Yes, chickens can eat apples - peel and all - and they really like them. Additionally, they are packed full of healthy stuff like fiber, vitamin C and antioxidants.
Keep reading to find out several ways to serve them, things to watch out for and more tips.
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Can Chickens Eat Apples Safely?
Yes, chickens can not only safely eat apples, they LOVE them! You may have heard that apple seeds are deadly since they contain cyanide (more on that below). That is technically true, but it would take a lot of seeds and chickens are usually more interested in the sweet fruit instead.
Can Chickens Eat Apple Seeds?
Yes, chickens can eat apple seeds, but there are a few caveats. Apple seeds contain cyanide which can be deadly. In fact chickens can eat cherries and chickens can eat nectarines both of which also have cyanide in their seeds/pits.
However, the amount of cyanide in each apple seed is relatively small at 1 - 4 mg - it varies by type of apple. It takes 11.1 mg/kg of body weight for chickens to get cyanide poisoning.
This means, depending on the variety of apple, your chickens would have to be gobbling up well over 50 seeds at a time (in some instances over 150 seeds). And, the likelihood of this is just quite small unless you're giving them bushels of whole apples.
Are Apple Peels Safe For Chickens?
Apple peels are incredibly packed with the beneficial nutrients we mentioned above. In fact, an apple that has NOT been peeled has 50 more phytonutrients than a peeled apple!
The times when apple peels may be harmful to your chickens is if they are not completely clean. Many apples, especially conventional/non-organic apples, are sprayed with various pesticides as they grow.
Once they are harvested and prepared for market, vendors will sometimes coat them in wax to make them shiny and be more visually appealing (or is it a-peel-ing?).
Both pesticides and wax can be harmful if ingested, not just for chickens but for us humans, too. If you want to feed your chickens apples with their peels, which is the healthier way to feed them, you will need to clean them first.
Cleaning them is easy. Just run the apple under some warm water and gently scrub the peel with a soft brush. You can even find a fruit and vegetable cleaning brush specifically made for a job this gentle.
Once your apple is nice and clean, you're chickens can enjoy their healthy treat!
Need some help keeping your chickens health and care taken care of? Check out the Organized Chicken Keeper for an easy to follow system.
How to Feed Your Chickens Apples
Here are a couple of ways your chickens will probably like to eat an apple snack.
Slices
Simply grab a fresh apple, wash it and cut it into slices. Toss these out to your chickens and they will get to eating in no time.
Dried
Dried apples are already pre-sliced and very thin. They have no core or seeds. Plus, the drying process makes them soft and even easier for a chicken to chew and tear apart.
However, do be aware the dried fruit has a higher sugar content, so these should be offered sparingly.
Stuffed Apples With Peanut Butter
Chickens will go crazy for this! Remove the core and seed from the apple and pack the center of it with peanut butter. You can also mix in some other chicken treats like sunflower seeds or dried meal worms.
Apple Garlands
You can cut your apple into small chunks and run a piece of string or fishing line through it to make apple garlands. Make sure the string is sturdy enough that they aren't going to be able to eat any of it.
Chickens can eat cherries, Chickens can eat strawberries, Chickens can eat grapes and other fruits too - try adding some other treats as well. This makes a great edible chicken toy.
Benefits of Apples
Apples are a healthy treat for chickens and are packed full of nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, Magnesium and antioxidants.
Here's a little about what those nutrients help your chickens do:
- Fiber - supports overall GI health, absorption of nutrients and growth.
- Antioxidants - helps with cellular repair, oxidative stress and so much more. Chickens can eat blueberries and chickens can eat raspberries as other sources of antioxidants as well.
- Magnesium - supports heart health, bone strength and development. Chickens can eat sweet potatoes for even more.
- Vitamin C - supports egg laying, immune health and cellular repair. Chickens can eat lemons for more of this vitamin as well.
Feeding Chickens Apples FAQs
No, chickens should not eat apple pie. Feeding your chickens apple pie can lead to health problems due to the high amount of sugar.
Yes, they can have apple cider vinegar - often times it is added to their water. And, there is some proof that appl
Yes, they can eat the apple cores. Just be aware these are a little harder for them to peck apart then the rest of the apple.
If you need more help with taking care of your chickens, check out The Organized Chicken Keeper for a complete system for managing their health through keeping their supplies stocked and coop clean.
