If you have chickens, you probably already know that they make pretty good garbage disposals. They eat almost everything in sight. Understanding what chickens can and cannot eat can be a little tricky. Today we’re going to focus on apples. Can chickens eat apples?
Giving Chickens Treats Like Apples
Giving chickens treats can be a great way to entertain or distract them, especially when tension is high, while you’re adding chickens to your flock.
However, giving too many treats can actually hurt your chickens. They need a special amount of nutrients each day.
To interrupt their diet, could make them more susceptible to disease and other sicknesses.
The most important thing to remember is to give small amounts of treats and to give the proper amounts of feed each day.
Can Chickens Eat Apples?
Typically, chickens can eat a huge variety of fruits and veggies.
Chickens enjoy eating apples. They like eating the flesh, and even the skin and core of the apple.
However, apple seeds can contain cyanide. Although the University of Florida says that there is not enough cyanide to kill.
Chickens sometimes know what they should avoid. I’ve heard of chickens being kept under an apple tree and eating the apples with no problems, and they typically don’t try to eat the apple seeds.
However, when I first got my chickens, they literally ate styrofoam.
So…I try to avoid giving them stuff I know they shouldn’t eat because just like us hoomans, sometimes they don’t use their brains.
Apples can provide a few useful vitamins and nutrients to chickens. They obviously aren’t high in protein, which is one of the main components of their diet. So apple treats should be kept to a minimum, so as to not “spoil their dinner”.
I found the cutest plush chicken while looking on Amazon and just had to share it. You know you’re a crazy chicken lady when you want to sleep with this chicken plush.
Homemade Chicken Treat Ideas Using Apples
Apple Kabob – You can use a fishing line and a blunt needle (used in crafts like crochet) to make this. You can add other fun foods to this kabob, like pumpkin, lettuce, pineapple, pears, zucchini, cranberries, grapes, etc…
Applesauce – Yes, you can give them applesauce. My chicken pecking block actually has some applesauce in it.
Summary
So can chickens eat apples?
Yes, they can.
Chickens can eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, apples included. The skin, flesh, and even the core are edible for chickens. The seeds, however should be avoided since they contain cyanide.
More Posts About Chickens
Why Are My Chickens Panting | Heat, Disease, Parasites, and More
Have you ever noticed your chickens panting? You’re not going crazy, chickens DO PANT much like a dog does! It might be quite funny to see a chicken pant like a dog, but what does it mean? Why are my chickens panting? Chickens can pant because of heat, stress, disease, parasites, and even respiratory issues…However,…
Continue Reading Why Are My Chickens Panting | Heat, Disease, Parasites, and More
What Does Brooding Mean? | What Is A Broody Chicken?
If you’re new to chickens, you may have heard the term broody before. Which usually leads to the question what does brooding mean? It means a hen is sitting on eggs to keep them warm to incubate them. When fertilized eggs are incubated, they will grow life. In 21 days or so, you’ll start to…
Continue Reading What Does Brooding Mean? | What Is A Broody Chicken?
What Are Sex Link Chickens? | What Breeds Make A Sex Link Chicken?
Have you ever wondered what Sex Link chickens are? Or maybe you just want to know what breeds are used to create them? On our homestead, we have some Red Sex Links. They are great layers and the rooster is intelligent and protective. Since we’ve enjoyed this breed for many years now…I thought I would…
Continue Reading What Are Sex Link Chickens? | What Breeds Make A Sex Link Chicken?
Chickens Eating Feathers | Why Do Chickens Eat Feathers?
There are many reasons why you might catch your chickens eating feathers. It might seem innocent for a chicken to eat a feather off the ground, but it’s about as innocent as them eating a freshly laid egg. Why Are My Chickens Eating Feathers? Stick around until the end to find out the biggest reason…
Continue Reading Chickens Eating Feathers | Why Do Chickens Eat Feathers?
Chicken Feather Loss | The Many Reasons Why Chickens Lose Feathers
When people think of chicken feather loss, most of us think about molting. However, molting isn’t the only reason chickens might lose their feathers. Did you know that some chicken feather loss is due to cannibalism? Yep! Reasons For Feather Loss Molting Of course, you already know, in the fall time chickens shed their summer…
Continue Reading Chicken Feather Loss | The Many Reasons Why Chickens Lose Feathers
How Many Eggs Do Chickens Lay Naturally? | Daily & Yearly
How many eggs do chickens lay naturally? People message and ask this question more often than you would think! Some of them want to know how many eggs per year, and some want to know how many eggs are laid in a day. It’s perfectly normal to ask these questions when you don’t have much…
Continue Reading How Many Eggs Do Chickens Lay Naturally? | Daily & Yearly
I’d love To Know what you think!… Leave me a comment!
Share On Pinterest!
I’m totally going to see if my chickens like applesauce. That’s a great idea!