	g
Energy	54.000	kcal
Protein	1.210	g
Fat	0.090	g
Ash	0.810	g
Fiber, total dietary	1.980	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	3.890	g
Calcium, Ca	22.800	mg
Iron, Fe	0.414	mg
Magnesium, Mg	16.200	mg
Phosphorus, P	32.400	mg
Potassium, K	285.000	mg
Sodium, Na	21.600	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.192	mg
Copper, Cu	0.097	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.298	mg
Selenium, Se	0.1	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	11.8	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.2	mg
Folate, total	3.6	µg
Carotene, beta	6,900.0	µg
Carotene, alpha	25.8	µg
Vitamin A, IU	11,500.0	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.4	mg
Vitamin D (D2 + D3)	0.0	µg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	1.4	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Should you feed them cooked or raw?

The truth is, chickens will eat them either way. Our personal recommendation is to cook them, ideally boiled, which we will get to in a moment, as cooked sweet potatoes are much softer and much, much easier for your chickens to eat.

How do you feed sweet potatoes to chickens?

Your choices really break down to raw or cooked and whole or cut/sliced/diced. Let’s look at the options.

Whole or cut?

Regardless of if you cook your sweet potatoes first or leave them raw, we recommend cutting them up before giving them to your chickens. Cutting them into slices or dice will make it a lot easier for them to break up and eat. Plus, when cut into small pieces, you can scatter a single potato in a much larger area and avoid any chickens fighting over a single sweet potato.

Raw

Raw sweet potatoes are perfectly fine for chickens to eat. They are going to be tough for them to break up, though. You can help them out a little by cutting them up first, but even then, your chickens will have a difficult time eating and may even be at risk of choking.

Cooked

There are actually several different ways to make cooked sweet potatoes for your chickens; boiled, baked, roasted, or fried.

Boiled

Boiling sweet potatoes is our favorite method of preparation when feeding them to our chickens. The reason is because it’s really easy to do. Just cut your sweet potato into cubes and put them in a pot of boiling water; 12-15 minutes for 1″ cubes and 20-25 minutes for 2″ cubes.

When they’re finished, just toss the cubes to your chickens, spread out so they don’t dog pile on each other, and watch them enjoy.

Additionally, you can also mash the sweet potatoes after boiling them and serve them that way. However, that can get unnecessarily messy AND adds in an extra step. We just wanted to give you the option but we don’t think it’s a very practical way to feed your chickens.

Baked

Baked sweet potato is probably the most common way they are prepared. They have all the same advantages of boiled except, it’s a whole potato which does not spread as far, baking generally takes longer than boiling, and, can sometimes, caramelize in the oven.

If your sweet potatoes caramelize, make sure to remove those pieces before giving them to your chickens. The extra concentration of sugar can be too much of a sugar overload and make your chickens feel really bad.

Roasted

Roasted is like a combination of boiling and baking. Since you typically cut them into cubes before cooking them, they will be soft enough for your chickens to eat. They do, however, run the same risk of caramelization that baking does, so be on the lookout for that. And, roasting will likely take longer than boiling.

If you do decide to roast them, only roast the sweet potatoes. Skip grandma’s secret recipe and don’t use any seasonings.

Fried

We added this here to address things like sweet potato fries. While, they likely won’t hurt them if they just have a single fry, we still do not recommend it. Fried sweet potatoes are going to have way too much fat and generally have a lot of salt on them too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How often can I feed sweet potato to my chickens?

We recommend between 3 to 5 times a week, if it’s a regular treat. Generally, we stick to making 10% of a chicken’s diet snacks and treats while the other 90% should be quality feed and bugs, insects, and stuff like that. However, sweet potatoes have been used as a supplemental feed in the past. You can likely get away with feeding sweet potatoes more often than, say, watermelon, cantaloupe, or radishes.

Q2. How many sweet potatoes can I feed to my chickens?

If you cut them into cubes, a single sweet potato can feed around 5 chickens, give or take a chicken. Obviously, this is just a guideline and you will know for sure once you feed them the first time.

Asparagus is one of those vegetables that you either love it or you hate it. We fall firmly on the loving it side of the divide (in spite of some of it’s…aromatic drawbacks). It’s great grilled and one of the healthiest, not to mention easiest, crops you can grow. So, do any of those benefits ring true for your chickens too? Can chickens eat asparagus or will this snack just turn into one, big, stinky mess?

Let’s dive in and see!

Can Chickens Eat Asparagus?

Yes, chickens can eat asparagus. It may take them a little bit of time to test it out, but once they do, they will absolutely love it! Which is fantastic because asparagus is chock full of life giving nutrients that every chicken needs to live a long, happy, and healthy life.

Healthy treats are important in keeping your chickens in tip top shape, so adding asparagus to their diet is a good idea.

Types of asparagus

We all know of asparagus as the long, thin stalks we’ve seen bundled with a rubber band. Some of us know it only by it’s reputation for making certain functions have a very strong distinct smell. In fact, that same phenomenon plays a bit of a role in how much or how often you should feed your chickens asparagus.

But, did you know that asparagus is not only found as the traditional green veggie we all think of? There are actually quite a few different, and colorful, varieties.

Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/white-vs-green-asparagus-1807065

Different colors can indicate different nutrients. So, you may want to think about feeding your chicken some foods with other colors as well like orange sweet potatoes, and red tomatoes.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Green asparagus

This is the most common and healthiest asparagus and the kind you will most likely give your chickens. You will likely find this in just about any produce department in any grocery store you walk into. It is also widely available. It’s darker green color is a sign, like with broccoli and zucchini, that it is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and overall general healthy goodness.

White asparagus

You may have never seen white asparagus before. It is almost identical to green asparagus except it is just pure white. It is not nearly as common as green asparagus but will offer most of the same nutrients. One interesting thing is that it gets it’s color, or lack thereof, by being grown underground in complete darkness. The lack of chlorophyll, from sunlight, gives it a more bitter flavor than either other type of asparagus.

White asparagus is still a healthy treat for your chickens but it is not quite as nutrient rich as green and is much more difficult to find.

Purple asparagus

This is, by far, the coolest looking asparagus. It is only grown during a small time frame during the year and is a deep, rich purple due to the presence of anthocyanins, the same thing that give blueberries their color. Purple asparagus is also the sweetest of the three strains due to it having “20% more” sugar content than white or green asparagus.

While it’s not nearly as sweet as a peach, cantaloupe, cranberries, or raisins, it’s probably best to stick with green over purple due to the sugar content.

Is asparagus safe for my chickens to eat?

Asparagus is completely safe for your chickens to eat. We will get into some of the specific nutrients asparagus offers your chickens in a just a bit. What we will say right now is that asparagus is one of the most hydrating snacks you can give your flock. So, not only is asparagus safe, but it can actually help your chicken stay hydrated when the weather is really hot.

While asparagus does contain a tiny bit of oxalic acid, it’s nowhere near the levels that something like rhubarb is and therefore is perfectly fine. In fact, chickens can eat rhubarb also, but must avoid the leaves where that high oxalic acid content is.

What about canned asparagus?

We do not recommend feeding your chickens canned asparagus. The asparagus will typically still have the same nutrients, however, usually they have way too much sodium. Salt is used as a preservative which is essential in canning asparagus for commercial use.

Is asparagus healthy for chickens?

Asparagus is incredibly healthy for your chickens. They contain a whole host of vitamins, like Vitamin A, B6, C, E, and K, and minerals, like calcium, copper, fiber, selenium, and zinc.

What are the nutritional benefits of asparagus for chickens?

Below, You’ll find the USDA FoodData Center nutritional analysis on a serving size of 1 cup (134g) of raw asparagus.

Name	Amount	Measurements
Water	125.0	g
Energy	26.8	kcal
Protein	3.0	g
Fat	0.2	g
Carbohydrate	5.2	g
Fiber, total dietary	2.8	g
Sugars	2.5	g
Calcium, Ca	32.2	mg
Iron, Fe	2.9	mg
Magnesium, Mg	18.8	mg
Phosphorus, P	69.7	mg
Potassium, K	271.0	mg
Sodium, Na	2.7	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.7	mg
Copper, Cu	0.3	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.2	mg
Selenium, Se	3.1	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	7.5	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.1	mg
Folate, total	69.7	µg
Carotene, beta	602.0	µg
Carotene, alpha	12.1	µg
Vitamin A, IU	1,010.0	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	1.5	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	55.7	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Here are what some of those nutrients mentioned above do to keep your chicken’s body running right.

• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Vitamin B6: healthy blood vessels, eye/vision health, nervous system , immune system
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Copper: helps digestion and elevates the immune system
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Vitamin E: immune system support, cell regeneration
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Selenium: Boosts their immune system and helps with over nutrient balance in selenium deficient areas (most of the US)
• Zinc: immune system and mineral retention

How do you feed asparagus to chickens?

Feeding your chickens asparagus is pretty easy. Your options essentially break down to raw or cooked. Let’s look at the benefits and drawbacks of either method.

Raw

If you want to go with the low effort, simple, one and done way, just throw some raw asparagus where your flock gathers to eat. If they have never had asparagus before it may take them some time to try tit out. But, eventually, one brave cluck will, no doubt, mosey over and start pecking away, thus, triggering an entire feathered cavalcade of beak happy chickens.

A few problems can arise in that scenario. If there is not enough asparagus to go around, the chickens may start fighting which can lead to injuries. Another, sometimes related, issue is asparagus is pretty hard. Because it’s so tough, and chickens may be in a rush to peck and run with their food, it can quickly become a choking hazard.

Cooked

Cooked asparagus is, in our opinion, a much better option. It will take a little bit longer but you don’t have to do anything fancy. Simply boiling them will soften them up enough to make them easier to eat and digest.

Some of the same problems from above will still apply with either raw or cooked asparagus. They can still choke but cooked asparagus is a little less likely since it’s softer. The way we are able to cut down either of those things from happening?

It’s easy. Just cut the asparagus up into small, chicken bite sized pieces. This way you can scatter a much larger area so each chicken will get some and be less likely to fight. And the smaller pieces are easier to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken asparagus?

Yes, you can give them too much asparagus. Will it hurt them? It isn’t likely but it can throw off their dietary balance. We like to stick to the 90/10 rule when giving our chickens treats, snacks, or supplementary food.

Basically, 90% of your chickens’ diet should come from a high quality chicken feed and supplemented with whatever they catch when free ranging. The other 10% of your chickens’ diet can be any number of special treats like rice, peanuts, figs, radishes, tomatoes, or bananas.

Q2. How much asparagus can I feed to my chickens?

We recommend not feeding asparagus to your chickens more than 3 or 4 times a week. On top of it possibly throwing off the balance of their diet, another consequence of unfettered asparagus consumption is it can start to taint the flavor of their eggs.

Some people claim it doesn’t at all while others claim a single feeding will do it. This is most likely due to the asparagusic acid found in asparagus. It’s the same compound that makes your pee smell and can also give eggs a bit of a sulfur flavor.

Q3. How often can I feed asparagus to my chickens?

Stick to the 90/10 rule for feeding and only give your chickens asparagus 2 to 4 times a week. If you notice a change in the flavor of their eggs, reduce the number of times per week or stop giving it to them altogether.

Q4. Can I feed asparagus to my chicks?

Asparagus should be safe for your chicks to eat. However, like with any treat, only feed it sparingly and make sure it is small and soft enough for them to eat easily. We tend to not give chicks any treats or snacks outside of their normal starter/grower feed until they are a bit older.

Are you a fan of figs? This exotic fruit is very popular due to it’s very sweet flavor and hardiness in many different climates. We love to eat figs so we were curious if our feathered friends would love them too. So, can chickens eat figs or is this tiny sweet a bit too toxic for their taste?

Keep on reading and find out if chickens can eat figs or not!

Can Chickens Eat Figs?

Yes, chickens can eat figs whole they are a healthy treat with lots of benefits for your chickens health. They can have fresh or dehydrated/dried figs as long as there is no added sugar in them. Figs are, however, a treat that should be given sparingly.

Figs should be fed in tiny amounts though. Despite it’s small size, figs are packed full of sugar. Enough sugar that even 1 whole fig could prove to be deadly if a chicken eats it and is not in good health already.

What is a fig?

Figs are a small, yet very sweet fruit that grows on the Ficus carica, or fig tree. It was originally only found in the western parts of Asia and the Mediterranean before being exported throughout the world. It is now found practically everywhere.

The fruit is small, typically no more than 2″ long and turns from green to brownish purple when it is fully ripe.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat figs?

As we mentioned, figs have a lot of sugar in them. Other than the sugar content, they are safe to eat. Following the 90/10 dietary rule is the best way to make sure that figs, when fed in moderation, are a delicious snack and pose no threat, at all.

Figs are not alone in this department, though. Many fruits and berries, like watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, raisins, cranberries, or cherries, can wreak havoc on your chickens’ bodies if they eat too many of them. The high levels of sugar can cause obesity, sugar addiction, and, worst of all, hypoglycemia.

Make sure when you are feeding treats to also do routine health checks on your chickens to ensure that they are doing OK with these added foods in their diet.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Hypoclycemia in chickens

If you were unaware, hypoglycemia can be a problem with many animals. We often think that this is a human disease commonly associated with diabetes. However, it is something that can impact just about any living creature.

When you break the word down, “hypo” means “low, under, beneath, down, or below normal” and glycemia refers to glucose in the bloodstream. So, hypoglycemia is the technical term for low blood sugar levels. Now, why is it dangerous?

Glucose is what the body uses for energy. It is carried through the bloodstream and “delivered” to various places to give them the energy they need to function properly. When something, in this case chickens, eats too sugar, it is broken down into glucose and enters the bloodstream. When a chicken has too much sugar in it’s system, it results in a spike in their glucose levels; known as hyperglycemia.

Glucose burns very fast, though, and is quickly depleted causing a steep drop in blood sugar levels. Without the proper amount of glucose to use as an energy source, their body is not able to work efficiently.

This can be as benign as feeling a little dizzy or as severe as losing consciousness or even death.

What are the nutritional benefits of figs for chickens?

Figs can be a healthy snack for your flock. They contain a wealth of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in a very small package. In fact, a quick glance at this table from the USDA FoodData Center will show you just how many nutrients are in a single fig dried fig (8..4g).

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	2.520	g
Energy	20.900	kcal
Protein	0.277	g
Fat	0.078	g
Carbohydrate	5.370	g
Fiber, total dietary	0.823	g
Sugars	4.020	g
Calcium, Ca	13.600	mg
Iron, Fe	0.171	mg
Magnesium, Mg	5.710	mg
Phosphorus, P	5.630	mg
Potassium, K	57.100	mg
Sodium, Na	0.840	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.046	mg
Copper, Cu	0.024	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.043	mg
Selenium, Se	0.050	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	0.101	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.009	mg
Folate, total	0.756	µg
Folic acid	0.000	µg
Carotene, beta	0.504	µg
Vitamin A, IU	0.840	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.029	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	1.310	µg

What do these nutrients do?

The above table might make a little more sense if you are familiar with how each of these nutrients affects the body. Below are some examples of what role various vitamins and minerals play in the development of a chicken.

• Vitamin B6: healthy blood vessels, eye/vision health, nervous system , immune system
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development

Can Chickens eat fig leaves?

No, chickens shouldn’t eat fig leaves. Fig leaves and trees contain a substance called ficin. Which has been shown to be toxic for multiple animals such as cattle, dogs and cats. So, better to steer clear from exposing your chickens to it.

Can chickens eat fig stems?

No, chickens shouldn’t eat fig stems. Again, this is due to the ficin in the fig plant. Better to avoid anything that is potentially toxic to feed to your chickens.

Can chickens eat fresh figs?

Yes, chickens eat eat fresh figs as long as they are given in moderation. This is the best way to feed your chickens figs.

Can Chickens eat Dried or Dehydrated figs?

Yes, chickens can eat dried or dehydrated figs. BUT only if they don’t have any added sugars. As already mentioned figs are high in sugar already, so you shouldn’t feed them to your chickens if they have even more sugar added in.

How do you feed figs to chickens?

Figs are nice because you don’t really have a ton of options when it comes to feeding them to your chickens. Since they should only be fed sparingly, you won’t want to leave them openly available as a swinging toy. Your best options are either fresh picked or from the store or dried.

Fresh picked

The best option for fresh figs is if you grow and harvest them yourself. You know exactly what they have been exposed to and you can feed them worry free. But, if you get them from the store, just make sure they do not have any pesticides on them and they should be fine for your chickens.

Just wash them thoroughly, cut them into quarters, and give them to your chickens. If you have a small flock, try to give them to each chicken individually. A larger flock is much harder to do this with. You just want to make sure that an aggressive hen or rooster doesn’t fight their way into eating half or a whole fig themselves.

Dried figs

As with cranberries and raisins, dried or dehydrated figs become highly concentrated with sugar; making them even more potentially dangerous. But, if you take that into consideration when feeding, it shouldn’t be a problem. For dried figs, we would try and split a single fig between 5 chickens instead of 5, if possible.

If you choose to buy store bought dried figs, you will just need to make sure they do not have any added sugar or other preservatives that can be harmful to your chickens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken figs?

Yes, you can overfeed your chickens figs and it can be quite dangerous. Because of the high sugar content, chickens should not over consume figs.

We like to stick with the 90/10 rule which just says that only 10% of a chicken’s diet should come from supplemental feeds, treats, snacks, etc. While 90% should come from them free ranging and the chicken feed you give them.

Q2. How many figs can I feed my chickens?

As a general rule, you will want to split one fig for every four chickens. So, only give each chicken a quarter, or fourth, of a fig. Some larger chickens may be able to handle half a fig, but it isn’t worth the risk.

Q3. How often can I feed figs to my chickens?

We usually give snacks and treats 3 or 4 days a week. With figs, you will not want to do more than 3. Realistically, feeding them once a week is probably just fine.

Q4. Can I feed figs to my baby chicks?

We would advise against giving figs to baby chicks. If an adult chicken can only handle a fourth of a fig, a chick needs much, much less and it would be very difficult to measure that out. We recommend waiting until they are a bit older before giving them much more than starter grower feed.

Q5. Can chickens eat fig rolls?

While fig rolls may be a delicious dessert for us it can be a death sentence for your chickens. Figs alone have a ton of sugar, factoring in the extra sugar and other ingredients inside of a fig roll would just be too much for them.

Q6. Can chickens eat Fig Newtons?

No, absolutely not! Chickens cannot have Fig Newtons. The amount of added sugar would likely send them into a diabetic coma and an early grave.

We LOVE blueberries here at MrAnimal Farm. Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry scones, even just plain old fresh or frozen blueberries. So, we got to wondering if our animals would enjoy them as much as we do. But first we had to ask can chickens eat blueberries or not?

Are you as curious as we were? Scroll down a little and find out!

Can Chickens Eat Blueberries?

Yes, chickens can eat blueberries and they love them. Blueberries are considered a superfood for humans and can also be considered the same for chickens; in moderation, of course.

Are blueberries safe for chickens?

Blueberries are very safe for your chickens. While, they do contain a decent amount of sugar, if you follow the 90/10 rule, your chickens should suffer no ill effects. The 90/10 rule simply says that the primary, or 90%, dietary source for your chickens should be a quality chicken feed and whatever they can free range. The other 10% can be various other treats.

When feeding any treats, it’s good to make sure that you maintain regular health checks on your chickens to ensure they are staying in tip tip shape.

Just like when you feed other treats high in sugar like pears or nectarines, when you feed them blueberries, make sure that each chicken is only getting a couple with each feeding. Anywhere from 1 to 3 should be well within the safe zone and will not likely result in any health issues, like obesity, sugar addiction, or hypoglycemia.

Generally, treats and snacks should not be an everyday occurrence. We like to use our treats as a special event and stick to 3 or 4 times a week. You can also switch it up and give them blueberries one day, peanuts on another, and papaya or mango on the other days.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

What are the nutritional benefits of blueberries for chickens?

Blueberries contain an antioxidant called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are what give blueberries their dark blue color. In addition to these powerful antioxidants, blueberries also contain a good amount of Vitamin C which can help bolster the immune system and keep your chickens hardier and less likely to become sick.

The table below from the USDA’s FoodData Center has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup (148g) of raw blueberries:

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	125	g
Energy	84.4	kcal
Protein	1.1	g
Fat	0.488	g
Carbohydrate	21.5	g
Fiber, total dietary	3.55	g
Sugars	14.7	g
Calcium, Ca	8.88	mg
Iron, Fe	0.414	mg
Magnesium, Mg	8.88	mg
Phosphorus, P	17.8	mg
Potassium, K	114	mg
Sodium, Na	1.48	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.237	mg
Copper, Cu	0.1	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.5	mg
Selenium, Se	0.1	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	14.4	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.1	mg
Folate, total	8.9	µg
Carotene, beta	47.4	µg
Vitamin A, IU	79.9	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.8	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	28.6	µg

What do these nutrients do?

If the table above is confusing, no worries. Here are what some of those nutrients are and how they affect your chickens’ health.

• Antioxidants: (Anthocyanids, Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin B6: healthy blood vessels, eye/vision health, nervous system , immune system
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; enery, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Magnesium: bone development, cellular metabolism
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development

How do you feed chickens blueberries?

Blueberries are really easy to feed to your chickens. Essentially, all you do is give them a good washing to remove any pesticide residue and then scatter them wherever your chickens like to eat. Make sure they are far enough apart that you can monitor how many each chicken is eating and to break up any scuffles that may come from a greedy hen.

We also like to freeze our blueberries and string them up with other frozen fruits like raspberries, blackberries, cherries, peaches, and apples. Then, just hang the string somewhere near the coop and watch the chickens have fun with their new toy.

What fruit is bad for chickens?

Chickens can eat a whole lot of other fruits, vegetables, and berries other than blueberries. Here are some of their favorite snacks that are safe, in moderation.

Fruits

• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Currants
• Pears
• Watermelon

Vegetables & Gourdes

• Pumpkin
• Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini

Berries

• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Rowan Berries

Raspberries can be a delicious and refreshing treat for us, so can chickens eat raspberries? And, if so, do they provide them any health benefits?

Wanna know what we found out? Scroll down a little and find out!

Can Chickens Eat Raspberries?

Yes, chickens can eat raspberries! In fact, they absolutely love eating them. Raspberries, when combined with a good balanced regular diet, can be an excellent treat that is also beneficial to your entire chicken flock’s health and wellbeing.

Are raspberries safe for chickens?

Yes, for the most part, raspberries are safe for chickens to eat. However, they do contain xylitol, part of what gives raspberries their sweet flavor and a substance used in many artificial sweeteners, which can be toxic to chickens and other birds and lead to hypoglycemia, pancreas failure, and liver failure.

So, you will want to make sure your chickens are maintaining good health as you feed this treat. Just like there are other foods like rhubarb and asparagus that also contain toxins, but can be fed to your chickens safely with caution.

What about the seeds and leaves?

The calyx, which is the leafy green sprout on top of the berry, is often treated with pesticides and much harder to wash off. It’s best to remove them completely and/or purchase from a pesticide free vendor. Or grow your own but keep your chickens away as they will destroy the plant trying to eat it.

The other leaves of the raspberry plant carry some of the same risks as they are also treated the same. Additionally, it has been said that raspberry leaves can alter the flavor of eggs, as well.

It would be near impossible to remove the thousands of seeds from a single berry let alone a whole batch of them. Fortunately, raspberry seeds are not at all dangerous for your chickens so you can put away the microscope and tweezers for now.

What are the nutritional benefits of raspberries for chickens?

The table below from the USDA’s FoodData Center has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup (123g) of raw raspberries:

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	106	g
Energy	64	kcal
Protein	1.48	g
Fat	0.799	g
Carbohydrate	14.6	g
Fiber, total dietary	8	g
Sugars	5.44	g
Calcium, Ca	30.8	mg
Iron, Fe	0.849	mg
Magnesium, Mg	27.1	mg
Phosphorus, P	35.7	mg
Potassium, K	186	mg
Copper, Cu	0.111	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.824	mg
Selenium, Se	0.246	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	32.2	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.068	mg
Folate, total	25.8	µg
Carotene, beta	14.8	µg
Carotene, alpha	19.7	µg
Vitamin A, IU	40.6	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	1.07	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	9.59	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are essential to living a long and healthy life. Here is a short description of what some of these nutrients in raspberries do to help your chickens.

• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin B6: healthy blood vessels, eye/vision health, nervous system, immune system
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Copper: helps digestion and elevates the immune system
• Vitamin E: immune system support, cell regeneration
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Iron: prevents anemia
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Magnesium: bone development, cellular metabolism
• Phosphorus: egg quality and skeletal development
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Sodium: helps with growth by assisting with energy and appetite
• Zinc: assists in the formation of their feathers

How do you feed chickens raspberries?

If you have your own raspberry bush where your chickens can get to it, they will take care of this for you. You may not like the results but they will definitely handle feeding themselves. However, if you would like to keep your berry bushes intact AND give your chickens a sweet snack, you can try some of these methods.

And remember, no matter which way you choose, make sure to wash them prior to feeding. Even if you got them from a pesticide free grower, you never know if someone is just pulling your leg.

Fresh

This method is super simple. Just scatter them around in an area you don’t mind chickens scratching through. Make sure you spread them far enough apart that they do not end up fighting and so you can keep a good eye on how many raspberries each chicken is eating.

Frozen

Try freezing some raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and blackberries, and then hang them all on a piece of fishing line together. Your chickens will not only love their berry medley snack but they will also enjoy chasing the string around as it swings when pecked. This easy to make DIY chicken toy will play double duty as a treat supplement and entertainment (for you and the chickens)

How many raspberries can I feed my chickens?

It’s best to only feed each chicken between 1 and 3 raspberries. We tend to stick to the 90/10 rule which states that 90% of your chickens’ diet should be what they catch free ranging and from a quality chicken feed. The other 10% can be various other snacks and treats like raspberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, rice, or even popcorn and peanuts!

How often can I feed my chickens raspberries?

With a well balanced diet, we like to give our chickens raspberries and other special treats 3 or 4 times a week. This seems to be often enough to keep them happy and not too often that they start to develop health problems.

Did you know that on top of being delicious, the papaya is packed full of healthy vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients? Papayas also offer a whole host of other health benefits. It makes you wonder if they are so good for us, can our animals get the same improvements? So, can chickens eat papayas?

Let’s keep reading to see if papayas are the most nutritious and delicious treat EVER or the sweet kiss of death for your chickens (or maybe something in between that is less dramatic).

Can Chickens Eat Papayas?

Yes, chickens can eat papayas! They can eat ripe papayas skin, flesh and seeds. They are incredibly nutritious and a sweet treat chickens love to eat.

What exactly is a papaya?

A papaya is a small, mostly tropical fruit in the caricaceae family. It’s scientific name is Carica Papaya. As it begins to ripen, the color of it’s skin will change from a darker green to an almost orangey yellow with bits of green mixed in. The riper it is, the sweeter it will be; ranging from a mild sweet flavor, similar to a banana, to a very sweet flavor reminiscent of mango.

One common misconception is that papayas and pawpaws are the same thing. It can get confusing because papayas are sometimes called pawpaws, correctly.

They are very similar, however, North American Pawpaws (similar but different name) are usually bigger and grow in colder climates; all the way up into Canada. There are some other differences in color and flavor. Here’s a good comparison from our friends at Practical Primate.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat a papaya?

It is definitely safe for chickens to eat papaya. As we mentioned, they are packed full of good nutrients that will strengthen and improve just about every facet of your flock’s physical wellbeing. Even the sugar is not as big an issue as some other treats like cranberries, cherries, peaches, or raisins.

However, with all of the health benefits, there are a few things to consider before dumping a whole bushel in your coop.

Can chickens eat papaya seeds?

Yes, chickens can eat papaya seeds, technically. The seeds of a papaya are not toxic, however, they are hard and can be difficult to eat and digest. Because of this they can be a choking hazard and possibly lead to an internal blockage.

Due to the choking hazard, it may be best to remove papaya seeds before feeding them to your chickens.

The seeds are easy to remove, though. Just slice the papaya in half and use a spoon to scoop the seeds out. Easy peasy!

Are the leaves of a papaya plant poisonous to chickens?

Another thing to keep in mind is the greenery attached to the fruit, like leaves. While they are not explicitly toxic in the same way tomatoes or potato skins may be, there is still some debate going within the scientific community to whether the leaves are harmful or not. We like to play it safe and remove any greenery prior to feeding them to our chickens.

What about unripe or green papayas? Can my chicken eat those?

Finally, only feed ripe papayas to your chickens (and to yourself, honestly). Papayas, when unripe, contain papain which is harsh and can cause harm to the esophagus.

But don’t worry too much, just as chickens can eat asparagus despite the potential oxalic acid toxin, as long as you feed papaya in a safe manner, it’s totally safe.

Are papayas healthy for chickens?

Yes, papayas are very healthy for chickens to eat! We’ve said it a few times already but now let’s talk a little bit about WHY they are so healthy. Aside from being nutrient dense, papayas have been known to have additional health benefits.

Papaya as a dewormer

If you have ever raised any livestock you know pests and parasites can quickly become a big problem. This issue is only made worse by the overuse of many over the counter dewormers leading to stronger and more resistant breeds of worms.

Papaya has been shown in studies to act as a natural dewormer AND build up resistance for future worm loads. Not just in chickens either. Papayas can do this for your goats, too!

Papaya as an antibacterial

There are some other studies that have made a connection between papayas and wounds healing more quickly and effectively. Papayas contain many antibacterial properties and thus can help increase your chickens’ ability to heal itself when injured..

Papayas as a treatment for coccidia

Coccidia, or coccidiosis, seems to be a constant battle with chickens and goats, especially baby goats. Fortunately, papayas have shown promising signs of being a good defense against coccidia and it’s effects.

Papaya as an antifungal and antiviral

As if the above benefits were not enough, papayas have also been used as an antifungal and, because they are packed with so much immune boosting Vitamin C, they act as an antiviral, as well.

What are the nutritional benefits of papaya for chickens?

Papayas have a ton of nutrients in them. Your chickens will get just about every vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and other nutrients they need from eating papaya.

The table below, courtesy of the USDA FoodData Center, has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup of 1″ papaya pieces (145g).

Names	Amount	Measurement
Water	128.000	g
Energy	62.400	kcal
Protein	0.681	g
Fat	0.377	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	15.700	g
Fiber, total dietary	2.460	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	11.300	g
Calcium, Ca	29.000	mg
Iron, Fe	0.362	mg
Magnesium, Mg	30.400	mg
Phosphorus, P	14.500	mg
Potassium, K	264.000	mg
Copper, Cu	0.065	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.058	mg
Selenium, Se	0.870	µg
Vitamin C,	88.300	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.1	mg
Folate, total	53.6	µg
Vitamin A, RAE	68.2	µg
Carotene, beta	397.0	µg
Carotene, alpha	2.9	µg
Vitamin A, IU	1,380.0	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	0.4	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	3.8	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Here are what some of these nutrients can do to help your chicken be as healthy as possible.

• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Antioxidants: repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Phosphorus: bone formation
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Selenium: Boosts their immune system and helps with over nutrient balance in selenium deficient areas (most of the US)

How do you feed papaya to chickens?

No matter what method you use, always start out by washing them. This will remove any unwanted pesticide residue that may still be present. Better yet, try and get you rpapayas from a vendor who is pesticide free (but still wash them anyway).

Whole

This is the easiest method. Just toss a whole papaya to your chickens and be done with it. However, with the ease of this method comes some risks.

1. chickens may fight over the small, unscattered portion
2. some may eat more than others and become nutritionally unbalanced
3. some may choke on the seeds

Sliced

While this takes a little more work, this is a much better, and safer, way to feed your chickens papaya. Just cut the papaya in half, scoop out the seeds with a spoon and then slice it into slivers or small cubes. Now, you don’t have to worry about as many fights or choking hazards.

Frozen

On really hot days, we love to freeze our fruit for healthy snacks, like blueberries, blackberries, grapes, and cherries. Freeze some papaya as well and give your flock a cold fruit medley during the summer months.

Bonus points if your run a needle and fishing line through them to make a hanging chicken toy. It’s a good snack and the chickens will not get bored chasing the swinging fruit.

Dried

Finally, you can dehydrate papaya and give that to your chickens. Removing the moisture will make the sugar content a little more potent and can be risky, though. However, if you want to peel them first, feed the fruit to your chickens and then dry the skins for a snack later on.

The skins typically have all of the same nutrients but without the excess sugar. To dry them yourself you can put them on a cookie sheet and stick them in the oven on the lowest temperature, usually around 140º to 150º, and let them bake for about 12 hours; checking every couple of hours on their progress.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken papayas?

As with anything good, feeding papayas to your chickens can be overdone. We stick with the 10% rule when feeding our chickens treats. That basically means that no more than 10% of their diet should come from anything other than a quality chicken feed and whatever they can catch while free ranging.

Q2. How often can I feed my chickens papaya?

Following the 10% rule, your chickens can benefit from eating papaya anywhere from 1 to 3 times a week.

Q3. How much papaya can I feed to my chickens?

Depending on the size of your chicken flock, the amount will vary. But the average backyard flock can probably feed 1 or 2 small papayas and be in the safe range.

Q4. Can baby chicks eat papaya?

Baby chickens can benefit from the nutrients in papaya. However, being so tiny, it is easy to give them too much without realizing it; not to mention the potential choking hazard. We recommend sticking with a specialized chick/grower feed until they are a little bit older.

Q5. What other fruits and vegetables are safe for chickens?

Most fruits, vegetables and berries are safe for your chickens to eat, within the confines of the 10% rule we mentioned earlier. Here is a short list of some of our flock’s favorites:

Fruits

• Apples (not the seeds)
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Currants
• Peaches
• Pears
• Watermelon

Vegetables & Gourdes

• Pumpkin
• Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini

Berries

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Raspberries
• Rowan Berries

Raisins are pretty polarizing. Some people love them because they are a tasty and healthy alternative to candy while others have developed serious trust issues when mistaking an oatmeal raisin cookie for a chocolate chip cookie. It turns out, asking can chickens eat raisins is just as divided.

So, do you think raisins are toxic for chickens or should you let your feathered friends snack the time away with you? Let’s find out together, shall we?

Can Chickens Eat Raisins?

Chickens can eat raisins but they should not eat a lot of them. There are some risks that you should be aware of before you let them snack on your favorite treat. All in all, though, when fed properly, raisins can be a tasty and healthy treat for your chicken flock.

Is it safe for chickens to eat raisins?

So, raisins get a pretty bad rep because they can make a dog go into kidney failure and, in some cases, be fatal. If you ask us, that’s a pretty good reason to be weary of raisins. People then just assume if it will kill their dog, it will probably kill any of their other animals.

Fortunately, this is not the case. That’s not to say they do not have an element of danger. However, they are not as dangerous for chickens as they are for dogs. The major danger is the amount of sugar in raisins can lead to excessive weight gain, putting stress on their body, a, believe it or not, sugar addiction, which can cause them to stop eating their regular food, and hypoglycemia.

You should be aware of the health issues this can cause so that you can keep your chickens in good health.

Hypoglycemia in chickens

High sugar content is a pretty common risk with just about any berry or fruit you can feed your chickens. It doesn’t matter if it’s watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, or cherries. If they eat too much in a short period of time, your chickens can become hypoglycemic.

All hypoglycemia means is low blood sugar. Or, more accurately, glucose in the bloodstream is low. Glucose is what the body uses as it’s primary source of energy. If it gets too low, essential body functions are not able to run as smoothly as they should and can become a problem. This can range from feeling dizzy and lethargic all the way to death.

It’s not that scary though. You can avoid it by monitoring what your chickens eat and giving them a high quality chicken feed so they have all of their necessary nutrients and only give them raisins and other sweets as an occasional treat.

Can chickens eat grape leaves?

The answer to this question is an emphatic yes! Chickens can eat grape leaves. Unlike tomatoes and mangos, whose leaves and greenery can be toxic, grape leaves have all of the nutritional benefits of grapes and raisins without the huge sugar dump.

Are raisins healthy for chickens?

Just like with dried cranberries and figs when fed in moderation, raisins can be a pretty healthy snack; particularly in areas that are deficient in Selenium (which is pretty much the entirety of the US.

What are the nutritional benefits of raisins for chickens?

Other than the amount of sugar, raisins have a lot of good vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals.

The table below, courtesy of the USDA FoodData Center, has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup (145g), loose packed, seeded raisins.

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	24.1	g
Energy	429	kcal
Energy	1800	kJ
Protein	3.65	g
Total lipid (fat)	0.783	g
Ash	2.74	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	114	g
Fiber, total dietary	9.86	g
Calcium, Ca	40.6	mg
Iron, Fe	3.76	mg
Magnesium, Mg	43.5	mg
Phosphorus, P	109	mg
Potassium, K	1200	mg
Sodium, Na	40.6	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.261	mg
Copper, Cu	0.438	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.387	mg
Selenium, Se	0.87	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	7.83	mg
Thiamin	0.162	mg
Riboflavin	0.264	mg
Niacin	1.61	mg
Pantothenic acid	0.065	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.273	mg
Folate, total	4.35	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Here is a handy breakdown of what some of those nutrients listed above do for your chickens’ overall health.

• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Copper: helps digestion and elevates the immune system
• Vitamin E: immune system support, cell regeneration
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Omega 6 Fatty Acids: help with healthy feathers, skin, proper brain development, and assists in growth
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Selenium: Boosts their immune system and helps with over nutrient balance in selenium deficient areas (most of the US)

How do you feed raisins to chickens?

Here are a couple of methods you can use to feed raisins to your chickens.

Fresh raisins

Just scatter them around like feed or scratch. This is the easiest method but can be difficult for your chickens to digest. We suggest serving them…

Soaked

Put them in a jar with water and let them soak over night. This softens them so they are easier to chew and digest. This is our preferred method of feeding our chickens raisins, when we do.

Chicken trail mix

Mix with some berries, nuts, meal worms, corn, black oil sunflower seeds, sunflower kernels, and/or flaxseed to make this tasty chicken treat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken raisins?

Yes. Feeding your chickens too many raisins can lead to many health problems such as, obesity, sugar addiction, and hypoglycemia.

Q2. How many raisins can I feed my chickens?

Because of the high content and the dangers involved with giving your chicken’s too much sugar, you should really only give each chicken 1 to 3 raisins each.

Q3. How often can I feed raisins to my chickens?

We live by the 90/10 rule which says only 10% of a chicken’s diet should consist of snacks, treats, and unconventional foods while 90% should be what the catch free ranging and a quality chicken feed.

Q4. Can I feed raisins to my baby chicks?

We don’t recommend giving raisins to baby chicks. The can easily choke on them, even if the raisins are pre soaked. It is also very difficult to determine what is a safe amount of sugar due to the chicks’ very small size.

Q5. What fruits and vegetables are safe for chickens?

Stick to the 90/10 rule and you should be safe feeding some of these fruits, veggies, and berries.

Fruits

• Apples (not the seeds)
• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Cherries
• Currants
• Peaches
• Pears
• Watermelon

Vegetables & Gourdes

• Pumpkin
• Tomatoes
• Yellow Squash
• Zucchini

Berries

• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Mountain Ash Berries
• Mulberries
• Raspberries
• Rowan Berries

When you think of holiday meals there are a few things that come to mind; oven roasted turkey, glazed honey ham, and, possibly best of all, fresh, homemade cranberry sauce. And since we all love cranberries so much, we want to share them with all of our furry and feathered friends. Right? Before you do, though, maybe ask yourself can chickens eat cranberries?

Keep on reading to find out if your chickens can enjoy the holidays as much as you do!

Can Chickens Eat Cranberries?

Yes, chickens can eat cranberries. They are packed with dense nutrients like Vitamin A and Vitamin C and make an excellent treat for your chickens. They can be fed whole, raw, dried, dehydrated or cooked as long as extra sugar is not added.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat cranberries?

Are cranberries a safe snack for your chickens? Yes and no. As we mentioned, cranberries can actually be very healthy (more on that in a minute) but, they do have a lot of sugar in them.

In order to maintain good health, chickens need to have a well balanced diet, typically from foraging and a quality feed with a specific chicken focused recipe.

Unfortunately, if they eat too many cranberries, or any especially sweet fruit like figs, papaya or raspberries it can throw their blood sugar levels off and they can become hypoglycemic.

Can chickens eat fresh cranberries?

Yes, chickens can eat fresh cranberries. You can’t go wrong with fresh cranberries. They are juicy, ripe, and an almost perfect snack for your chickens. The only bad thing about them is they can be a little tough to chew and sometimes digest.

Can chickens eat cooked cranberries

Yes, chickens can eat cooked cranberries. You can bake them, stick them in a skillet, or even just boil them for a bit to cook cranberries for your chickens. The primary reason for this is it make the softer and, thus, easier to chew and digest. This method will eliminate upset stomachs and most choking hazards. The only drawback is it can be time consuming.

Can chickens eat dried cranberries

Probably not. Dried cranberries can be a little problematic. Remember that part earlier about the high amount of sugar? Dried cranberries actually have an even higher concentration of sugar.

What we mean is, when you dry cranberries, all of the moisture is removed and all that is left is the shriveled flesh or fruit. Since there is no water to dilute the sugar content, it’s even harder for the chicken’s body to balance out the sugar.

If you want to feed them dried cranberries don’t feed them ones you bought from the store. Almost every pack of dried cranberries you can find in a store is soaked in sugar or syrup prior to dehydrating. So they have even MORE sugar!

Your best bet is to use fresh cranberries and dry them out yourself.

Can my chicken eat craisins?

No, chickens cannot eat craisins as they usually have sugar in them. Craisins are just a brand name for dried cranberries; playing off the more popular dried grape snack, raisins.

The same rules apply for craisins as any store bought dried cranberries. Unless they explicitly say they have no sugar in them, assume they are loaded.

Can chickens eat cranberry sauce?

No, chickens can’t eat cranberry sauce. Most all cranberry sauce (unless you just cook and smush your own at home) is going to be jam packed full of sugar which is a big no-no for feeding your chickens.

Hypoclycemia in chickens

Hypoglycemia? Isn’t that a human disease? It is, but it’s not exclusive to us. Many animals can suffer from it, like dogs (usually small dogs) and, as you now know, chickens.

So, what is hypoglycemia? Hypo as a prefix means ” low, under, beneath, down, or below normal” and glycemia pertains to glucose being in the bloodstream. Put them together and it essentially means that the chicken does not have enough glucose in their system. Since glucose is the body’s main source of energy not having enough means important body functions are not able to operate at peak performance. If that goes on too long it can be very dangerous; and not just for chickens.

When sugar is consumed the body breaks it down into glucose, which then enters the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body providing the energy needed to function. When we get too much glucose, the body doesn’t know what to do with it and burns it off very quickly leading to a sharp drop in blood sugar level. Kind of like that wonky feeling that comes if you eat a candy bar for breakfast and then a late lunch.

At best, it is a very uncomfortable and disorienting feeling. At worst, it can lead to unconsciousness and even, in some cases, death.

Are cranberries healthy for chickens?

Now, cranberries are not nearly as scary as that last part may have made them sound. Like we said, hypoglycemia can happen with an excessive amount of cranberries. If you want to feed your chickens 1, 2, maybe 3 fresh cranberries at a time, they should be okay.

Let’s at some of the other nutrients found in cranberries.

What are the nutritional benefits of cranberries for chickens?

Cranberries, despite having a lot of sugar, have plenty of other really good nutrients that your chicken can use to grow and stay healthy and strong.

The table below, courtesy of the USDA FoodData Center, has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 cup whole, fresh cranberries (100g).

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	87.300	g
Energy	46.000	kcal
Protein	0.460	g
Fat	0.130	g
Carbohydrate	12.000	g
Fiber	3.600	g
Sugars	4.270	g
Sucrose	0.160	g
Glucose	3.440	g
Fructose	0.670	g
Calcium, Ca	8.000	mg
Iron, Fe	0.230	mg
Magnesium, Mg	6.000	mg
Phosphorus, P	11.000	mg
Potassium, K	80.000	mg
Sodium, Na	2.000	mg
Zinc, Zn	0.090	mg
Copper, Cu	0.056	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.267	mg
Selenium, Se	0.100	µg
Vitamin C	14.000	mg
Niacin	0.101	mg
Pantothenic acid	0.295	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.057	mg
Folate, total	1.000	µg
Carotene, beta	38.000	µg
Vitamin A, IU	63.000	IU
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	1.320	mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	5.000	µg
Riboflavin	0.02	mg

What do these nutrients do?

The table above may not mean much to you if you don’t have context. Here is a list of some of the most beneficial nutrients so this chart can be more than just a bunch of weird words and numbers.

• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin B6: healthy blood vessels, eye/vision health, nervous system , immune system
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Vitamin E: immune system support, cell regeneration
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health, reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar, digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Iron: prevents anemia
• Vitamin K: blood clotting, bone metabolism
• Magnesium: bone strength and development, cellular metabolism, heart health, muscle function
• Manganese: bone development, immune system, breaks down carbs, cholesterol, and amino acids; controls blood sugar
• Phosphorus: bone formation
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative
• Protein: muscle growth and development
• Riboflavin: immune system

How do you feed cranberries to chickens?

First, just pick out the type of cranberries you will be feeding, fresh, cooked, raw or something else. If you are feeding uncooked cranberries, you will want to wash them off first.

Then, since they are pretty much the perfect size already, you can pretty much just take them out and give them to your chickens. You can feed them to your chickens out of your hand, mixed into the feed, or sprinkled on the ground.

Cranberries as boredom buster

Turn their treat into a toy! Take a needle and some fishing line and string a bunch of cranberries like you’re making Christmas decorations. Then find a place to hang it where your chickens will be hanging out. They will enjoy pecking at the bright red berries and will have fun chasing and dodging the string when it starts to swing. Throw in some frozen blueberries, blackberries, or cherries, to add some more color and variety.

The toy method works with fresh, cooked, and, dried cranberries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken cranberries?

You can absolutely overfeed your chicken cranberries. As we mentioned earlier, too many cranberries can lead to a nutrient imbalance, hypoglycemia, and other health problems.

When giving any kind of treat outside of our chickens’ normal feed and scratch diet, we stick to the 90/10 rule. This simply means that the vast majority of your chickens’ diet should come from good, quality sources, like a specialized feed and what they catch free ranging. 10% of their diet can be snacks and other, more unconventional, foods, like rice, kiwi, popcorn, peanuts, or mango.

Q2. How many cranberries can I feed my chickens?

We recommend no more than 10% of your chickens’ diet should be snacks or treats. For cranberries, in particular, we think 2 or 3 fresh or cooked cranberries should be fine. Only 1 or ,that, for dried cranberries.

Q3. How often can I feed cranberries to my chickens?

If you are sticking to a healthy chicken feed and the flock looks good and healthy, you can probably feed them cranberries a couple times a week.

Q4. Can I feed cranberries to my baby chicks?

Cranberries for chicks can be doubly dangerous. For one, baby chicks are going to be even more sensitive to the sugar in cranberries than adult birds. And two, with chicks being so small, cranberries can become a choking hazard. It’s possible that you can give your baby chickens cranberries but it is not advised.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Peaches are about as American as baseball and apple pie. And for good reason; they are just so delicious! So, it seems that if we are lucky enough to enjoy their sweet goodness our feathered friends should be able to too. Right? Makes us wonder can chickens eat peaches or must they look on in envy?

Keep scrolling and we’ll see if chickens can eat peaches or not.

Can Chickens Eat Peaches?

Yes, chickens can eat peaches and they love them. Peaches are a nutritious and healthy treat to feed your chickens.

Peaches have a ton of nutrients in the form of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. So, not only are peaches delicious, but they contain nutrients essential to the health and wellbeing of a chicken.

Is it safe for a chicken to eat a peach?

For the most part, yes it is safe for chickens to eat peaches. The yellow flesh on the inside of the peach, what we think of as the actual peach, is absolutely a safe and tasty treat. Additionally, you do not have to remove the skin before feeding peaches to your chickens.

Can chickens eat peach skins?

Yes, chickens can eat peach skins. It will contain many nutrients that the chicken can use and can help keep your chickens healthy. They may waste some of it but they will probably eat a good amount of the skin while eating the fruit.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Can chickens eat peach pits?

No, chickens should not eat peach pits, or stone, as it’s sometimes called. The pit is the large, hard seed found in the center of a peach.

They contain amygdalin which changes into hydrogen cyanide. Cyanide in peach pits are, just like in apple seeds, toxic and can cause your chicken to become sick and even die. Fortunately, cyanide can not handle too much heat and can be eliminated by cooking it.

Fortunately, this will likely never be a real problem because the pits are generally much too hard and large for a chicken to waste time bothering with it; especially when there’s a sweet and juicy peach close by.

Can chickens eat whole peaches?

No, chickens cannot eat whole peaches because they cannot have the peach pits as mentioned above. However, if you slice the peach in half and remove the pit, they can have peach halves.

Are the leaves and peach tree poisonous to chickens?

Just like the pit, the leaves of a peach tree also contain amygdalin. So the same risk of cyanide poisoning is present in the leaves. Stick to giving your chickens a juicy peach free of pits and greens.

Can chickens eat canned peaches?

Technically yes, chickens can eat canned peaches but it isn’t really a great idea. Canned peaches contain a ton of sugar which can be harmful for chickens, which we will discuss a little more in depth later.

If you canned your own peaches with little to no sugar, or purchased no sugar added canned peaches those might be ok to feed your chickens.

Can chickens eat rotten or spoiled peaches?

No, chickens cannot eat rotten or spoiled peaches. Never feed rotten or moldy fruit (or any food, for that matter) to your chickens.

Chickens, and just about any living creature, should not eat anything that is in a condition that we, as humans, would not eat our food in that same condition. Spoiled and moldy food can make your chickens sick and possibly even cause death.

Are peaches healthy for chickens?

Considering what we just said above, it may seem a little confusing. Are they good and safe for chickens or are peaches toxic?

Let us clear it up for you. While the pit, tree, leaves, and other greenery around the peach can be toxic, the actual peach is completely safe and healthy for chickens to eat. They are high in things like Vitamin C and antioxidants. However, we must caveat that by saying so long as they are fed in moderation.

Peaches contain a lot of sugar which can be dangerous for chickens if they eat too much. A large shift in the amount of sugar in a chicken’s diet can be harmful in a few ways. Chickens can actually become addicted, in a sense, to the sweet flavor; craving it over their own feed. Over time, they may stop eating their feed altogether and hold out just for a sweet treat.

Hypoclycemia in chickens

Another danger is hypoglycemia. Then sugar is broken down in the body it is converted into glucose which is a way our body has energy. Glucose, however, burns much faster than other sources of energy. The problem is a chicken’s body is used to a certain blood sugar level. When the chicken consumes a bunch of sugar, and then that sugar turns to glucose, and then all of the glucose is burnt away, the chicken experiences a blood sugar spike and then a sudden and steep drop.

This spike and drop is similar to what happens when we eat too much sugar and then start to feel wonky a short time later. Chickens, being much smaller than humans, experience this in a more extreme manner. At best, they can be very uncomfortable until they level back out or they can go into a sugar coma which can potentially be fatal.

What are the nutritional benefits of peaches for chickens?

Peaches have plenty of good nutrients that your chicken can use to grow and stay healthy and strong.

The table below, courtesy of the USDA FoodData Center, has a breakdown of the nutritional analysis based on a serving size of 1 medium sized fresh peach (147 g).

Name	Amount	Measurement
Water	130	g
Energy	67.6	kcal
Protein	1.34	g
Carbohydrates	14.8	g
Fiber	2.2	g
Fat	.397	g
Sugars	12.3	g
Calcium	5.88	mg
Potassium	179	mg
Folate	8.82	µg
Vitamin C	6.03	mg
Vitamin A	35.3	µg

What do these nutrients do?

Antioxidants work to repair damage from free radicals and fight off or prevent future damage. They also protect against oxidative damage which can lead to accelerated issues related to aging. Additionally, antioxidants are known to work as anti-inflammatories, to lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, and assist in the development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers.

• Antioxidants: (Beta Carotene, Lycopene) repair damage from free radicals, fight off/prevent future damage, protect from oxidative damage, anti-inflammatory, lower blood pressure, improve heart health in high enough doses, development and health of tissue, skin, and feathers
• Vitamin A: eye, skin, respiratory, and digestive health
• Carotene, Beta (Beta Carotene): egg, feathers, skin, beak, and comb color; converts to Vitamin A
• Vitamin C: joint, cellular, and immune health; collagen synthesis
• Calcium: bones and egg shell strength
• Carbohydrates: give chickens energy
• Fiber: only small amounts or they can become constipated, get a blockage, etc; energy, growth, and digestive health
• Folate (B Vitamin): folate deficiency; helps blood formation; healthy feathers & size
• Potassium: temperature control; hydration & electrolyte regulation, metabolism; heart health/heart disease preventative

How do you feed peaches to chickens?

Wash, cut the peach, remove the pit, and give it to them; easy as that!

However, it will make things a bit easier and safer to eat if you cut them into smaller pieces. Another fun option, like we did with kiwi, is to suspend a peach at the chickens’ eye level. They will, not only have a tasty treat but a fun DIY chicken toy to keep them busy and less bored.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Can I overfeed my chicken peaches?

Yes, you can give them too much. Like we said earlier, only feed your chickens peaches in moderation. We like to stick with the 90/10 rule meaning no more than 10% of your chickens’ diet should be anything outside of their feed and what they can forage.

Do you love kiwi as much as we do? Those fuzzy little fruits are super tasty and good for you too (and the inside sometimes looks like the Batman logo). Do chickens feel the same way about kiwi as we do (minus the Batman love)? Can chickens eat kiwi or will this fruit make your chicken sick?

Keep scrolling and we will jump right in to answering these questions and more!

Can Chickens Eat Kiwi?

Yes, chickens can eat kiwi in it’s entirety – the skin, flesh and seeds. Kiwi is a safe and nutrient rich treat to feed chickens as long as they are ripe and haven’t gone bad or moldy.

What parts of the kiwi can chickens eat?

You can keep your chickens healthy letting them eat all parts of a kiwi. Just as long as the kiwi has not gone bad and doesn’t have mold or anything of the sort.

Some fruits and veggies are completely safe for chickens to eat, like watermelon and radishes, while others, like tomatoes and mangoes, are good but the rest of them (greens, leaves, stems, etc) can be harmful, or even toxic. So, it’s important to know what parts of fruits your chickens can eat.

Can chickens eat kiwi skin and seeds?

Yes, chickens can eat kiwi skin and kiwi seeds. Fortunately, the entire kiwi is safe for chickens. Which is great because it would be terribly difficult to deseed them if the seeds were not safe for them to eat.

The skins actually contain a lot of dietary fiber and other nutrients which are very good for your chickens health.

However, while the skin is safe and nutritious that doesn’t always mean your chickens are going to eat it. The skin is not easy to eat similar to other fruits with thick rinds like cantaloupe, orange, or grapefruit. So, don’t be surprised if you happen to find some skins leftover once the fowl feeding frenzy has finally finished.

Though, once your chickens get used to the skin, they may also devour it. We frequently have kiwi with our breakfast and throw the skins to our flock – after the first few days they figured out how to clean those skins right up.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

What are the health benefits of kiwi?

Energy	42	kcal
Protein	.8	g
Fat	.4	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	10	g
Fiber, total dietary	2.1	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	6.2	g
Calcium, Ca	23.46	mg
Magnesium, Mg	11.7	mg
Potassium, K	215	mg
Copper, Cu	90	mcg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	64	mg
Folate, total	17.2	mcg
Carotene, beta	35.9	mcg
Vitamin E	1	mg
Vitamin K	27.8	mcg

How to feed kiwi to chickens

Kiwi isn’t very hard to prepare for your flock. We mentioned earlier that the kiwi skin is a little tough but it isn’t so tough that a chicken can’t peck right through it if you toss them a whole kiwi.

Now, we don’t necessarily recommend feeding whole kiwi to your flock. It’s so small, most of your chickens won’t get any and it can lead to in-flock fighting.

The best ways to feed kiwi to your chickens is to cut it into slices or, even better, chopped into small pieces. Smaller pieces are better for a few reasons. One, being small pieces are easier to scatter and thus, your chickens will not be piled on top of each other.

Small pieces are also easier to eat and less likely to become choking hazards. Another thing you can do with these small pieces is mix them up with some chopped apples, bananas, cherries, blueberries, blackberries,…you get it. Make them a nice, fresh, delicious, fruit salad!

Another fun way to feed kiwi to your chickens is to freeze it first and then give it to them. This is especially good in the summertime. Kick it up a notch, run a piece of string through it, hang it up somewhere about eye level for your chickens, and *BOOM* you have a DIY, boredom-busting, chicken toy!

Treat tips

Two pretty common question are “How much kiwi can I feed?” and “How often can I feed kiwi to my chickens?”. When feeding kiwi, or any non-grain based chicken feed, we stick to the 90%/10% rule.

Essentially, this rule just says that 90% of what you feed your chickens should be specially formulated feed made especially for them; usually known as layer feed. Any other kind of food, snack, or treat should only constitute 10% of their diet.

The reason for this is because chickens get almost all of the specific nutrients, in the amounts they need, from their feed and from what they can catch and eat free ranging. Too much of something, even a “good” nutrient, can throw off a chickens internal balance and lead to health problems.

Wash and check

Like any fruit or vegetable you would want to eat yourself, wash the kiwi before giving it to your chickens. We do this to wash off some of the prickly hairlike fibers. But, more importantly, we wash the kiwi to make sure that there is no pesticide residue left on it. If possible, try and source your food from someone who is pesticide free.

Additionally, following the same concept, don’t feed your chicken anything that is in a condition that you would not eat yourself. We’re not suggesting you feed them only human food.

What we’re saying is, if the kiwi is starting to rot, don’t feed it to them. Same if it is moldy. Basically, if you wouldn’t eat your food in the same condition, don’t feed it to your animals.

Final Word

Kiwi is a super tasty treat for your chickens. Make sure you feed it in moderation and your chickens will love you all the more for it!

Watermelon is a summer staple where we come from. It most likely is where you’re from too. Our whole family loves watermelon, that includes all of our dogs, goats, and our chickens. So, in case you were wondering can chickens eat watermelon we can confirm that they can.

But, let’s talk a little bit about it how much they can have, how often, and is it just a sweet treat, or can it be nutritious as well as delicious?

Can Chickens Eat Watermelon?

Yes, chickens can eat watermelon. It is not only a delicious, summertime snack but it is also, in moderation, a healthy food for them to eat, as well.

Watermelon is even okay for chicks to eat, in small amounts and excluding any of the tougher parts like rind, vines, or leaves.

What parts of the watermelon can chickens eat?

We already discussed that chicks can eat the pink flesh of watermelon but not the other parts. That triggers the question can chickens eat the rest of the watermelon?

Can chickens eat watermelon rind?

Yes, the rind is perfectly healthy for chickens to eat. In fact, it is chock of many of the same nutrients found in the flesh. You may be able to tell by it’s density, that this piece of the watermelon has the most plant fiber.

Now, chickens will not eat the rind with the same fervour they will the sweet pink fruit. It is less flavorful and more difficult for them to peck apart with their beaks. So, don’t be surprised if you find the rinds still intact after giving it to your chickens.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Can chickens eat the green skin of a watermelon?

Normally, we would include the green outer skin to be a part of the rind. However, chickens will eat the rind, they will almost never eat the outside green part.

Can chickens eat watermelon seeds?

Watermelon seeds are one of our chickens’ favorite snacks. In fact, while watermelon seeds are not typically something that other animals on your farm may be able to eat, chickens have no problem digesting the seeds.

Can chickens eat watermelon greens, leaves, and vines?

By now, you may be able to guess that just like when chickens eat zucchini, they can also eat the entire watermelon plant. The greens of the watermelon are, again, something chickens love and will dig right in when given the chance. Just make sure to keep them away from the vine while it is growing. They won’t wait until the watermelon grows and then everyone will be without their favorite pink fruit.

Can I feed rotten watermelon to my chickens?

What? No, you absolutely cannot feed rotten anything to your chickens. A good rule to follow is that if you wouldn’t eat your own food in the same state don’t feed it to your chickens, or any animals, in that state. That includes moldy food too.

What are the health benefits of watermelon?

Name	Amount	Unit
Water	261	g
Energy	85.8	kcal
Protein	1.74	g
Fat	.429	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	21.6	g
Fiber, total dietary	1.14	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	17.7	g
Calcium, Ca	20	mg
Magnesium, Mg	28.6	mg
Potassium, K	320	mg
Sodium, Na	2.86	mg
Copper, Cu	.12	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.109	mg
Selenium, Se	1.14	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	23.2	mg
Vitamin B-6	.129	mg
Folate, total	8.58	µg
Carotene, beta	867	µg
Vitamin A, IU	1630	IU
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	.286	µg

How to make feed watermelon to chickens

Feeding your chickens watermelon is pretty much as simple as wash, cut, and serve. We do have a some recommendations, though, on how you should go through this process.

• Wash the outside of the watermelon and any greens that you want to give to your chickens.
  • This will remove any excess pesticide residue that may still be present. You can always grow your own or purchase from a pesticide free source, too.
• Cut the watermelon into small pieces.
  • Smaller pieces are easier for your chickens to eat and are less likely to become choking hazards.
• Top their feed with it or spread it out for your whole flock.
  • Watermelon is a high value treat and chickens will fight over it if there is not enough. Make sure to provide enough and spread it far enough out that everyone will get some and they won’t be right on top of each other.

Some treat ideas

If you want to give your chickens something really special, you can always make their snack with a little bit of extra care. Chop up all of the watermelon; that includes the pink fruit, rind, leaves, and vines. Mix those with some other chopped veggies from the garden, like grapes, cherries, blueberries or blackberries, or radishes.

If it’s hot outside, consider giving them a bunch of frozen watermelon and cantaloupe cubes. The cold fruit will cool them down and last a while longer since it will be frozen.

Take this to another level and toss the whole, chopped up, of course, watermelon into a blender or food processor, add in some ice, and fresh mint (or some frozen mint cubes). Puree everything together and pour it into a feed bowl for your chickens outside. They will love their Mint Watermelon Smoothie!

Final Word

Watermelon is a treat loved by both humans and animals alike. It makes a great snack for your chickens and can greatly improve their health!

Radishes are one of the more popular root vegetable to grow in a garden. They are not too difficult for beginners and they taste great on salads. You can also freeze them to save all year around. With all of these options have you ever wondered can chickens eat radishes?

Keep on reading if you want to find out whether or not chickens can eat radishes or not!

Can Chickens Eat Radishes?

Yes, chickens can eat radishes. The whole radish is edible as a healthy treat your chickens will love. You can feed them cooked, raw, leaves or just the flesh.

Can chickens eat the radish greens?

Yes, chickens can eat radish greens. They are perfectly safe and healthy to feed to your chickens.

Can Chickens eat radish leaves?

Yep, chickens can certainly also eat radish leaves. Although you may want to keep them away from your radish plants so they don’t destroy them all.

Some plants are toxic if the plant is eaten, like tomatoes and green potatoes or can just make them uncomfortable for a while, like mango leaves that contain the same chemicals as poison ivy (although, in some cases they can also cause a severe health problem). Same goes for rhubarb which chickens can eat, but only the stalks because the rest of the plant contains oxalic acid which is poisonous.

Can Chickens eat radish seeds?

Absolutely, chickens can eat radish seeds from their seed pods. However, they’re not super tasty or easy to eat, so this is probably not going to be a top choice of treats for your flock.

Can chickens eat raw radishes?

Yes, chickens can eat raw radishes. However, raw radishes are rather hard and it may be difficult for them to make much headway with them.

Can chickens eat Radish sprouts?

Yes, chickens can eat radish sprouts – or immature radish plants as they star to grow. It is perfectly safe for them to do so.

However, if you are growing radishes you probably want to keep your chickens away from any sprouts that are coming up because they WILL eat them and destroy your potential garden before it can start.

Can chickens eat cooked radishes?

Yes, chickens can eat cooked radishes. Cooked radishes are the best way to feed radishes to your chickens. More on feeding them will be covered below.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Can chicks eat radishes?

No, they chicks really shouldn’t eat radishes until they are a little bit older because radishes can be too hard to digest. Chicks should stick to a specialized chick feed. After a month, give or take, it is safe but also give them grit, as well.

Are radishes a healthy snack?

Name	Amount	Unit
Water	55.3	g
Energy	9.28	kcal
Protein	.394	g
Fat	.058	g
Carbohydrate, by difference	1.97	g
Fiber, total dietary	.928	g
Sugars, total including NLEA	1.08	g
Calcium, Ca	14.5	mg
Iron, Fe	.197	mg
Magnesium, Mg	5.8	mg
Potassium, K	135	mg
Sodium, Na	22.6	mg
Copper, Cu	0.029	mg
Manganese, Mn	0.04	mg
Selenium, Se	0.348	µg
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	8.58	mg
Vitamin B-6	0.041	mg
Folate, total	14.5	µg
Carotene, beta	2.32	µg
Vitamin A, IU	4.06	IU
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	.754	µg

How to feed radishes to chickens

You can feed radishes to chickens raw from the garden or store bought. But the best way to do it is to cook them first. “Why?”, you ask. There are a few reasons.

Raw radishes have a pretty strong, pungent odor AND flavor to them; especially when they are fresh. When you boil them down, the strength of the smell and taste will drastically be reduced.

Radishes are also fairly hard and tough making them difficult for chickens to peck through and eat. Cooked radishes are significantly softer, thus, making them easier to eat AND digest.

With all that being said, we prefer to cook our radishes and chop them into small bits. Then, mix them in, or sprinkle on top, their regular feed. You don’t need a lot either. A single radish, cooked and cut, is enough to feed about half a dozen chickens.

Final Word

Fresh food from the garden is almost always a a perfect snack for your flock. Radishes just barely scratch the surface.

Crested chicken breeds tend to be made up of some of the most beautiful-looking birds you can find. Crested means that the birds have plumage on top of their heads, some to the point of looking like they have on hats. There are several crested breeds to choose from, and even some that will do well in confinement or are hardy even when placed in cold weather.

Crested chickens, in general, tend to be a friendly type of chicken that can get along with others. Many chickens with cresting can be placed in shows, and some are rare varieties that many chicken enthusiasts would be incredibly happy to get their hands on. While things do vary from breed to breed. Many of the crested chicken breeds are used for egg production, although you shouldn’t be expecting to bring home a hen that produces 200 eggs and lays year-round.

Some popular crested breeds that you might have heard of include the Silie, a chicken that’s covered head to toe in feathers, and the Legbars. Along with these two, the list below contains nine other crested breeds to choose from. Surprisingly many of the breeds are ancient and have been around for several hundred years. Some have even been treated as royal birds in the past.

The wild feathering of these breeds can also lend to some fun chicken names.

If the look of crested chickens has you interested, then keep reading below to learn which of the breeds you are most interested in.

Crested Chicken Breeds

Breed	Purpose	Eggs/Yr	Egg Color
Silver Spangled Apenzeller	Eggs	150 eggs per year	White
Polish	Show & Eggs	200 eggs per year	White
Sultan	Show	50 eggs per year	White
Houdan	Show & Eggs	150 eggs per year	White
Legbars – Cream and Frost White	Eggs	180 eggs per year	Blue or Green
Brabanter	Eggs	150 eggs per year	White
Polverara	Show & Eggs	150 eggs per year	White
Padovana	Meat & Eggs	120 eggs per year	Cream & Light-brown
Silkie	Show & Eggs	160 eggs per year	Cream
Crevecoeur	Show & Eggs	120 eggs per year	White
Swedish Flower Hen	Meat & Eggs	150 eggs per year	Brown

Breed 1: Silver Spangled Apenzeller 

Silver Spangled Appenzeller chickens are a rare breed that has not yet been recognized by the APA. They aren’t good for meat as they are a small breed with roosters usually weighing 4 and a half pounds, and the hens usually weigh around 3 and a half pounds. Apenzellar chickens tend to lay somewhere around 150 medium-sized white eggs a year. Apenzellars have heavy feathering on their heads, a spangled feather pattern, and a red V-shaped comb.

This is a breed that prefers to free-roam as they don’t like to be confined for long periods of time. They are a hardy breed of chicken that tends to be docile and can easily live with other breeds of chicken. The Apenzellar is also a breed that tends to go broody fairly often.

Breed 2: Polish 

The Polish chicken comes from the country of Poland and is an ancient breed that has been around for quite some time. This is a breed that tends to lay somewhere around 200 white medium-sized eggs a year. 

Polish chickens are a show birds, so they have strict standards. Polish chickens should have heavy feathering on their head, a v-shaped comb, and in some cases even have a beard. Being ornate, hens and roosters look fairly similar and can be difficult to distinguish, at times. They aren’t large birds, but the roosters do grow to be around 6 pounds, while the hens usually reach 4 and a half pounds; making their size one of the easier ways to tell them apart.

They are a nervous breed of chicken and will need a stable environment to live in. Polish chickens are sensitive to the cold, so you will need to have a well-insulated coop, but otherwise, they are a hardy bird. They do like to free-range, so you will want to let them out regularly. Polish hens don’t tend to go broody often, making breeding a bit more difficult.

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Breed 3: Sultan 

The Sultan is a strikingly beautiful bird who isn’t really suitable for egg production. They come from Turkey, where they used to be kept in the courtyard of palaces. The Sultan only lays around 50 small eggs a year and is a small bird. The rooster will only reach a weight of six pounds, with the hens just weighing in at 4 pounds. This breed really shines as a show bird and has been accepted by the APA since 1874, making them one of the oldest competitive breeds.

The plumage on the head of the Sultan wraps around their head, and they have feathers covering their legs and feet. This royal bird has a v-shaped comb and a docile personality. Despite all their heavy feathering, though, they aren’t a breed that is able to tolerate the cold well. Sadly, Sultans don’t tend to be a broody breed of chicken, and due to their low egg numbers, they are generally pretty hard to breed.

Breed 4: Houdan 

The Houdan is an old breed of French chickens that’s age and origins are hard to trace back. Houdans typically lay around 150 medium-sized white eggs a year. The Houdan is a medium-sized bird with roosters weighing around 8 pounds, while the hens usually weigh in somewhere around 6 and a half pounds. The Houdan a v or butterfly-shaped comb, a flowering cresting, and have been accepted by the APA since 1874.

Houdans are a sweet breed of chicken that gets along with both humans and other breeds. They enjoy being free-range but aren’t going to do well in colder areas of the world. Luckily, Houdan hens do tend to be broody.

Breed 5: Legbars – Cream and Frost White 

The Legbar is a chicken breed that comes from the UK. It was created at Cambridge University. This breed is an auto-sexing breed, meaning that you can tell the sex of the chicken at birth. This is a breed that lays blue or green eggs, and a hen can produce 180 medium-sized eggs a year. The rooster weighs around 6 to 7 pounds, while hens typically weigh between 4 and a half to six pounds. Both the gold and silver Legbars possess cresting, and the breed has a single comb.

Legbars are an active breed that doesn’t like to confinement, but they do have a friendly nature. They are a hardy breed that can do well in the cold, making them perfect for those who live in colder regions. Legbars can be broody, but you still may want to have an incubator on hand.

Breed 6: Brabanter 

The Brabanter chicken is a rare breed that seems to have come from either the Netherlands or Belgium. The breed generally lays around 150 large white eggs a year but is small in size. Brabanter chickens tend to weigh around 4 to five pounds for the rooster and 3 and a half to 4 and a half pounds for the hen. They have a narrow crest, a three-part beard, and a V-shaped comb.

They are a calm breed that can easily get along with others and tend to be quite curious. Brabanters like to forage, so letting them roam around outside can help trim their nails down, but they don’t mind being put up in a coop either. They are a hardy breed that can do well in extremely cold temperatures. The Brabanter is a broody breed of chicken that loves sitting on their eggs.

Breed 7: Polverara 

Polverara is an Italian breed that gets it’s name from the area where many believe it comes from.

They will usually lay around 150 white medium-size eggs a year and are also good for meat production. The roosters typically weigh somewhere around 6 pounds, while the hens weigh in at around four pounds. Sadly they are an extremely rare breed, and there aren’t a large amount of them around anymore. They have a small crest that grows upward and a V-shaped comb.

Sadly, this is a breed that hasn’t been able to get on board with being confined, so they will need to be kept outside. With that, they do tend to be a hardy breed. They are friendly and don’t mind people handling them. The Polverara can go broody, but it’s also best to keep an incubator on hand.

Breed 8: Padovana 

Padovana chickens is another old Italian breed that get its name from the providence of Padua. The Padovana is an ok layer, and you can expect them to lay around 120 small eggs a year. The roosters weigh around 9 to 10 pounds, while the hens will weigh between 7 and a half to 10 pounds. This makes them a good choice as a meat-producing bird. The Padovana is a combless breed that has an upright crest covering its head.

The Padovana is a confident bird that is friendly with humans and other breeds of chickens. These chickens do like to free-range and are a hardy breed. Padovana hens aren’t broody, so you will need to use an incubator to hatch the chicks.

Breed 9: Silkie 

Silkies are a popular breed of chickens that have been around since ancient times in China. As their name suggests, they are a bird with soft feathers that have full body coverage, head to feather toes, in a fluffy plumage. They can lay around 170 eggs a year and are right at home at a chicken show. Roosters typically only weigh between 2 to 3 pounds, while hens weigh even less at 1 and a half to 2 pounds. The bird has a walnut comb that has a high chance of being covered up by its feathers.

The silkie is a calm, friendly bird that can get along with others. They are also a cold hardy breed despite how delicate they look and can live in several different types of weather. They can be free-range, but for this breed, a chicken run is highly advised. Silkie hens are very broody and will focus on taking care of their eggs.

Breed 10: Crevecoeur 

Crevecoeur is an extremely rare French breed of chicken that is currently considered to be endangered. The breed only lays around 120 medium-sized white eggs a year and isn’t used for meat. It looks similar to the Houdan with its crest and also has a V-shaped comb. The rooster generally weighs around 8 pounds, while a hen will weigh around 4 and a half pounds.

They have an active temperament and can get along well with others. Crevecoeurs are happiest when they are able to run around outside, so allowing them to free-range is best. They aren’t a cold hardy breed and may not fare well in some regions. Crevecoeur chickens seem to go both ways with broodiness, so you will want to keep an eye on your hens and an incubator on the side.

Breed 11: Swedish Flower Hen (sometimes) 

The  Swedish Flower chick isn’t always a crested breed, but some do develop smaller crests on top of their heads. This breed tends to lay around 150 large or jumbo brown eggs a year. The roosters typically weigh in at around 8 pounds, while the hens weigh around 5 pounds; making them great dual purpose chickens for both eggs and meat. They have spots that look somewhat like flowers on their feathers and have a single serrated comb.

Swedish Flower Hens tend to be a calm breed that gets along well with others. They do well with being free-range and are a hardy breed that can even do well in colder regions where some other breeds might not thrive. The Swedish Flower hen doesn’t tend to be a broody breed, so you will need to use an incubator to hatch the chicks.

What do crested chickens look like? 

Crested breeds, like any other chicken breed, can vary in appearance. Some are small while others are large, and they have several different comb types. One thing that they all do have in common is the feathers that grow atop their heads. Crested breeds will often have their heads completely covered in feathers, some to the point that their combs are completely hidden.

Some of the crested breeds above are accepted by the APA, meaning that they have breed standards.

 You will want to refer to these before you set out to buy chicks. In addition, there are some extremely rare crested breeds like the Brabanter. These chickens will be much harder to find than normal, and you will likely have to spend time looking for a specialty breeder to buy them.

Any Special Care for them? 

There are a few things to keep in mind when caring for crested breeds. The biggest problem with them is that the crests can block their eyesight. This makes them much more prone to fall victim to a predator as they can’t keep a close watch on their surroundings. If they are a free-range breed, you will want to either trim their feathers or keep them in a run. Make a note if the breed you are building the run for is good at flying or not; if they are, you will need either high fencing or a net to help keep them from escaping into your yard.

Trimming their feathers can be a problem if they are a show bird, though, so be aware of this when cutting their feathers. In addition, some of the heavily feathered breeds like the Silkie run more of a risk of getting dirty. These breeds may need a bath, especially if you let them free-roam in a muddy area. The mud can cling to their feathers, making them heavy and stressing out your birds.

Lastly, it can be much easier to startle a crested breed. Since they can’t see well in some cases, when you sneak up on them, it can give them a fright. If you intend to touch or pick up your crested chicken, try to let them know that you are there before doing this. By giving them a chance to know that they aren’t in danger, you can alleviate some stress when interacting with them.

Lastly, while many of these breeds are covered in heavy plumage that covers their cold, many of them aren’t cold hardy. Some of the chickens on this list won’t do well when kept in cold regions and many of them like to free-range so around-the-clock confinement isn’t a good option. Be sure to check on how hardy each breed is and how they do in different weather conditions. This can help you determine which crested breeds will do well where you live.

FAQ 

Are crested chickens friendly? 

For the most part, crested breeds do tend to be friendly. Keep in mind that this can vary from chicken to chicken. The best way to ensure your chicken is friendly is by raising them as chicks and handling them daily.

Are crested chickens good layers?

Typically, crested chickens do seem to lay a decent amount of eggs, with a few exceptions like the Sultan. For the most part, there are no super layers, and many of the chickens will lay around 150 eggs on average.

Hamburg Chickens are a popular show breed that comes in a variety of different colors. They are fast-maturing birds are dual purpose; meaning that can provide both a decent amount of eggs and a sizable portion of meat. The breed is also known for being hardy and tends to do extremely well in cold environments.

You can expect a Hamburg chicken to lay around 200 eggs a year and can start laying eggs at just 5 months of age. Their small size means that they aren’t great for meat production as the roosters can easily reach 4 and a half to 5 and a half pounds while the hens will weigh 3 and a half to 4 pounds.  Additionally, they are a popular show bird, and the APA has recognized six different color variations of the Hamburg chicken.

Hamburg chickens typically live between 5 to 8 years with proper care. These are active birds, so if you intend to keep a flock, then you will need to build a sizable coop so that they will have plenty of room to move around. Luckily, they are hardy otherwise and can live in most types of environments without a problem. If you are looking for a well-rounded hardy birdy, then the Hamburg chicken may just be exactly what your coop needs.

Hamburg Chickens

Size	4.5 to 5 Pounds (Rooster) 3.5 to 4 Pounds (Hen)
Class	Continental
Color	White Black Silver Spangled Golden Spangled Silver Penciled Golden Penciled
Temperament	Docile
Hardiness	Hardy
Eggs/Yr	200
Egg Size	Medium
Egg Color	White

History and Origin

The Hamburg chicken is a breed that seems to have emerged sometime in the fourteenth century in the country of Holland. Today there are fourteen breeds of the Hamburg chicken that are recognized overseas, with six of these coloring now being recognized by the APA. They were even used in the first-ever chicken show and are an important part of chicken history. This makes the Hamburg chicken a popular show bird, and today they can be found being kept and used for a multitude of reasons.  

When looking for the Hamburg chicken, you may also find that some places call them by their English name Hamburger chickens or their Dutch name Hollands Hoen. This chicken is a rare breed now and is currently under the “watch” status of the conservation list.

What do they look like? 

Hamburg chickens are accepted by the APA and have several different colorings. They were displayed in one of the first-ever chicken shows and, as such, are held to high breed standards. The six colors recognizable colors by the APA are White, Black, Silver Spangled, Golden Spangled, Silver Penciled, and Golden Penciled.

Penciled coloring is also common in some other breeds such as Deathlayers.

If you go to Europe, you will find that there are several different varieties of the Hamburg available, many of which are part of several overseas poultry associations.  They have long tails and featherless legs that will be have different colors depending on the Hamburg you choose. They have rose-shaped combs (similar to Anacona Chickens) that are red and red round waddles.

Differences between hens and roosters

Generally, size and the lavishness of their feathering is an easy way to distinguish between hens and roosters. The hens have small waddles, while the rooster’s waddles can be medium in size. They also have white earlobes and a compacted body type. The roosters typically weigh between 4 and a half to 5 and a half pounds, while the hens will weigh 3 and a half to 4 pounds. There is also a Bantam version of this chicken breed that tends to weigh around 1 to 2 pounds. Hamburg chicks can vary in coloring, so they can be quite hard to identify. 

Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.

Temperament 

Hamburg chickens are a docile breed that doesn’t mind sharing their coop with other chickens. They can integrate well into an established coop, and generally, the hens shouldn’t cause you too much of a problem. Hamburg roosters, on the other hand, should be kept apart from other roosters and can be aggressive. Sadly, this is not the breed you will want to get if you are just looking for a pet.

The Hamburg chicken doesn’t tend to be a breed that really likes to interact with humans. In fact, it’s been noted by Hamburg owners that the chickens will sometimes actively avoid being too close to them. You shouldn’t leave children alone with this breed or try to interact with them much yourself. Just trying to touch Hamburg chickens can actually stress them out, and the last thing you want is your child chasing after them and getting injured in the process. If you do want to try and make them a bit more social, then try to raise chicks.

 These chickens dislike being handled and won’t sit still for you to pet them. They also don’t like to stay cooped up for long periods of time and are a breed that needs to be allowed to free-range.

Hamburgs are pretty fast and are an active breed that keeps a careful watch on their surroundings. Some will say these birds can be flighty and a bit wild. Will will want to keep an eye on your flock if you don’t plan to keep them in a run just to ensure they don’t get into any trouble when left to forge. Hamburg chickens do tend to get loud, so if you have neighbors that live close by, this may not be the breed for you.

What is their purpose? 

The Hamburg chicken is a popular show bird that also tends to be used fairly often for eggs. They are small in size, so using them for meat isn’t popular, and they don’t tend to enjoy humans, so they won’t make a good pet. They do tend to lay around 200 medium eggs a year and are solid layers. Most Hamburg chickens mature early and can start laying eggs around the 5-month mark. They are also a breed that tends to continue laying for a long period of time, although this will slow down after a few years have passed.

Hamburg chickens are an incredibly popular breed and even have a history as some of the first show chickens. The APA has already accepted six different colorations of the Hamburg, and they are beautiful birds that are perfect for someone who is just getting started in the show world. It will be incredibly important to source your chicks from a reliable choice if you intend to compete.

Keep in mind that if you buy chicks that have come from show champions, they are going to cost you a bit more than normal. But the up front purchase for quality birds is just a small cost in the overall cost to keep chickens.

When buying a Hamburg chick, make sure to do thorough research on the breeder or look for an owner at a show who sells chicks themselves. You will want to ensure that the chicken you buy meets the strict breed standards. While they aren’t the rarest breed out there, they are still rare and, depending on where you live, may be a bit harder to find. You should be ready to travel or pay high shipping prices to get Hamburg chicks. You are typically looking at spending a bit more on this breed than some more common ones, and the price of the chicks will vary based on sex and coloring.

Breeding Hamburg chickens can be a bit tough as the hens don’t tend to be very broody. If you intend to raise chicks, then you will need to have an incubator on hand.

Care and Health 

Hamburg chickens are hardy birds that are generally pretty easy to care for. To begin with, they do well in the cold, so raising them in regions that tend to be colder than normal won’t be much of a problem. You will need to build a sizable coop to keep this breed as they are active.

Make sure that the coop is well insulated to keep your chickens warm in the winter. When the weather gets cold, be sure to place some extra hay in the coop to keep your Hamburg chickens happy. And make sure you have a plan to keep their waters from freezing.

You should always provide access to food and water. While the Hamburg does love to forage, you shouldn’t expect them to find all their food this way. Hamburg chickens don’t do confinement well thanks to their active nature, so you will need to let them free-range to keep them happy. They are an alert breed and do well with handling predators, but you should still keep an eye on your chickens to ensure you don’t need to build a run to keep them from wandering too far away from home.

Make sure that you follow a strict schedule so your chickens will know what time they go out, and ensure that they are all in the coop with the door shut by sunset to keep them out of harm’s way. Even though this is an alert breed of bird when left out at night and asleep, predators like foxes can easily prey on your flock.

Hamburg chickens don’t have any type of special grooming needs. These chickens also don’t have any health issues outside of what you would find in most chicken breeds. You should still keep watch for any strange behavior like a lethargic hen, as any chicken can get sick regardless of breed hardiness. In addition, make sure to do weekly parasite checks. Mites are common in chickens and will quickly spread through your coop. 

FAQ 

Are Hamburg chickens rare? 

Hamburgs are a rare breed, so you may have to ship chicks to your home or travel to pick them up.

How many eggs do Hamburg chickens lay? 

Hamburg chickens tend to lay around 200 medium eggs a year.

Where did the Hamburg chicken come from? 

Hamburg chickens came from Holland and are a breed that has been around since the fourteenth century.

What age do Hamburg chickens lay? 

Hamburg chickens mature quickly and can actually start laying as early as five months old. In some cases, a Hamburg chicken may even start laying at four months old.

What color eggs do Hamburg chickens lay? 

Hamburg chickens lay white eggs.

Are Hamburg chickens broody? 

No, Hamburg chickens are not a breed that tends to go broody. If you intend to raise chicks, you will need to buy an incubator.

How much do Hamburg chickens weigh? 

Hamburg chickens are a small breed of chicken. The roosters tend to weigh between 4 and a half to 5 and a half pounds. Hamburg hens will weigh between 3 and a half to 4 pounds.

Are Hamburg chickens cold-hardy? 

Yes, Hamburg chickens do well in the cold and can easily live in some colder climates.

What does a Hamburg rooster look like?

Hamburg roosters look similar to hens, but tend to weigh more, have medium-sized waddles, and longer tails.