Yes, chickens can eat cherries safely! Chickens can eat cherries whole, they they probably won't eat the hard pits. Cherries are full of great nutrients to keep your chickens healthy. But do feed them in moderation due to their high sugar content.
Keep reading for all the details on how to feed them, benefits and any watchouts you need to know.
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Are Cherries Poisonous To Chickens?
Technically, yes, but practically, no. Let us explain.
There is a bit of fear out there that cherries can be poisonous because the pits contain small amounts of cyanide. While cyanide is obviously harmful, it is not a clear and present danger for your chickens.
It is the pit, and not the actual cherry, that contains cyanide. Chickens can eat apples and chickens can eat nectarines both of which also have cyanide in the seeds/pits.
Your chicken would not only need to eat the pit and digest it, but they would need to eat a large quantity in order for the cyanide to have any effect.
This is not a huge danger because chickens will typically peck around the pit and only eat the flesh of the cherry. In instances where they do consume the pit, most often, they just pass it with no issues.
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 Baby Chicks Eat Cherries?
It won't hurt them in small amounts but it's not recommended.
Chicks are experiencing a period of rapid growth and need a fairly specific diet to meet their nutritional needs. It is better for them to stick to a good chick/starter feed until they reach adulthood.
Can Chickens Eat Cherry Tree Leaves?
Cherry tree leaves, like cherry pits, can also contain cyanide. This means that they can be harmful when consumed by livestock. That includes cows, goats, horses, and, yes, even chickens.
However, not all leaves are dangerous. If your animals are eating dried and dead leaves that have fallen to the ground, they will be perfectly fine. The same for is they eat healthy green leaves or even the bark of the cherry tree.
The times when the leaves can be toxic are when they are wilting and still hanging from the tree. Here's an explanation as to why from Michigan State University:
"The toxic component in the leaves is prussic acid, a hydrogen cyanide toxin that is only formed when glycosides in the leaves are combined with hydrolytic enzymes. Under normal circumstances, the two components are stored in separate tissues, but can become poisonous in...wilted cherry leaves."
Can Chickens Eat Cherry Blossoms?
Absolutely! The cherry blossoms, unlike the wilting leaves, pose no threat of poisoning to your chickens. The will likely, be drawn to their bright colors and other insects that also like the blossoms.
Can Chickens Eat Wild Cherries?
Yes. Wild cherries do not pose a health risk to your chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Sour Cherries?
Yes. Just like wild cherries, sour cherries are perfectly fine for chickens to eat. In fact, the only difference between the two are the amounts of Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Sour cherries have a slightly higher concentration.
How To Feed Your Chickens Cherries
There are a variety of ways that you can feed cherries to your chickens. Some of them are:
Dried
Probably the most worry free method of feeding cherries to your chickens is to give them to them dried. You don't have to worry about them eating any pits or choking on a full sized cherry. However, just like when chickens eat dried cranberries or when chickens eat raisins, the sugar is much more concentrated and can be a little dangerous if they eat too much.
Pitted
Pitted cherries obviously remove the dangers around choking. You can do this by carefully slicing the cherry in half with a knife and removing the pit, by hand. They also sell devices called pitters that make this a little easier and less messy.
Whole
Chickens are completely capable of safely eating cherries without your help. Generally, they will just peck around the pit and just eat the cherry. So, if you want, you can just give them whole cherries.
From The Tree
Simpler yet, you can skip the part where you even pick the cherries. Build their run around a cherry tree and they will pick up all the excess cherries that fall on the ground.
Snack Blend (Chicken "Trail Mix")
If you want to make a special treat for your chickens you can make a special chicken snack mix or "chicken trail mix". To do this you give them even ratios of dried cherries, crushed oyster or egg shells, and dried meal worms.
Boredom Buster
If you want to not only give them a healthy snack but also a bit of entertainment, you can make a toy out of it. Just run a needle and thread or fishing line through the center of several cherries and make a whole string of them.
Then, hang the string somewhere your chickens can get to it and they will have a blast pecking at them while the cherry string swings around. It's also pretty funny to watch and a form of entertainment for yourself.
Benefits of Cherries
Yes, they most definitely are healthy. They contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are vital to a chicken's health and wellbeing. Some of these nutrients, as well as their health benefits, include:
- Vitamin A: growth and reproduction
- Antioxidants: an abundance of benefits to fertility, in vivo, embryo development, postmortem meat, etc.
- Anthocyanins: anti-inflammatory as well as other pharmacological benefits
- Boron: bone and egg quality
- b-vitamin complex: metabolism & energy (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin)
- Calcium: bone and eggshell
- Choline: fat metabolism in the liver
- Vitamin E: neurological function
- Iron: anemia
- Vitamin K: helps with blood clotting and protects against coccidiosis
- Magnesium: prevents perosis
- Melatonin: "regulates feed consumption" and the "brain's biological clock" plus and many other benefits
- Potassium: nerves and muscles
Feeding Chickens Cherries FAQs
No, chickens should not have maraschino cherries. They are packed with sugar and dyes which are not healthy for chickens.
Yes, chickens can have whole cherries. Just beware that if they are on the smaller side, you don't want them choking on the pits.
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.
