Gooseberries

[lovelymtnday]

I am growing gooseberries and would love to feed the extras to my chickens. Are they safe for chickens?

 

[cavemanrich]

I assume anything growing that we humans can eat, is OK for chickens. I know there are some exceptions, like avocados. But I read that in avocados, only the skin and seed are the bad part. We as humans don't eat those parts ether. Same goes for Nightshade family. Potatoes, and tomatoes. The only bad portion of those are the leaves, and uncooked potatoes. Uncooked potatoes are bad for people as well. (kidney beans uncooked is another bad one for people, those in cans are already cooked, and are fine)
My chickens have access to some plants that are on the no no no list. Holly, Lillie's, Deadly Nightshade, Juniper, and a few others. They do scratch around these plants, but do not eat the leaves, or fruits. Somehow, chickens do know what is bad for them. Maybe the taste is undesirable..

I think, the majority of problems with chickens eating toxic plants occurs in this scenario.
Chickens are in a barren run, and some toxic plant leaves grow into the run area thru the fence enclosure. Since that is the only greens present, chickens may sample those then.

Now to your gooseberries..... I suggest you save all those for yourself. Then can any extras,,,,,,,, If you live anywhere me, give me a call, and I will pick the rest.

But bottom line,,,,,,, if your chickens do decide to eat them, I don't think any bad would occur.
I give my chickens all the kitchen scraps. They don't eat everything. They are selective what they want. The rest just dries up in the run floor.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and