Feeding chickens table scraps can be a great way to recycle kitchen waste and reduce food costs, but not all leftovers are safe for your flock. Chickens are omnivores, meaning they can eat a wide variety of foods, but some items can be harmful or even toxic to them. In this guide, we’ll cover what to feed (and what not to feed) your chickens, along with tips to ensure they stay healthy.
The Basics of a Healthy Chicken Diet
Your chickens’ primary diet should consist of a proprietary brand of chicken feed, which provides the necessary protein and nutrients for their health and egg production. While kitchen scraps are a fun treat, they should not make up more than 10% of their daily intake.
Table Scraps to Avoid Feeding Chickens
1. Meats
- Do not feed: Raw, moldy, or processed meats (e.g., bacon, sausages).
- Why: Processed meats contain high fat, salt, and preservatives, which can harm chickens. Raw meat can cause food poisoning.
- What’s okay: Cooked meat like scrambled eggs or small amounts of cat food in moderation.
2. Processed and Junk Foods
- Avoid: Pizza, fried foods, hamburgers, doughnuts, French fries, or popcorn.
- Why: These foods are high in salt, fats, and processed sugars, all of which can cause health issues like obesity and crop impaction.
3. Specific Toxic Foods
- Avocados: Contain persin, a toxin harmful to chickens.
- Onions: Contain thiosulfate, which can cause anemia.
- Uncooked beans: Contain hemagglutinin, a toxic compound.
- Apple seeds and apricot pits: Contain cyanide, though small amounts may not be immediately harmful.
- Citrus: Can lead to feather picking, though this is debated.
- Chocolate and candy: Chocolate is toxic, and sugar offers no nutritional value.
4. Raw Eggs
- Avoid: Feeding raw eggs, as it could encourage your chickens to start eating their own eggs.
Safe Table Scraps Chickens Can Eat
Kitchen Scraps That Are Good for Chickens:
- Vegetable peels: Carrot, cucumber, and zucchini peels are great.
- Cooked potato skins: Make sure they’re not green and are cooked thoroughly.
- Spaghetti and cooked rice: Chickens love long pieces of food like pasta or brown rice.
- Banana peels: Though tough, chickens will peck at them and enjoy the treat.
- Pumpkins: Great for pecking and relieving boredom during winter.
- Kitchen mash: Leftover veggie peels, rice, seeds, and cooked scraps mixed into a mash.
Chickens have no problem eating spaghetti or long foods—they can easily handle it, as seen when they slurp up worms or even baby snakes!
The Importance of Moderation
Although chickens enjoy table scraps, they shouldn’t rely on them. The bulk of their diet should be their regular feed. Overfeeding scraps, especially those high in fat and carbohydrates, can lead to obesity, egg-laying issues, and reduced overall health.
Feeding Tips:
- Always ensure scraps are fresh and free of mold.
- If you’re making a kitchen mash, you can cook leftovers down and store them in the fridge for up to a week.
- Avoid salty, sugary, and highly processed foods.
- Clean up any uneaten scraps to prevent attracting rodents or pests.
Chickens love treats, but feeding them safely is key to their health and egg production. Avoid processed and harmful foods like junk food, raw beans, and avocados, and stick to natural, nutritious leftovers like veggie peels, rice, and cooked potato skins. As long as table scraps don’t exceed 10% of their diet, your chickens can enjoy a variety of treats without compromising their health.
FAQ’s
Can I feed chickens table scraps?
Yes, chickens can eat table scraps, but they should only make up about 10% of their diet. Most of their nutrition should come from their regular feed to ensure they get the necessary protein and nutrients.
What table scraps should I avoid giving to chickens?
Avoid giving chickens processed foods, junk foods (like pizza or fries), raw or moldy meat, avocados, onions, uncooked beans, chocolate, and candy. These items can be harmful or toxic to chickens.
Can chickens eat leftover meat?
Chickens can eat small amounts of cooked meat in moderation. Avoid giving them raw, moldy, or processed meats, as these can lead to health issues like food poisoning.
Are potato skins safe for chickens?
Cooked potato skins are safe for chickens as long as they are not green. Green potato skins contain solanine, which is toxic to chickens.
Why should I avoid feeding raw eggs to chickens?
Feeding raw eggs can encourage chickens to start eating their own eggs, which is a bad habit. If you want to give them eggs, make sure they are cooked.
What kitchen scraps are good for chickens?
Chickens can eat a variety of kitchen scraps, including vegetable peels, cooked rice, banana peels, and pumpkins. Many chicken keepers make a ‘kitchen mash’ using leftover veggies, rice, and peels.
Is it okay to give chickens popcorn or junk food?
No, popcorn, doughnuts, and other junk foods contain excess salt, fat, and processed sugars, which are harmful to chickens and can cause obesity or crop impaction.
