Author: Tanner Barnsley
Tanner Barnsley is the pen name on Chicken Rise's backyard chicken guides: what is safe to feed a flock, breeds, coops and chicks. Chicken Rise is written by a small team under pen names; we are not vets, and if a bird is unwell, call an avian vet.
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Do Chickens Have X and Y Chromosomes? No, It’s Z and W, and the Hen Decides
Do chickens have X and Y chromosomes? No: Z and W. Hens are ZW, roosters ZZ, so the hen decides each chick’s…
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Can Chickens Eat Strawberries and Blueberries? Yes, in Small Portions
Yes, chickens can eat strawberries and blueberries. Both are safe treats for your hens, and so are the green strawberry tops. The…
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Can Chickens Eat Old Carrots? Limp Yes, Moldy or Slimy No
Yes, if old means limp or rubbery. Any mold, slime or rot means the trash, and even a good carrot is only…
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Can Chickens Eat Too Much Greens? Yes, Keep All Treats to a Tenth
Yes, chickens can eat too much greens. Lettuce and kale are fine for a hen, and so is grass while it’s young…
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Can Chickens Eat Pickled Asparagus? Skip the Brine, Share the Raw Stems
No, pickled asparagus isn’t a good chicken treat. It’s far too salty, so keep the jar for yourself and share the raw…
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Can Chickens Eat Hostas? Not as a Treat, and Watch the Slug Bait
Don’t feed hostas as a treat, though a stray nibble isn’t an emergency. In a hosta bed, the bigger danger for hens…
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Can Chickens Eat Hummus? A Lick Won’t Hurt, but Plain Chickpeas Beat It
A tablespoon of plain hummus won’t hurt a hen, but most of its calories are fat and it’s salty. The salt, the…
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Can Chickens Eat Hamburger? Yes to Plain Beef, No to the Bun
A hen can have a bite of plain, fully cooked hamburger, but not the bun or cheese. Raw beef is a no,…
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Can Chickens Eat Flies? Yes, but Don’t Grow Maggots for Them
Yes, a chicken can eat a fly. But flies mean manure, tapeworms and botulism, so don’t grow maggots for hens, keep bait…
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Can Chickens Eat Ferns? Not as a Treat, and Never Bracken
No, chickens shouldn’t eat ferns as a treat. Bracken poisons livestock and no fern is proven safe. Here’s how to spot it…
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Can Chickens Eat Strawberries With Mold? No, and Check Their Feed Too
Can chickens eat moldy strawberries? No. Moldy fruit, bread or any scrap that’s grown fuzz goes in the trash. Fresh, sound strawberries…
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Can Chickens Eat Onions and Tomatoes? Ripe Tomatoes Yes, Onions No
Yes, your hens can eat tomatoes in small amounts, as long as they’re ripe and red. Onions are a no. A big…
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Can Chickens Eat Seasoned Potatoes?
Now I know chickens will peck and scratch at just about anything you put in front of them. But as an experienced…
