Which Holiday Leftovers Are Safe For My Chickens | Chicken Coop Lowes
Which Holiday Leftovers Are Safe For My Chickens
Most of us end up with leftovers after our Christmas feast - thats part of the fun of the holidays. I am asked all the time what is okay for chickens to have and whats not. Of course, any of these foods should be treated as treats and fed only in limited amounts, but go ahead and share some of the feast with your feathered friends.
Here are some popular holiday food items and my recommendations on sharing. Lets start with some leftovers that are okay to share:
Turkey
If you think chickens are vegetarians, youve never seen them go at a turkey leg! Leftover cooked turkey (or chicken) meat, skin and even the carcass is all fine to give to your chickens and a great source of protein for them. Since turkey and chicken bones splinter and we cant give them to our dogs, the chickens always get all those leftovers. They will pick the bones clean in no time.
Ham
Ham, as you know, is pretty salty, so I would only give the chickens ham leftovers in extreme moderation, but a bit is fine.
Shrimp
Our chickens love cooked seafood of all kinds, including the shells. So if you are serving shrimp cocktail, toss them the shells and any leftovers.
Sweet Potatoes
If theres any of your sweet potato casserole left over when dinner is over, scrape off the sugar-laden marshmallow topping and let your chickens enjoy the rest. Same goes for yams.
Salad
If theres any of your sweet potato casserole left over when dinner is over, scrape off the sugar-laden marshmallow topping and let your chickens enjoy the rest. Same goes for yams.
Salad
Of course salad, dressing and all, is fine for your chickens. They will love the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and other veggies.
Office Party Platters
Crudite platters are also a no-brainer to give to the chickens. You know those fruit and veggie platters that always turn up at office parties? Bring them home! Bring home the platters of rolled meat and cheese too. As a special treat for your flock its all fine and they always have lots of leafy green garnishes too.
Office Party Platters
Crudite platters are also a no-brainer to give to the chickens. You know those fruit and veggie platters that always turn up at office parties? Bring them home! Bring home the platters of rolled meat and cheese too. As a special treat for your flock its all fine and they always have lots of leafy green garnishes too.
Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole always seems to make an appearance on holiday tables. Feel free to share leftovers with your chickens.
Creamed Spinach
Spinach is a nutrition powerhouse and our chickens love it. The oxalic acid in spinach can interfere with calcium absorption if fed in large amounts, but as a holiday treat its one of the more nutritious choices.
Chickens love cranberries, so leftover cranberry sauce will be a big hit. Sure, its got sugar in it, but a little bit wont hurt them.
Deviled Eggs
Made too many deviled eggs? Share with the chickens by all means. Eggs are one of the most nutritious treats you can feed your flock, and no, feeding them eggs wont lead to unauthorized egg eating.
Rolls
Leftover rolls or bread are fine as an occasional treat. Not terribly nutritious, but certainly okay on a special occasion - like Christmas.
Pumpkin Pie
While I wouldnt make it a habit of feeding my chickens pie of any kind, a bit of leftover pumpkin pie actually has some nutritional value, so go ahead and share.
Apple Pie
Same with apple pie, I wouldnt recommend making it a regular part of my chickens diet, but since pie isnt part of our own regular menu, when I do bake pie and there are leftovers, I share with the chickens.
Leftover rolls or bread are fine as an occasional treat. Not terribly nutritious, but certainly okay on a special occasion - like Christmas.
Pumpkin Pie
While I wouldnt make it a habit of feeding my chickens pie of any kind, a bit of leftover pumpkin pie actually has some nutritional value, so go ahead and share.
Apple Pie
Same with apple pie, I wouldnt recommend making it a regular part of my chickens diet, but since pie isnt part of our own regular menu, when I do bake pie and there are leftovers, I share with the chickens.
Now for a few leftovers I would skip giving to the chickens:
Mashed Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Skip the white potatoes. Cooked or raw, skins and flesh, they contain the toxin solanine which while not immediately fatal to chickens, can cause diarrhea, destroy red blood cells and eventually lead to heart failure. Small amounts arent anything to worry about necessarily, but best to stay away from feeding the chickens white potatoes.
Skip the onions also. Onions contain the toxin thiosulphate which also destroys red blood cells and can cause jaundice, anemia or even death in your hens in large enough amounts. (Note: garlic contains the same toxin but in far lesser amounts and I do feed garlic because I feel the health benefits far outweigh any potential health risk)
Asparagus
Asparagus can taint the taste of your chickens eggs, so toss those leftover asparagus spears in the composts pile, not the chicken run.
Gravy
Toss that leftover congealed gravy in the trash. Its mostly grease, butter, flour and salt, so not much nutritional value there.
Our chickens dont eat citrus fruit. They dont like it. Citrus is thought to interfere with calcium absorption and contribute to thin-shelled and fewer eggs, so I would toss any citrus fruits.
Cookies
Unlike pies that contain fruits or pumpkin, cookies have little to no nutritional value so I would skip feeding left over cookies to your flock. And who ever has leftover cookies anyway!
Chocolate/Coffee Grounds/Tea Bags/Alcohol
No chocolate, no coffee grounds, and no tea bags. And no alcohol. Thats kind of common sense. Also, nothing too salty, sweet or fried. If its not good for you, its probably not good for your chickens either. But in the spirit of the holiday, go ahead and share some of the goodies - within reason - theyll enjoy them and it wont hurt them.
For a more complete list of healthy treats, click HERE.
For a complete list of no-nos, click HERE.
For a more complete list of healthy treats, click HERE.
For a complete list of no-nos, click HERE.
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Which Holiday Leftovers Are Safe For My Chickens
