Feeding Poultry Safe on the Menu

By Christy Caplan

The holidays bring warmth, joy and abundant food, and it’ s natural to want to share with every family member, including your backyard flock. But many common holiday foods are harmful or even toxic to chickens. With a little knowledge, you can keep your flock healthy through the holidays and beyond.

The Naughty List: Holiday Foods to Avoid

To keep your flock safe, it ' s essential to know which treats are off-limits. This " do not feed " list covers some of the most common holiday culprits that can cause serious harm to your chickens.

• Onions, Garlic & Alliums: These are often hidden ingredients in stuffing, gravies and savory dishes. Dr. Sabrina Kong, doctor of veterinary medicine, warns that this family of plants is a top offender. " Pretty much anything from the allium family, which includes onions, garlic and chives, can cause hemolytic anemia in chickens, damaging their red blood cells," she explains. Homesteader Chelsea Gregori of Grow Where You Sow points to green bean casserole as a specific example, noting the high amount of onion it contains can affect egg taste and cause anemia.

• Chocolate & Sugary Desserts: Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to chickens, and desserts high in sugar can cause digestive upset.

• Avocado Pits & Skins: These parts of the avocado contain a toxin called persin. For chickens, ingesting persin can lead to severe respiratory distress and even heart failure.

• Raw Potato Peels( Especially Green Ones): As Gregori explains, " Potato peels contain a toxin called solanine." This natural toxin, found in nightshade plants, is particularly concentrated in green potato skins and can be

Bags of pumpkin pulp and seeds are safe! Photo taken by Kristin Jordan, Florida Chicken Tender.

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