Your chickens must get the right balance of vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates from their diet … Chickens tend to love melons and can eat the flesh, seeds and pick at the rind. My answer is usually simple and clear; what humans can eat, chickens can also eat. Chickens can eat oranges, berries, watermelon, apples, grapes, pumpkins, mangoes, tomatoes, pineapples, plums, and avocados. Can chickens eat oranges? Yes, chickens can have popped or unpopped popcorn. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of a variety in their diet? No, the oranges are not toxic for chickens. You should not be giving your chickens too many oranges, or other fruits for that matter. We definitely pay a lot of attention to the things we feed our pets. You’ll be surprised not just by the answer, but by how wrong the myths out there about feeding citrus to chickens really are. What Other Foods Should Your Chickens Stay Away From. Can chickens eat oranges? Contrary to what you may have heard, chickens can eat oranges. Chickens can tolerate up to 0.25% salt in drinking water but are susceptible to salt poisoning when water intake is restricted. Try adding them to fruit salads to ensure your flock will eat them. by Rebecca Nickols. According to this study, if you are a backyard producer of eggs and meat,  you may want to give your animals citrus products when you can. Citrus – Some varieties of chickens can be very sensitive to citrus. When we talk about citrus we usually mean lemons, oranges, grapefruit, pomelo and limes but today we will focus on oranges and lemons since they are the most common ones. Feeding your flock extra table scraps or goodies that haven’t gone bad is entertaining, and usually pretty good for your chickens. Don't feed your chickens food which has any signs of mould or is in any way going rotten. Most chickens will want to eat the flesh and not the skin. So in this case, it may be okay for chickens to eat a small amount of oranges, but as long as there is a variety of other food and scraps, then there is no problem. Yes, chickens can eat oranges. They don’t like them. My first house was a stick built house on a farm but not a farmhouse. It can be tempting to take a pale of leftovers out to your coop and dump everything right into their feed dish. While, generally speaking, the answer to ‘can chickens eat oranges’ is yes, there are some backyard chicken owners who would never feed their chickens any oranges (or anything high in Vitamin C, for that matter). The small bodies of chickens are not meant to ingest large amounts of salt. This method requires that you give your chickens scraps that aren’t unhealthy for your chickens but they still won't eat. Crickets: Yes. If your chickens eat a little bit of orange here and there, they should be fine. Most chickens will steer clear of the citrus fruit and its peel, but there’s always an exception to the rule. Although chickens can eat pineapple fruit, you may find that not all of your chickens eat when you offer it to them. It’s still debatable because of the varying reports. If your chickens eat a little bit of orange here and there, they should be fine. Yes, chickens can eat oranges. But give them less because it may cause feather pecking problems if given in excessive quantity. Chickens can be stubborn, and if they like the taste of something, it can be hard to get them to eat anything else. This has been a highly-intense and discussed topic. Below: A chicken eating an Orange. You can cut up the orange a little bit, but more about this later in the post. So, while chickens can eat oranges, they probably won’t. They may not eat the orange peel but any citrus fruit is fine for chickens. Should chickens eat oranges or not? Chickens can also enter this category, since they are seen more and more as reliable pets, able to think and to prove that they are social animals. Chickens have a sense of what food can be dangerous for them and what food is safe to eat, which makes them excellent pets and farm animals. Giving too much melon can lead to diarrhea, however. Afterwards, they are good for feeding. Chickens should not eat anything mouldy. Chickens find it difficult to eat these because they are too tough. While chickens may not necessarily require the same amount of Vitamin C that a human does, it is still worth getting a little bit into their diet on occasion. source of some of the best vitamins and minerals such as potassium, fiber, chickens are happy. Frequently, we see advice online that advises us to not feed our backyard chickens things like oranges, limes, and lemons. Although if there are a few in a fruit salad you share with the chickens, don't worry about picking them out. The chickens may be able to deal with them, but you still want to reduce the number of pests as much as possible, right? Oranges. Mine don’t. The same effect has the oxalic acid in spinach, so it is recommended that this veggie should be just an occasional treat. When it comes to kiwi fruits, they will eat as much as you give them. If you have orange trees in your backyard where the chickens live, they might peck on the ones that fall down from the tree. A lot of chickens are put off by the scent of citrus, so if you have strong smelling oranges they may turn their beaks up. It is a matter of instinct, so if you get to observe them closely, you will see the restrain they get when it comes to green tomatoes or eggplants. They may peck a little bit at the orange, but the overwhelming taste probably gets to them. Now, in regards to their diet, people have often wondered: can chickens eat oranges. Animals shed salmonella and other organisms in their feces but the research has shown that feeding citrus pulp to animals, including chickens can lower the number of harmful bacteria in their gut without affecting the good bacteria. This list helps to reduce any chance of unconsciously harming them. Chickens can eat apples, however the seeds should be avoided as they contain cyanide (which prevents blood cells from delivering oxygen to tissue). For the most part, the fruit is safe for the chickens to eat. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. While chickens may not necessarily require the same amount of Vitamin C that a human does, it is still worth getting a little bit into their diet on occasion. The fruit itself will not become harmful to the chicken according to most experts, but still, the topic has a mix of viewpoints, however, just like humans, chickens like treats. So apples are seen as a tasty treat for … Chickens can eat oranges! You don’t have to peel the orange, but just make sure that the fleshy interior is completely exposed. Left over grapefruit or orange peels turn out to be excellent treats for livestock. Yes, chickens can eat orange peels because they are not toxic. A specific variety of fern called the bracken fern can cause bracken fern poisoning in chickens, which leads to anemia, weight loss and muscle tremors. Rotten food may contain infectious viruses or bacteria which may cause sick health to your flocks. Cooking the potatoes at high temperatures might lower the risk by killing this toxin, but a simple boil of the potatoes is not enough to reduce the level of solanine. Although the University of Florida says that there is not enough cyanide to kill. Can chickens eat melon? Oranges are fine for chickens, Try giving frozen orange as a hot weather treat. As for alcohol, well, you never know what some people might try on their pets! While oranges are safe for chickens to eat, whether they choose to eat them or not is a different story. Although, it is believed that feeding them oranges everyday might not be a good idea. We all know that, just like in the case of any other animals, there are some foods that should be avoided, as well as some foods that are highly recommended. There is a chance that it isn’t tied to the intake of oranges at all. However, some chickens may love to eat oranges. This could lead to fewer eggs and as if that would not be enough, the eggs would also have thinner shells. Yes! The first reaction when you probably read this was most likely a burst into laugh. But, as robust as chickens are, there are still a few things chickens cannot eat. However, some breeds can be very sensitive to these fruits and it is believed that the combination between vitamin C and citric acid might be the main cause of excessive feather plucking. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It is one of the best treats that you can give your chicken when it comes to the hotter days of the year. This includes their leaves and the vines too. Some moulds, of course, are good. Chickens can eat a lot of different food items– don’t forget they are omnivores, so they love both meat and veggies. Then, there is also the belief that citrus fruits might interfere with the absorption of calcium. Most chickens will probably not be into orange peels but if you can get them to eat them, the researchers have concluded that the peels have positive effects on chickens. However, some chickens may love to eat oranges. We are going to tell you everything that you need to know. When they are raw, they contain a substance called phytohemagglutinin (PHA/hemaglutin), which in more simple terms is a natural insecticide which can prove to cause total damage if the beans are not soaked first and then cooked properly. However, if your hens are bored then giving these peels to them will give them something to play with. No, it is not good. However, there are some experiments that have been conducted on these foods too and the scientists have reached the conclusion that caffeine or chocolate, which contains a substance named methylxanthines theobromine should be avoided at all costs. They contain solanine, a toxin which is known for the fact that it destroys the red blood cells, causing diarrhea and ultimately heart failure. Or can they eat any citrus fruits, at all? And in reality, many chickens don’t even like them. This enables the birds to develop the natural flora in their stomach so they can digest these feeds. Since the kiwi fruit is too large for the chickens to eat it like that, there are several methods you can try to feed them. Pesticides, herbicides or any other types of chemicals are definitely not welcomed when it comes to food. These foods will definitely cause some troubles that might seem mild at the beginning but may get worse in time. The chickens start to pull out their feathers. Yes – in moderation. However, apple seeds can contain cyanide. Yes, chickens can eat grapefruits. Remember; oranges are incredibly high in sugar. Surprisingly, your chickens can happily enjoy a few pieces of oranges. You should take the oranges away within a few hours if the chickens haven’t eaten them. Remember - mouldy feed can kill. Always remember that too much of something is bad even for chickens. Yes there are very few fruits (if any) a chicken will not eat and enjoy. Typically, chickens can eat a huge variety of fruits and veggies. Refreshing in every way. They may not eat the orange peel but any citrus fruit is fine for chickens. Cut the Orange in half and freeze then give to the hens to peck at when it's hot. Chickenmag.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As you would have expected, there are also other foods that should be avoided when it comes to feeding the chickens. Both of them contain a lot of vitamin C along with some sugars and dietary fibers. 100 grams of crickets contains 12.9 grams protein, 5.5 grams fat and 5.1 grams carbohydrates, plus numerous minerals and trace elements. Yes, chickens can eat oranges. They can but they don’t tend to like them! A good example is Orange peels. However, you probably do not want your chickens to be eating too many oranges each week. Q: Are hedge-apples safe for my hens to eat? Regardless of being one of the citrus fruits, oranges can be an excellent option for your backyard chickens. The oils from citrus have cleaning properties and are known to kill pests, viruses, and bacteria. When there is less harmful bacteria produced and shed by animals, there are fewer chances for bacteria to contaminate food and cause illness. Often times, I get asked what chickens can eat and what they cannot. It can make them sick. Well, chickens and oranges is what we are going to talk on this page. Feeding oranges or any other citric fruits to chickens may combat food borne illness. These are scraps that, for whatever reason, your chickens would rather (or can only) play with instead of eat. You can read more about the study here. They like eating the flesh, and even the skin and core of the apple. Chickens can eat oranges but only in a controlled amount. FurryTips is reader-supported. Oranges are among the world’s most popular fruits, they are a healthy source of vitamin C and have a many health benefits. 2. The same story is with the green skinned potatoes which are also a part of this family. When adding new feeds to your birds diet, it is important to do it slowly so they can develop stomach flora related to a particular fruit or … You can always see if your chickens are willing to eat the oranges, but there are so many other fruits out there that you can give them, like: There is no sense bothering with oranges unless they are table scraps and you would have thrown them away otherwise. It's equally important to make sure your flock's feed does not become damp, which is one of the mediums in which moulds and their toxins flourish. Keep reading the article to find out what not to feed your chickens. However, it is worth bearing in mind that some people have seen negative consequences to feeding their chickens some oranges, and you may see the same. This could only be healthy for them. If you have orange trees in your backyard where the chickens live, they might peck on the ones that fall down from the tree. Cooking generally destroys these floras. But the problem is that they tend not to touch the peel or any of the rind of the orange. Chickens can not absorb that much sugar. Avoid the pits and the skin, as they contain a substance called persin, which is known for its ability to cause myocardial necrosis in both mammals and birds. Try adding them to fruit salads to ensure your flock get to gain from their health benefits. However, they are very fond of mealworms and corn. There is an interesting study done that emphasizes the importance of orange peels for chickens. Moldy or Rotten Food. Oranges are super healthy for chickens but, generally, they’re not fans of this zestiest of fruits. If your chickens do like the taste of oranges, they are probably not going to eat the entire orange. Chicken Feed and Supplements. This is why we need to be careful as chicken keepers. There have been researches done on chickens where it was suggested that abundant quantity of citric acid can cause excessive preen in chickens. The same would happen if you gave them any sort of citrus fruit. This is because some people have noted that a high amount of Vitamin C in a chicken’s diet can cause two things to happen: None of this information is ‘scientific’ at all. Oranges are super healthy for chickens, but they typically don’t like them. At the most, you will probably want to be giving your chickens one or two oranges total per week. Whether or not they want to is another question. Is popcorn OK for chickens? http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2013/04/7-things-you-shouldnt-feed-your-chickens.html, http://readynutrition.com/resources/10-foods-you-should-not-feed-your-chickens_09022014/, http://www.examiner.com/article/why-feeding-oranges-to-cows-and-chickens-could-save-lifes, https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Raising_Chickens/Keeping_your_chickens_happy. By and large, your chickens can eat any vegetables you do – keep in mind that cooked, soft vegetables might go over better than raw. Chickens generally will not eat it, but if they do, make sure they don’t eat too much as it can taint the taste of the eggs! It is safe to say that foods with pesticides are not recommended for people and foods treated with such chemicals are not suitable for your hens either. TREATS - Silkie chickens love to eat, and aren’t really fussy about what they’re scoffing! The vast majority of chickens who come into contact with oranges will turn their beak up at them. 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