![]() ![]() Related - You can find out more about what you can and can't feed chickens by browsing the blog. There are some foods that should be avoided, but generally speaking, most fruits and vegetables are great, as are additional grains.Īs long as you’re giving your flock healthy foods that are safe for them to eat and low in salt and sugars, you’ll have some happy hens on your hands. In addition to their feed, you can add some table scraps and other foods like fish. This usually comprises mostly grains like sunflower seeds, oats, wheat, maize, and some other ingredients. Mature hens will typically need a layer feed. Even chickens with the luxury of having a large area to roam free-range will need some feed. The staple of a chickens’ diet is a good commercial feed. If you’re new to raising chickens, the best thing about them is that it’s really easy to provide a balanced and healthy diet. So, whether you’re giving your chickens a whole fish, sharing yours, or just giving them the parts you’re not going to eat - it’s all a win-win. Namely, the heads (I get it, no one wants their food looking at them), bones, brains, and cartilage of chickens contain “extra-high levels of vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, and calcium”. I’ve read a couple of sources - this one at npr.org included - that state parts of fishes we typically don’t are packed with good nutrition. See also What Color Eggs Do White Chickens Lay? (Not Only White Eggs!) If I can combine this with giving my chickens a healthy treat - even better! I’m huge into wasting or throwing away as little as possible. ![]() One of the best things about having backyard chickens is that they can eat a lot of scraps and parts of foods we don’t. Why It's a Good Idea to Give Chickens Fish Heads, Bones, and Other Parts There is always a small risk.īut in all the years I’ve raised chickens and been active in the community, I’ve never heard of a fishbone causing any kinds of issues. I’m not saying there isn’t a chance a piece of fishbone could get stuck somewhere in a chicken’s digestive system or cause a problem. Some people I know do remove some of the larger bones, and the head, but as I’ll explain below, you really don’t need to. You don’t have to remove any of the bones. I’ve often heard from people who fish that they’ll throw some of their catches they don’t want to their flock when they return home. I’d be surprised if they left anything behind at all. When chickens want to eat something, they don’t hold back. ![]() You can give them fish either cooked or raw too. They can eat the scales or skin, tails, heads, and bones. Can Chickens Eat Whole Fish?Ĭhickens can eat whole fish, yes. I take mercury poisoning very seriously and recommend looking into it in more detail if it’s not a topic you’re familiar with. With chickens being so much smaller than us, they would suffer ill-effects from a much smaller amount of mercury. See also Houdan Chicken Breed Info + Where to Buy The Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC) goes as far as to recommend avoiding the following species: In fact, eating contaminated fish is the number one cause of mercury exposure in the U.S. Some fish are higher in mercury than others, and it’s something that has raised concern over recent years. Something else to be aware of is mercury. Generally speaking, however, fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and a wide range of vitamins and minerals. The nutritional content will vary depending on the fish. They have some key nutritional requirements - which are easily met with a good commercial feed - but fish provides an awesome compliment to their diet. This doesn’t mean you can raise chickens only on fish, of course. In Summary - Can Chickens Eat Fish Bones?įish is among the healthiest foods on the planet.Why It's a Good Idea to Give Chickens Fish Heads, Bones, and Other Parts.With fish providing such a good range of nutrition and so many health benefits, if you’re not already feeding your chooks fish now is a great time to start. The bottom line is that chickens will eat plenty of things much harder to digest than small fish bones given the chance. Obviously, you need to be careful with large bones or sharp edges due to breaks. In fact, fish bones contain some decent nutritional value.
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