Just traditional feed is not enough for chickens to eat, because it not contain all essential nutrients. You should add other feed to their diet like fruits and vegetables. But still people asked that Can Chickens Eat Plums?
Chickens are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and small animals like insects, seeds, worms, etc. Plums are rich in nutrients and known for their sweet taste and juicy flesh. Plum is a healthy snack for your chickens.
However, not all parts of plums are safe for your chickens. In this article we discuss all about plums for your chickens as well as we’ll create two tables: one that outlines beneficial foods, and another listing toxic foods that will ensure the well-being of your chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Plums?
Plums are a type of fruit, and as we discussed, fruits are excellent feed for chickens. They have more beneficial nutrients than some other fruits.
Plums have a sweet taste and juicy flesh, that’s why chickens eat plums as a healthy snack. From the nutrient point of view, it has lots of beneficial nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Sorbitol, Potassium, Fiber, etc.
There are various types of plums that chickens eat like red plums, greengage plums, yellow plums, damson plums, Japanese plums, and hybrid plums. So yes chickens can eat plums with no harmful effect if fed in moderation.
Can Chickens Eat Plums Pits/Seeds?
The simple answer is Pits/Seeds are not safe for your chickens, because they have a substance called amygdalin, when chickens eat pits, amygdalin is broken down to hydrogen cyanide.
Cyanide is a poison that is harmful to chickens and even harmful to humans, it causes digestive problems. Seeds are not easily decomposed and digested and this is because of the rock hardness of pits.
Even all pits are not safe for your chickens, that’s why the pits should be discarded. So make sure to remove pits from plums, this will prevent many health problems.
Can Chickens Eat Red Plums?
Yes, chickens can eat Red Plums, even all types of plums like greengage plums, yellow plums, damson plums, Japanese plums, and hybrid plums.
Plums are a good source of vitamins and antioxidants, but you should remove the pits before feeding them to chickens, as the pits contain cyanide compounds that can be toxic.
Also, cut the plums into smaller pieces to make it easier for the chickens to eat. Offer plums as an occasional treat rather than a staple of their diet, to ensure they get a balanced nutrition from their regular feed.
Can Chickens Eat Frozen Plums?
Yes, chickens can eat Frozen Plums, and frozen plums are the best choice in hot summer or hot weather as they beat the heat. But it’s important to prepare them properly and offer as an occasional treat.
Make sure to remove the pits, as they can be a choking hazard. Frozen plums can be a refreshing treat for chickens. Just let them thaw a bit before offering, so they aren’t too hard or cold for the chickens to peck at.
Are Dried Plums Safe for Chickens?
Yes, dried plums are safe for chickens as long as they feed in moderation. Compared to fresh plums, dried plums contain high nutrients and high sugar content.
Fresh plums contain only 16 grams of sugar, while dried plums contain 66 grams of sugar. Just look at the difference. And dried plums have pits so there is another risk of digestive problems. So make sure that first you remove the pits from the dried plums.
You can mix the dried plums in their commercial feed, so they will get some nutrients from their commercial feed and some nutrients from dried plums. However, dried plums should be fed in moderation as they contain high nutrients and high sugar content.
Role Of Plums In Chickens Health
Plums have lots of benefits, and are proven good feed for all chicken as they help in their overall health.
Here are some excellent advantages of plums:
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Help In Hydration
They keep your chickens hydrated, so in hot weather plums are excellent hydration for your chicken.
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Good Antioxidants
These fruits are good Antioxidants that improve your chicken’s health, also Antioxidants are good compounds that help to fight free radicals that prevent various diseases.
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Boost Immune System
Plums contain Vitamin C, which will improve and strengthen the immune system of your chickens. And when the Immune System is strong the chickens will not fall ill quickly.
They help to fight a parasitic condition coccidiosis, coccidiosis affects the intestine of your chickens.
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Help In Digestion
They have a lot of fibers and sorbitol which help in digestion and prevent bowel movement and constipation.
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Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Plums have polyphenols which help in inflammation recovery.
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Promotes Overall Health Chickens
Even plums help in promoting your chicken’s overall health, The following are some elements that are present in plums that help in promoting the overall health of the chickens.
Vitamin A is an essential compound for your chicken’s health. They produce mucus which helps the nose, inner eyelid, and esophagus to function properly.
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting. When chickens become injured and start bleeding, the Vitamin K stops bleeding.
Sorbitol lowers the cholesterol levels in chickens, It’s used for gaining weight so they will produce more meat.
Potassium promotes egg production rate and reduces heat stress during hot weather or conditions.
Calcium is necessary for egg production, and a lack of calcium in chickens will cause them to stop laying eggs.
Folate is important for chicken feathers and their skeletal improvement. Folate helps prevent anemia.
How Much Plums Can I Feed To Chickens?
Half plum is recommended for adult chicken, and small pieces of plums for chicks but make them further small in tiny pieces to prevent choking.
Ok, plums are good and safe to feed chickens, but due to the high sugar content too much consumption is not safe and causes indigestion. Just feed them as a supplement once or twice a week, this will help in their overall health
Higher than once or twice a week feeding of plums can lead to stopping laying eggs, worsen their health overall, cause loss of their plumage, begin biting at one another, etc.
When your chickens stop laying eggs at some point or by some reasons read our article to start laying again or boost egg laying.
How Should I Prepare Plums To Feed Chickens?
Plums can be found at grocery stores or malls. They are tasty and healthy snacks for your chickens. Plums are easily digestible and also they are easy to prepare for your chickens to eat.
To feed plums to your chickens you need to prepare them properly, so they easily eat them:
- First, wash plums thoroughly, and remove any dust or dirt.
- Remove the pit from the plums, and throw it out from the chicken’s zone, so chickens can’t reach the pits and don’t eat the pits.
- Cut the plums into small pieces so chickens can easily eat them and also this will prevent choking.
- Lastly, give plums to chickens in a clean pot or throw them in a clean ground area.
- You can also mix plums into their commercial feed or other fruits, as a result of this combination chicken will get both nutrients and taste.
Food That Is Safe For Your Chickens
Thanks to chickens, they are omnivores, meaning they can eat and digest both plants and small animals like insects, seeds, worms, meats, etc.
Here is the list of foods that are good and safe for chickens to eat:
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Acorn Squash, fruit, skins and seeds |
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Alfalfa |
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Almonds |
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Almond Butter |
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Amaranth, cooked or extruded |
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Ant |
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Apple |
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Apple, seeds |
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Apricot |
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Artichoke |
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Avocado |
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Banana |
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Banana, skin or peel |
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Basil |
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Bean Sprouts |
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Beans |
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Beet leaves/leaves/greens |
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Beets |
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Bell Pepper |
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Bird Seed |
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Black Soldier Fly Larvae |
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Blueberries |
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Bread |
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Broccoli |
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Brussels Sprouts |
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Butter |
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Cabbage |
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Cantaloupe |
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Cantaloupe, seeds |
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Capsaicin |
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Carrots |
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Cat food, wet |
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Cauliflower |
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Celery |
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Cheese |
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Cherries |
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Cherry, pits |
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Chia Seed |
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Bone of Chicken |
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Chicken, cooked |
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Raw chicken |
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Chili |
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Chives |
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Cilantro |
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Citrus |
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Coconut |
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Coffee grounds |
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Collard Greens |
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Corn |
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Husk, Corn |
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Corn, on cob |
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Cornbread |
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Cottage Cheese |
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Cranberry |
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Crawfish/crawdads, meat and shell |
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Crickets |
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Cucumbers |
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Dog food |
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Edamame |
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Egg shell |
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Egg, boiled/scrambled/cooked |
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Eggplant |
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Eggplant, leaves |
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Eggs |
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Fish |
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Flax seed |
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French Fries |
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Garlic |
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Ginger |
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Goat food |
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Grape |
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Grapefruit |
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Grass cuttings |
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Green beans |
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Green peppers |
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Grits |
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Ham |
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Honey |
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Kale |
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Kidney beans |
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Kiwi |
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Lemon |
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Lettuce |
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Maggots |
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Mango |
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Mealworms |
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Meat scraps |
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Mice |
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Minnows |
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Mushrooms, store bought |
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Mushrooms, wild |
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Nightcrawlers |
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Nuts |
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Oatmeal |
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Oatmeal, uncooked |
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Oats |
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Okra |
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Olives |
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Onion |
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Orange |
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Orange peels |
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Oregano |
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Papaya |
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Pasta |
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Peaches |
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Peanut Butter |
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Peanuts |
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Pears |
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Peas |
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Pecans |
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Pepper seed |
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Peppers |
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Pickles |
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Pineapple |
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Plum |
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Pomegranate |
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Popcorn, popped |
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Popcorn, unpopped |
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Porridge |
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Cooked or mashed Potato |
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Potato, peel |
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Raw Potato |
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Potato, sprouted |
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Pumpkin |
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Pumpkin, Seeds |
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Quinoa |
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Radishes, and greens |
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Raisins |
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Raspberries |
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Raw chicken |
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Rhubarb |
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Rhubarb, leaf |
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Rice |
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Brown Rice |
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Rice, cooked |
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Uncooked Rice |
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Rodents |
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Scrambled Eggs |
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Seaweed |
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Shrimp, meat and shell |
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Snails |
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Spinach |
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Squash |
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Strawberries |
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String beans |
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Sunflower Seeds |
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Sweet Potato |
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Tomato, ripe fruit |
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Tomato, leaf or green fruit |
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Turkey Carcass |
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Walnuts |
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Watermelon |
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Watermelon, rind |
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Wheat |
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Wheat Berries |
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Xylitol |
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Yam |
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Yogurt |
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Zucchini |
Food That Is Not Safe For Your Chickens
The following foods on the table are toxic and not safe as they contain toxic and harmful elements.
Avoiding these types of food will ensure your chicken’s health, and live their life happily and strongly.
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Alcohol |
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Amaranth, raw |
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Avocado |
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Butter |
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Chocolate |
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Citrus |
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Coffee or tea |
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Dry beans |
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Eggplant/pepper leaves |
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Fried Food |
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Maggots |
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Onions |
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Raw chicken |
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Raw Eggs |
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Rhubarb |
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Stone Fruit pit, apple seeds |
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Tomato leaves/green fruit |
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Uncooked Potato |
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Uncooked rice |
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Wild mushrooms |
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Xylitol |
Final Thoughts
Plums are a good and safe treat for your chickens, as they contain lots of beneficial nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Potassium, Fibers, Sorbitol, etc.
These beneficial nutrients will help your chicken’s overall health, especially by improving the immune system, gaining weight, improving egg capabilities, helping digestion, etc.
Comment below if you have any queries, we would love to help you.
FAQs
Can Chickens Eat Dog Food?
Yes, chickens can eat Dog food, Only feed in moderation
Can Chickens Eat Fish?
Yes, chickens can eat Fish.
Can Chickens Eat Honey?
Yes, chickens can eat Honey.
Can Chickens Eat A Whole Fish?
Yes, chickens can eat Whole Fish.
Are Apple Seeds Safe For Chickens?
No, apple seeds are not safe for chickens as they contain trace amounts of cyanide.
Can Chickens Eat Almonds?
Yes, chickens can eat almonds.
Can Chickens Eat Anything?
Chickens are omnivores and can safely eat and digest most meats, insects, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. However, there are several things that chickens cannot eat and are toxic.
Can Chickens Eat Expired Foods?
No, chickens should not eat Expired Foods.
Can Chickens Eat Banana Bread?
Yes, chickens can eat banana bread.
Can Chickens Eat Beets?
Yes, chickens can eat all parts of the beet plant.
Can Chickens Eat Bird Food?
Yes, chickens can eat bird food.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberry Pie?
Yes, chickens can eat blueberry pie. As it contains lots of sugar it’s not recommended.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberry Yogurt?
Yes, chickens can eat blueberry yogurt in moderation.
Can Chickens Eat Boiled Chicken?
Yes, chickens can eat boiled chicken, while un boiled chicken is not recommended to feed chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Bread Grain?
Yes, chickens can eat bread and grain.
Can Chickens Eat Bread With Butter?
Bread has nearly no nutritional value and butter is too fatty for chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Breadfruit?
Yes, chickens can eat breadfruit.
Can Chickens Eat Broccolini?
Yes, chickens can eat broccolini.
Can Chickens Eat Cannellini Beans?
Yes, chickens can eat cannellini beans.
