Can Chickens Eat Plums? All You Need To Know

To help your chickens meet their nutritional needs, you must give them alternative foods. Fruits are an excellent way to nourish them.

Can chickens eat plums?​

Chickens can eat plums as a healthy snack. Plums are known for their nutrients and juicy flesh, which your pets will find irresistible.

Plum Benefits​

When you treat your chickens with plums, here are some health benefits that they could get:

Plums are high in antioxidants​

Antioxidants are essential for your chickens’ general health. This compound helps to combat free radicals which harm cells in the body, to keep them safe from a variety of diseases.

Plums boost the immune system​

Plums contain a lot of vitamin C. This vitamin helps boost your chickens’ immune system so they will have a healthier heart and be less prone to sickness. If they become ill, provide them with vitamin C to reduce inflammation and help them recover faster.

When plums are included in a chicken’s diet, it helps prevent coccidiosis, a parasitic condition that affects a chicken’s intestinal tract.

Plums improve digestion​

Plums are rich in fibers, most of which don’t dissolve with water. When chickens eat plums, fibers help promote regular bowel movement and prevent constipation.

Plums promote your chicken’s overall health​

Listed below are nutrients and minerals which can help improve the general health of your chickens to make them healthy and more active.

Vitamin A is necessary for the proper functioning of mucus-producing glands in chickens, such as the nose, esophagus, and inner eyelid.
The coagulation of blood in chickens can be affected by a vitamin K deficiency. The result is that your chicken will have a difficult time clotting if it becomes injured and begins bleeding.
Sorbitol - Studies have shown that sorbitol lowers cholesterol levels in chickens. It can be used for gaining weight in broiler hens bred for meat production as well.
Potassium - Potassium aids in egg production and reduces heat stress during hot weather.
Calcium - Egg production relies on calcium. A lack of calcium will eventually cause your hens to stop laying eggs.
Folate - Chickens need folate for normal feather and skeletal growth, as well as to prevent anemia.

Can chickens eat plum pits and dried plums?​

The plum is a drupe fruit, like the mango, with a single seed covered by a stone-like pit that may be easily extracted from the fleshly covering. This is why such fruit is sometimes referred to as stone fruit.

The stone pit or seed of the plum is inedible to chickens. While the majority of the fruit is safe for the chickens to eat, the pit should be discarded. This is due to the presence of a substance called amygdalin in the pit. When the seed is eaten, it breaks down into hydrogen cyanide.

As we all know, cyanide is a poison that is harmful to both humans and animals. It may cause digestive problems in your chickens if consumed in small quantities, but in large amounts, it can cause serious health problems or even death.

Now that you know this, make sure to remove the pit from plums and discard them properly before feeding them to the chickens. Since these backyard pets love foraging, they might try to peck at the plum seeds.

The rock hard pit does not decompose easily so make sure to toss it in the compost bin. You won’t have any problems related to plums this way.

Are dried plums, on the other hand, poisonous to chickens?​

Prunes are dried plums that have been dried. Dried plums can be fed to chickens in moderation because they are high in nutrients. They should, however, be given sparingly because they contain a lot of sugar when compared to fresh plum fruit.

In the case of dried plums containing pits, the chickens are still susceptible to toxicity. Prunes must only be eaten after the pit has been removed.

Alternatively, dried plums can be incorporated into commercial feeds. In this way, the prunes will provide them with nutrients in addition to the nutrients in their regular diet.

How Should You Feed Plums to Chickens?​

Plums are a tasty treat for chickens. Not only are they easy to prepare, but they are also easy to digest.

All year round, plums can usually be found at markets or grocery stores. Plums can be quite delicious for your flock of chickens so make sure you choose ripe ones.

Before serving them, you will need to:

1. The plums should be thoroughly washed after being harvested from the orchard or purchased at the market. Doing so will remove any dirt or pollutants.
2. Cut the plum in half and remove the pit. The pit can be thrown away to the compost bin to keep chickens from eating it.
3. The plum must now be cut into smaller cubes or pieces. As a result, the chickens will be able to eat more easily. They will also be able to avoid choking on it.
4. Throw the plums to the chickens. Alternatively, you can give them the plum whole, but the firm texture will make them unlikely to eat it.
5. Plums can also be mixed with other fruits as a tasty treat for your chickens. A combination of strawberries, blueberries, and apples, as well as plums, can be delicious. Mix the fruits in a large mixing bowl after cutting them into small pieces. Afterward, place it in a bowl and feed it to your chickens.

On other days, you might as well combine plums with commercial feed. By doing so, the chickens will be able to eat a complete nutritional combination while also tasting a variety of different foods.

How Much and How Often Can Chickens Eat Plums?​

A chicken's diet should consist of at least 90% high-quality commercial feed. These feeds are formulated specifically to meet each chicken's nutritional needs. This is important for the health of your flock, especially when they lay eggs or molting

Most chickens will be able to eat the treats within five minutes or less. Baby chicks can be given a small piece of plum. Ensure that they are sliced into tiny pieces so that they won't choke on them. Adult chickens can enjoy about half a plum each.

Do not over-treat your plums or other fruits when it comes to your flock. This can make them stop laying eggs, lose their plumage, begin pecking at one another, or deteriorate their health overall.

Summary​

Plums provide essential nutrients that ensure the health of your chickens' digestive and bone systems, as well as ensure normal organ function. Nevertheless, plums should only be eaten in moderation, despite their many health benefits.