Having backyard chickens is amazing – fresh eggs, natural pest control and endless entertainment! But as a chicken owner for over 5 years I’ve learned that these feathered friends will literally try to eat ANYTHING you throw their way. The problem? Not everything is safe for them!
I still remember the day I caught my Barred Rock hen Pepper trying to peck at some chocolate chip cookies I accidentally dropped. That was my wake-up call to get serious about what goes into my flock’s diet.
Today, I’m sharing the complete list of foods that can harm or even kill your chickens, plus some safe alternatives that’ll keep your birds healthy and happy.
Dangerous Foods That Can Kill Your Chickens
Let’s start with the most toxic items that should NEVER make it to your chicken coop:
1. Avocado (Skin & Pit)
The skin and pit of avocados contain a toxin called persin which can cause
- Heart failure
- Breathing difficulties
- Weakness
- Death within 12-24 hours
While the flesh contains very little persin and some chickens might be fine eating small amounts, it’s really not worth the risk. Keep those avocado skins and pits far away from your coop!
2. Chocolate and Candy
We humans love our sweet treats, but chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine that chickens simply can’t process. Even small amounts can lead to
- Seizures
- Vomiting
- Cardiac arrest
- Death
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your birds.
3. Raw or Dry Beans
This one surprised me when I first started raising chickens! Raw or dry beans contain a poison called hemagglutinin which is almost always fatal to chickens. Just 3-4 beans can kill a chicken within an hour!
If you want to feed beans to your chickens, they must be thoroughly cooked. Soaking alone isn’t enough, and neither is slow cooking. They need to be:
- Soaked for at least 5 hours
- Rinsed thoroughly
- Boiled rapidly for at least 30 minutes
4. Green Potatoes and Potato Peels
Raw potato peels (especially green ones) contain toxins called solanine and chaconine. The highest concentration is in:
- Peels
- Eyes
- Green parts
These toxins can cause digestive upset and even death in chickens. Sweet potatoes are safe though, as they’re not in the nightshade family!
5. Apple Seeds and Cherry Pits
While apples themselves make great treats for chickens, the seeds contain cyanide. The same goes for cherry pits and other fruit seeds/pits. Cyanide cuts off oxygen to cells and can be fatal.
If your chickens accidentally eat apple seeds, watch for:
- Discolored comb (pale or bluish)
- Difficulty breathing
6. Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb leaves are highly toxic to chickens because they contain oxalic acid, which impairs calcium absorption and can lead to:
- Kidney failure
- Death
Always avoid letting your chickens forage on rhubarb leaves!
7. Onions and Garlic
These kitchen staples contain compounds that can cause anemia in chickens by destroying red blood cells. Onions contain thiosulphate which can lead to:
- Jaundice
- Anemia
- Death in severe cases
8. Coffee Grounds and Tea
The caffeine in coffee and tea can cause:
- Heart arrhythmias
- Restlessness
- Seizures
- Death
- Reduced calcium absorption
Plus, caffeine negatively affects the immune system, causing issues in the heart and lungs.
9. Nightshade Leaves and Stems
Plants in the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, peppers) have toxic leaves and stems. The ripe fruits are generally safe, but the green parts contain solanine which can kill your chickens.
10. Moldy or Rotten Food
This might seem obvious, but NEVER feed your chickens anything moldy or rotten. Mold is a fungus that can cause serious illness. Some molds, particularly aspergillus flavus (which grows on nuts, corn, and apples), produce aflatoxin which contributes to liver cancer.
Foods to Feed in Moderation or Avoid
These foods might not immediately kill your chickens but can cause health issues over time:
1. Citrus Fruits
There’s some debate about citrus and chickens. Many farmers report that citrus fruits like oranges and lemons can irritate chickens’ digestive systems and potentially reduce egg production due to the citric acid content.
2. Dried Rice or Uncooked Pasta
Contrary to popular belief, dry rice won’t actually “explode” in your chicken’s stomach, but it can cause blockages as it expands with moisture. The same goes for uncooked pasta. Always cook these items before feeding them to your flock.
3. Salty Foods
While chickens need some salt, excessive amounts can cause:
- Dehydration
- Kidney damage
- Death
Avoid feeding chips, pretzels, and other salty snacks to your birds.
4. Bread and Processed Foods
Bread isn’t toxic, but it has little nutritional value and can form a ball in the crop, potentially causing blockages. Other processed foods like french fries, chips, and pastries offer minimal nutrition and can lead to obesity.
5. Raw Eggs
This might be surprising, but feeding raw eggs to chickens can encourage egg-eating behavior – and once chickens start eating their own eggs, it’s SUPER hard to break the habit! If you want to feed eggs to your chickens (which is actually nutritious), make sure they’re cooked.
6. Butter and High-Fat Foods
Butter and other high-fat foods provide little nutrition and can cause obesity in chickens. While most dairy products are okay in moderation, butter should be avoided.
7. Lawn Clippings
Fresh lawn clippings can cause impacted crop when long blades of grass bind with feed. If you want to give your chickens grass, offer small amounts of finely mulched clippings instead.
8. Plants Toxic to Chickens
Here’s a list of common plants that are dangerous for chickens:
- Foxglove
- Ivy
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangea
- Castor Bean
- Lantana
- Deadly Nightshade
- Holly
- Bracken Fern
- Queen Anne’s Lace
- Honeysuckle
- Tulips
- Irises
- Eucalyptus
- Rhododendrons
- Hemlock
- Apricot Plants
- Oak
- Ferns
- Kumquats
- Jasmine
- Elderberries
- Daffodils
Safe Treats Your Chickens Will Love
Now for the good news! Here are some healthy treats your chickens will absolutely LOVE:
Vegetables
- Leafy greens (kale, lettuce, spinach in moderation)
- Carrots
- Beets
- Corn
- Turnips
- Sweet potatoes
- Squash
- Broccoli (in moderation)
- Cabbage (in moderation)
- Brussels sprouts (in moderation)
Fruits
- Watermelon (a summertime favorite!)
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Ripe tomatoes
- Apples (without seeds)
- Pumpkin
- Pineapple
- Pomegranates
Other Great Treats
- Oatmeal
- Cooked rice
- Cooked pasta
- Yogurt (small amounts)
- Cooked meat scraps
- Mealworms (chickens go CRAZY for these!)
- Sunflower seeds (in moderation)
- Sprouted seeds
Quick Reference Guide: Foods Chickens Should Avoid
For your convenience, here’s a quick reference table of foods to avoid:
| Absolutely Toxic | Feed in Moderation | Other Dangerous Items |
|---|---|---|
| Avocado skin/pit | Citrus fruits | Moldy food |
| Chocolate/candy | Bread | Lawn clippings |
| Raw/dry beans | Dairy products | Toxic plants |
| Green potatoes | Salty foods | Raw meat |
| Apple seeds | Corn/sunflower seeds | Coffee grounds |
| Rhubarb leaves | Raw eggs | Uncooked pasta |
| Onions & garlic | High-fat foods | Tea bags |
| Nightshade leaves | Raw peanuts | Cherry pits |
FAQ: What Happens If My Chicken Eats Something Bad?
Q: What should I do if my chicken accidentally eats something from the “do not feed” list?
A: Keep a close eye on your chicken for any signs of illness such as:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Unusual behavior
If you notice these symptoms, separate the affected chicken from the flock and consult a veterinarian. Some toxins like those in avocado and chocolate can have serious consequences even in small amounts.
Q: Can chickens develop tolerance to harmful foods over time?
A: Not really. While some chickens may appear unaffected by small amounts of certain harmful foods, long-term exposure can lead to health problems. Foods like onions and garlic contain compounds that may not cause immediate harm but can contribute to anemia over time.
Q: Are all types of citrus fruits bad for chickens?
A: Small amounts probably won’t kill your chickens, but the high citric acid content can irritate their digestive system. Some studies suggest excessive citrus can affect calcium absorption, potentially resulting in thinner eggshells.
Final Thoughts
We all want the best for our feathered friends! While it might be tempting to share everything from our kitchen with our chickens, it’s important to remember that their digestive systems are different from ours.
My rule of thumb? When in doubt, don’t give it to your chickens! Stick to a quality commercial feed as their main diet, and use treats as just that – occasional treats that make up no more than 10% of their overall diet.
What about you? Have you ever accidentally fed your chickens something they shouldn’t have eaten? Or do you have a special treat your flock goes wild for? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Until next time, happy chicken keeping!
P.S. If you found this article helpful, be sure to check out my other posts on raising healthy backyard chickens!
Avocado pits and skins
The leaves of an avocado plant and the pit and skin of an avo contain a toxin called person, which can be fatal for chickens and ducks. It can cause respiratory difficulty, weakness, heart damage, and sudden death. I would also advise avoiding the flesh in case there were any traces in the flesh.
Undercooked or dried beans
Ducks and chickens should never eat raw or dried beans. Beans contain phytohaemagglutinin, a toxin that is fatal to birds when not cooked, and kidney beans are the worst culprit. Keep any bean plants well away from your chickens and ducks.