What Should Pet Chickens Not Eat?

Pet chickens can make wonderful pets that help produce your family's egg needs and also eat worms and parasites in your yard. Feeding and taking care of pet chickens are relatively easy. However, there are certain foods you should never feed a chicken. Certain foods, including green potato peels or salty foods, may kill your chicken. Stick to a diet full of fresh vegetables and plenty of water to keep your chickens healthy.

  1. Salt

    • Keep your chickens from eating anything overly salty. Excessive salt can be poisonous and smaller chickens can die from salt poisoning. Salt poisoning is also referred to as "water deprivation sodium ion toxicosis." Too much salt can create a dangerous depletion in hydration and water intake, which leads to a toxic reaction in the chicken's body. Chickens that have access to an ample supply of fresh water can usually combat excessive salt intake. Keep your chickens well hydrated at all times in case of accidental salt ingestion.

    Undercooked Beans

    • Refrain from feeding your pet chickens dried or undercooked beans. A poison called hemagglutinin can naturally occur in beans. While mostly harmless to humans and other animals, it is toxic to birds and can cause a disturbance in cellular metabolism or cause death. Uncooked, red kidney beans are especially dangerous to chickens. Stick to raw fruits and vegetables like apples, fresh strawberries, banana without the peel, or broccoli. You may also feed chickens well-cooked green beans.

    Eggs

    • Avoid giving your chickens any raw or discarded eggs. Your chickens may start to associate eggs with their regular diet and try to eat the eggs in their nest. You may occasionally cook up hard scrambled eggs for a special protein treat. Cooked fish or seafood is also a great source of protein for your chickens. Allow your pet chickens to root around in the yard to dine on green grass, common weeds and worms.

    Raw Potato Peels

    • Skip the raw potato peels. Uncooked, green potato peels may contain solanine and be toxic to birds. Too many potato peels may even kill your chicken. Solanine poisoning typically manifests itself as a gastrointestinal and neurological disorder that wreaks havoc on a chicken's digestive system. Symptoms of solanine poisoning includes vomiting, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, labored breathing and seizures. Look in your pantry and refrigerator for leftovers of Cheerios cereal, cheese, corn, cucumbers and grapes to feed your chickens.