{"id":1460,"date":"2021-01-26T17:01:32","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T17:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pentagonpets.com\/?p=1460"},"modified":"2023-11-24T16:54:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T00:54:54","slug":"can-chickens-eat-apples-and-is-it-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pentagonpets.com\/can-chickens-eat-apples-and-is-it-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Chickens Eat Apples And Is It Safe?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a chicken keeper its only natural to want to treat and spoil your chickens, but there are some foods which make better treats than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With rules and regulations around what we can and cannot feed our chickens (especially if you live in the UK), it can be difficult to know which foods you can safely feed to your chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a chicken keeper myself, I’ve got to know over time the best foods for chickens along with foods which they can and can’t eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apples are one of those treats which people often want to feed to their chickens, mainly because at the end of the growing season there are so many going spare and also because they may have fallen in an area where chickens usually graze. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apples are safe and beneficial for chickens, offering vitamins and fiber. However, the seeds should be removed as they contain amygdalin, a compound that can release cyanide. Apples should be given in moderation and can be a healthy, enjoyable treat for chickens when prepared properly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to let you know before we start, we sometimes recommend products which we feel might be helpful for a particular topic. Chicken Pals may receive a small commission for the recommendation however we only link to quality products and where possible those we have tried – for more information please see our privacy policy.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prefer to watch in video format?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

See my quick guide to chickens eating apples via our YouTube channel…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/nZO4ENOXMFU\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Do Chickens Like Eating Apples?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ve tested apples out in various forms on my own flock of chickens and while some did have a peck at them, some were completely uninterested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When compared to other foods such as corn (which they absolutely love) their response to apples was that they’re pretty uninspiring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ve tried giving chickens whole apples to peck at as well as cutting them into smaller chunks and smaller chunks seemed to get a little bit more interest than whole apples, but after a few pecks, they walked away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think it also comes down to the individual chicken too, just like us they all have different tastes and some just like certain foods more than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be lots of chicken keepers who’d probably say their chickens love apple and can’t get enough, it really depends what else they’re used to eating as a treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the best way to find out is by testing them with a small amount to see how they react, if they hate it, you know not to give them more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other than apples, there’s a large selection of food your chicken can eat<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can Chickens Eat Apple Seeds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Apple seeds contain a small quantity of a poisonous substance called cyanide which can make an animal (or human) seriously ill and even become fatal if consumed in high volume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the odd one or two apple seeds shouldn’t impact a chickens health, to avoid any potential risk it is a good idea to remove the core of the apple before you feed them to chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By slicing down each side of the apple and avoiding the core, you can get some nice pieces to chop up and feed to your chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Can you Feed Apple Peels to Chickens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can feed apple peels to chickens, but whether they like them or not is a different story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are are also a few things you might want to consider too:<\/p>\n\n\n\n