Feeding chickens potatoes?

[ilovemychickies]

Hi all! I have a potato that was left over from last night's dinner and I was wondering if it's ok to give it to the girls. It was only boiled and the skin is still on it. Thanks!

Ashleigh

 

[nccountrygirl]

Sure it is, they can not have raw peels though, there toxic to chickens.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I've given cooked potatoes to my hens and they seem to love it. As far as I know--there is nothing wrong with it--they are still alive and healthy.

 

[ilovemychickies]

Cool. Thank y'all very much. I appreciate it.

 

[Buckguy20]

Quote:
Can you explain this? I wasn't aware it could be a probelm.
I have fed raw potatoes/peelings for years and I have had no problems. I chop the peeling up small though because if they don't consume them and the peels lay around the pen they can cause botulism. Is this what you meant or are the peelings really poison to them?

 

[speckledhen]

I don't believe that they are poison, although potato eyes ARE poisonous, even to us. Chickens have a difficult time digesting raw potato peels, but if they are cooked soft, I believe they'd be fine.

 

[nccountrygirl]

Sorry my mistake.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Here's the Treats Chart. Stuff that can be toxic is listed at the bottom in red.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[silkiechicken]

As long as the chickens aren't bored or desprate, they generally wont eat enough of "poisonous" things to poison themselves. Mine free range and piles of raw peels go out all the time... maybe one or two strips get nibbled on... but the rest are just left to decompose on the ground in the garden they will lose free range on in abou 3 months.

Cooked though, that's great! Mash it with some corn and it will be a goner.

 

[ilovemychickies]

Thank y'all so much! I just got back inside from giving it to them, they loved it! I mixed in some vanilla yogurt since some of them are molting right now. One of my girls got yogurt and potatoes on her beak.

Silly girl. Thanks again y'all!