Plants Chickens Can Eat (and What to Avoid)

Safe Plants (Common Examples) #

• Lettuce, kale, chard, spinach (in moderation), cabbage, bok choy.
• Cucumbers, zucchini, squash (flesh and seeds).
• Berries — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries.
• Herbs — parsley, oregano, basil, mint, thyme, sage.
• Cooked pumpkin, melon rinds with a little flesh, watermelon.

Use With Caution #

• Tomato fruit is fine when fully ripe; the leaves and unripe green fruit contain solanine. Don’t feed leaves.
• Onions, garlic, leeks in large amounts can affect red blood cells. Small amounts in scraps are usually fine.
• Citrus — opinions vary; most flocks ignore it, and large amounts can affect calcium absorption.
• Spinach and chard are high in oxalates; small amounts only.

Avoid Outright #

• Nightshade family leaves — tomato leaves, potato leaves, eggplant leaves.
• Raw or dried beans — contain phytohemagglutinin, which is toxic. Cooked beans are fine.
• Avocado pits and skin — persin is harmful. Avocado flesh is technically less risky but easiest to skip entirely.
• Rhubarb leaves — high oxalic acid.
• Foxglove, oleander, yew, lily of the valley, hemlock and many ornamentals — toxic to most animals including birds.
• Moldy food of any kind.

How To Introduce Garden Plants Safely #

• Treats stay under ~10% of daily intake.
• Offer one new item at a time so you can spot any reaction.
• Keep oyster shell and grit available — fibrous greens need grit to digest.

Common Mistakes #

• Tossing entire tomato plant trimmings into the run.
• Letting chickens free-range under an ornamental hedge without checking the species.
• Feeding only kitchen scraps and skipping layer feed.

FAQ

Can chickens eat tomatoes?

Ripe tomato fruit — yes. Tomato leaves and unripe green tomatoes — no; they contain solanine.

Are weeds safe?

Most common backyard weeds (dandelion, chickweed, plantain) are fine. Avoid anything you can't identify and anything sprayed with herbicide.

What about acorns?

Acorns contain tannins that can cause problems in larger amounts. Chickens usually ignore them, but pick them up if you can.