A lot has been said about what to feed chickens. But little is often spoken about regarding what to not feed chickens. Consider that chickens feed on almost everything you give them and yet some components in some feed can derail growth. It is therefore important to know what to not feed chickens.
Here is a list of things to avoid feeding your chickens.
- Overly salty foods
- Moldy foods
- Uncooked rice
- Overly sugary foods
- Eggs
- Tomatoes leaves
- Onions
- Raw beans
- Uncooked meat
- Raw potatoes
- These additional feeds or feed components
- These types of plants and chemicals
Overly salty foods
In particular, very salty food leftovers can cause serious heart, lung, and kidney complications, which can eventually lead to death of chickens if extended for a long time. A small quantity does no harm. However, sodium is OK for chickens and an important ingredient in their feeds – it can be given up to roughly 0.15% added to the feeds.
- Moldy foods
We all like to feed chicken with food leftover from the kitchen. However, moldy foods can cause liver complications and other illnesses in chickens.
- Uncooked rice
Uncooked rice absorbs water from the chickens’ stomachs and the effects can be devastating when the stomach is full. When this happens, the rice expands and forces the stomach wall to expand further. It can cause perforations on the stomach and intestines or blockages.
- Overly sugary foods
Giving excessive chocolates, sweets, sugars, or sodas can cause kidney problems. It can also lower egg production.
- Eggs
If and when allowed, kienyeji chicken will peck and eat eggs. Eggs are not poisonous, but the behavior will cause losses. This is especially if the chickens discover how sweet eggs are. They may never hatch chicks if the problem is serious.
- Tomatoes leaves
Tomato leaves, like potato leaves and pepper leaves, contain solanine which is poisonous and can affect the nervous system. This chemical is also poisonous to human beings.
- Onions
These not only cause Heinz anemia in chickens but also affect the egg taste.
- Raw beans
Although cooked beans are fine, raw beans contain hemagglutinin, which can be dangerous to chickens.
- Uncooked meat
Chickens feed on raw meat when given. However, such meat could carry parasites and other disease-causing microorganisms which can lead to death and diseases.
- Raw potatoes
These include potato peels, leaves, and sprouts. They contain solanine that kills red blood cells. It also affects the nervous system and can cause heart to fail. It is OK to feed them with cooked potatoes.
- These additional feeds or feed components
Avocado skin and pits should not be fed to chickens since they contain persin that is toxic to them. Also, do not feed them citrus juices and skins. Citrus fruits and juices can reduce egg production. Apple seeds should also be avoided as they contain cyanide, which can kill chickens. Avocado is also harmful since it contains persins that can lead to heart complications in chickens.
- These types of plants and chemicals
Blue-green algae found in stagnant water at high temperatures harm chickens if they take in contaminated water. Additionally, avoid Cantharidiasis or blister beetle, cedarwood, copper, or copper sulfate in a single dose of >1 g, lead, Mycotoxins from molds, pesticides, herbicides, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), wood stains and paints, and rodenticides.
Read How to Reduce Feeding Costs For Your Kienyeji Chicken Project
ORDER YOUR KIENYEJI MANUAL TODAY - GET KIENYEJI CHICKEN HOUSING MANUAL AND POULTRY FEED FORMULATION FOR FREE KSH 500 ONLY, Click here to order. MPesa Payment option also available.
