One thing every chicken keeper must know: what not to feed your chickens for their own safety. Chickens are excellent foragers, so it is critical to know what foods and plants to keep away from them.

Common food and garden plants that you should NOT feed your chickens

Avocado skin and pits

The avocado skin and pit contain a toxin called persin. Persin is a deadly chemical that can lead to respiratory issues and death within a few days of consumption.

Tomato plant parts (aside from the tomato itself)

Tomato plant greenery (stems, leaves, and flowers) contains the toxic chemical solanine. The tomato is highly nutritious for the bird, but be sure they aren’t fed any other part of the plant.

Potatoes — green, white, yellow, and red

Like tomato plants, potatoes contain solanine. Green potatoes contain the highest amount of solanine, but all should be avoided. Sweet potatoes are the exception — sweet potatoes aren’t actually related to potatoes at all, and are completely safe to feed.

Raw green beans (and other raw beans)

Raw green beans and other raw beans contain lectin which is a toxin. When cooked fully, the lectin is neutralized. If a chicken is fed raw beans it can experience nausea, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and death.

Apple seeds, stems, and leaves

The seeds, stems, and leaves of apples contain the toxic chemical amygdalin. When apple seeds are crushed (this happens during digestion) they become even more toxic, releasing hydrogen cyanide. The flesh and skin of the apple are safe and nutritious, but beware of the other parts! Never toss out a whole apple for your chicken to eat.

Hydrangea

While hydrangeas look beautiful in a garden, they contain a dangerous chemical called hydrangin. When ingested, hydrangin turns into cyanide, so chickens that consume this plant are at risk of cyanide poisoning. If you have a hydrangea in your garden, ensure your chickens can not get to it!

Additional foods to avoid:

• Eggplant leaves and stems

• Pepper plants leaves and stems

• Any dried beans

• Any moldy food

• Morning glories

• Rhubarb

• Anything salty

• Anything processed

• Raw meat

• Dairy products (buttermilk and plain unsweetened yogurt in moderation)

• Bread and processed carbs like tortillas, toast, crackers, etc. (high sugar content which can lead to Sour Crop)

• Chocolate

• Pits, like cherry, or peach pits

• Bloodroot

• Bull Nettle

• Bracken

• Bryony

• Carelessweed

• Castor Bean

• Cocklebur

• Curly Dock

• Delphinium

• Fern

• Foxglove

• Ground Ivy

• Hemlock

• Horse Chestnut

• Horseradish

• Hyacinth

• Ivy

• Laburnum (seed)

• Lantana

• Lily of the Valley

• Nightshade (Also called Deadly Nightshade)

• Rhododendron

• St. John's Wort

• Tulip

• Water Hemlock

• Yew

Some of the foods on this list are not deadly in small amounts, but should still be avoided. Even if a toxic food or plant is not deadly, it can still cause damage if ingested. Although chickens are generally regarded as hardy animals, they can be dangerously affected by toxins in their feed and environment and should be protected.

Is your chicken acting strangely after eating something? If you think your chicken has consumed a toxic substance you should contact a veterinarian immediately. This is not necessarily a full, comprehensive list of all foods that chickens should not eat. Caution should always be exercised when feeding your flock, especially with new foods or foods you are unsure of.

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