Top 5 Things Poisonous to Chickens
- rusticrootsheritag
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
Top 5 Things You Should NOT Feed Your Chickens (And Why)At Rustic Roots Heritage Homestead, our chickens are a big part of our farm life—and we’re always looking out for their health and well-being. While it might be tempting to toss all your kitchen scraps into the coop, there are a few things you should never feed your chickens.
Here are the top 5 foods to avoid, and the reasons why:
1. Nightshade Plants
This includes potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. These plants contain solanine, a glycoalkaloid poison that can be harmful or even fatal to chickens in high amounts.
🔸 What’s the safe part?The ripe fruits (like red tomatoes or fully ripened peppers) are okay in small amounts. It’s the green parts—leaves, stems, and unripe fruits—you want to avoid.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate contains two substances—theobromine and caffeine—that are toxic to many animals, including chickens. Even small amounts can cause heart issues, seizures, or death.
🔸 Better option: If you want to treat your flock, opt for scratch grains, mealworms, or veggie scraps that are known to be chicken-safe.
3. Uncooked Beans
Especially kidney beans! Raw or undercooked beans contain phytohaemagglutinin, a toxin that can be deadly to chickens. Just a few raw beans can kill a bird.
🔸 If feeding beans: Always cook them thoroughly—boiling for at least 10 minutes—to destroy the toxin.
4. Moldy or Rotten Foods
While chickens are great at cleaning up leftovers, feeding them moldy scraps can lead to mycotoxin poisoning. Mold can cause neurological issues, respiratory distress, or sudden death.
🔸 Pro tip: If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to your flock.
5. Avocados
The skin and pit of avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that is harmful to birds. While the flesh of the avocado is less risky, it’s best to play it safe and keep avocados off the menu.
🔸 Safer snack alternatives: Try leafy greens, cucumbers, or watermelon rinds.
Keeping your chickens healthy starts with informed feeding! We believe in nourishing our flock as naturally and safely as possible. Got questions about what’s safe? Drop them in the comments or send us a message—we’re always happy to share what we’ve learned on our journey.
Happy homesteading!—Amber & Bob🌾 Rustic Roots Heritage Homestead 🌾
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