Chickens will eat almost anything, but that doesn't mean they should. A complete feed should be the core of their diet, whether they free-range or not. Whole foods and kitchen scraps can then add variety as treats. Here's a quick guide to what's safe, what to limit and what to keep out of the coop entirely.
Quick Reference: What Chickens Can Eat
|
Food |
Verdict |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Apples |
Yes |
Core and remove seeds |
|
Avocado |
No |
All parts contain persin |
|
Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries |
Yes |
Favorite treats; blueberries can tint droppings |
|
Bread |
Sometimes |
Low nutrition; small amounts only, never moldy |
|
Cabbage |
Yes |
Hang it whole for enrichment |
|
Carrots |
Yes |
Raw or cooked; chop the greens; skip canned |
|
Cashews |
Yes |
Unsalted, shelled and chopped |
|
Celery |
Sometimes |
Cut small; stringy fibers can cause problems |
|
Cheese |
Sometimes |
Small amounts only |
|
Chocolate and caffeine |
No |
Theobromine and caffeine are toxic |
|
Cilantro |
Yes |
Fresh herb, chopped |
|
Citrus |
Sometimes |
Acidic; small amounts only |
|
Cucumbers |
Yes |
Great in hot weather |
|
Eggs (raw or cooked) |
No |
Can start an egg-eating habit; crushed dried shells are fine |
|
Grapes |
Sometimes |
Seedless, chopped, in moderation |
|
Lettuce |
Sometimes |
Dark leafy types; skip iceberg |
|
Onions |
No |
Can cause anemia |
|
Peaches |
Yes |
Remove the pit |
|
Pears |
Yes |
Remove seeds |
|
Peppers |
Yes |
Fruit only, no leaves |
|
Pineapple |
Sometimes |
Flesh only; sugary and acidic |
|
Popcorn |
Yes |
Plain, popped, no butter or salt |
|
Potatoes |
Sometimes |
Cooked flesh only; no raw or green peels |
|
Processed and salty foods |
No |
Too much salt and sugar |
|
Rhubarb leaves |
No |
High in oxalic acid |
|
Rice |
Sometimes |
Cooked and unsalted only |
|
Rotten or moldy food |
No |
Can contain dangerous toxins |
|
Tomatoes |
Yes |
Ripe fruit only, no leaves or stems |
For more ideas, see our guide to healthy chicken treats.
How Much and How Often
- Keep treats to about 10% of the diet. Complete feed should make up the other 90%. A useful check: give only what the flock can clean up in about 20 minutes (Oregon State University Extension).
- Treat in the afternoon. By then hens have filled up on feed, so treats won't crowd out their nutrition.
- Offer grit with scraps. Chickens grind food in their gizzard using small stones. Free-range birds pick up their own, but confined flocks eating anything besides complete feed need insoluble grit offered free choice.
- Clear leftovers the same day. Uneaten scraps spoil quickly and attract rodents.
- Introduce new foods slowly. Start small and watch droppings for changes.
What Chickens Can't Eat
1. Chocolate, Caffeine and Alcohol
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to poultry, and darker chocolate carries more. Coffee grounds, tea bags, energy drinks and alcohol are also off-limits (UF/IFAS Extension).
2. Processed and Salty Foods
Chips, pretzels, fast food and canned goods carry far more salt and sugar than chickens can handle. Too much salt leads to dehydration and kidney damage.
3. Rotten or Moldy Food
Spoiled food can carry molds and toxins that cause serious illness. If you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to your flock.
4. Nightshade Leaves and Toxic Plants
Tomatoes, peppers and potatoes belong to the nightshade family. Their leaves, stems and green parts contain solanine. Ripe tomatoes and peppers are fine once the greenery is removed. Never feed raw or green potato peels; cooked potato flesh is safe. Rhubarb leaves are high in oxalic acid, which interferes with calcium and can cause kidney failure. Ornamental plants such as wisteria, lily of the valley, daffodils and burdock seedpods are also toxic.
5. Avocado
Avocado contains persin, which can cause breathing trouble, weakness and heart damage in chickens (UF/IFAS Extension). It's most concentrated in the skin and pit, but the flesh also carries some, so the safest choice is to skip avocado entirely.
6. Onions
Raw or cooked, onions contain sulfur compounds that damage red blood cells and can cause anemia.
7. Eggs
Feeding raw or cooked eggs can teach hens to break and eat their own. Dried, crushed eggshells are fine as a calcium supplement.
What Can You Feed Your Chickens?
Can chickens eat tomatoes?
Yes. Ripe tomatoes are a vitamin-rich favorite. Feed the fruit only, never the leaves, stems or flowers, and fence garden plants if your flock free-ranges.
Can chickens eat citrus?
Sometimes. Lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit are very acidic and can upset digestion. Large amounts may also affect calcium uptake and shell quality, so offer only small pieces now and then.
Can chickens eat peppers?
Yes. Sweet and hot pepper fruits are safe, though many chickens aren't keen on them. Remove the leaves and stems.
Can chickens eat carrots?
Yes. Serve them raw (grated or chopped) or cooked. Chopped carrot tops are healthy too. Avoid canned carrots, which are salty.
Can chickens eat cucumbers?
Yes. Cucumbers are hydrating and make a good hot-weather treat. Slice them lengthwise; most hens eat the soft center and leave the skin.
Can chickens eat cilantro?
Yes. Fresh cilantro adds vitamins and antioxidants. Chop it and scatter it or mix it in.
Can chickens eat lettuce?
Sometimes. Dark leafy types like romaine are a good choice. Skip iceberg, which offers little nutrition and can loosen droppings.
Can chickens eat cabbage?
Yes. Cabbage is nutritious roughage. Hang a whole head on a string or put it in a ball feeder, and chickens will peck at it for hours.
Can chickens eat celery?
Sometimes. It's nutritious, but the long, stringy fibers are hard to digest. Cut it into small pieces.
Can chickens eat rice?
Sometimes. Cooked, plain rice is fine in moderation. Skip raw rice, which is hard to digest, and anything salted or seasoned.
Can chickens eat pineapple?
Sometimes. The flesh is safe in small amounts, but it's sugary and acidic. Remove the tough skin and leaves.
Can chickens eat berries?
Yes. Blackberries, blueberries and raspberries are flock favorites packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. Blueberries can temporarily tint droppings.
Can chickens eat pears?
Yes. Pears are a healthy option, though not every chicken's favorite. Remove the seeds, which contain compounds that release cyanide.
Can chickens eat grapes?
Sometimes. Grapes are high in sugar. Offer seedless grapes, chopped, in moderation.
Can chickens eat apples?
Yes. Core and chop apples, and remove the seeds, which contain amygdalin. Unsweetened applesauce works too.
Can chickens eat peaches?
Yes. The flesh is a great summer treat. Remove the pit, which contains cyanide compounds.
Can chickens eat cashews?
Yes. Small amounts of unsalted, shelled, chopped cashews add protein and healthy fats.
Can chickens eat popcorn?
Yes. Plain, air-popped popcorn with no butter, salt or seasoning is fine. Don't feed unpopped kernels.
Can chickens eat cheese?
Sometimes. Small amounts of cheese add protein and calcium. Large amounts of dairy add too much fat and can cause loose droppings.
Can chickens eat bread?
Sometimes. Chickens love it, but bread is filling and low in nutrients. Offer small amounts occasionally, and never anything moldy.
Can chickens eat avocado or onions?
No. See the list of foods chickens can't eat above.
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Treats add variety, but a healthy flock is built on its everyday feed. Nature's Best Organic Feeds comes from a family-owned and operated company in business since 1947. Every bag is certified organic, non-medicated and Non-GMO Project Verified, with formulas for chicks, layers, ducks, game birds and more. Buy online, find a store near you, or contact us with questions.
