Food safety
Can Chickens Eat Apples? Yes, but Core Them First
Yes, chickens can eat apples, but deal with the risky part first: apple seeds, stems and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides, compounds that release cyanide, according to the ASPCA. A few swallowed seeds are unlikely to matter, but there is no reason to feed them, so core the apple before it goes to the flock. The crisp flesh and peel are a safe, well-liked treat, and windfalls from a backyard tree are a seasonal favorite when picked up before they rot.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read4 sources
Why apple flesh is safe for chickens
Apple flesh and peel are water, natural sugar and fiber, with nothing on the poultry avoid lists from UC Davis or Texas A&M. Chickens are omnivores, and the University of Minnesota Extension notes they love fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen and garden.
Apples are still a treat. UC Davis poultry veterinarians point out that scraps are not balanced and can cause nutritional disorders if they displace too much of the complete ration that supports egg production.
Seeds, stems and rotten windfalls
The ASPCA lists apple stems, leaves and seeds as containing cyanide, from compounds called cyanogenic glycosides, and notes the risk is greatest when leaves are wilting. Its listing covers dogs, cats and horses, and no poultry dose is established, so the sensible step for chickens is simply to remove the core and seeds.
Fallen apples bring a different risk. Texas A&M warns that moldy and spoiled food can make chickens sick, and windfalls left in the grass soon soften, ferment and grow mold. Gather them promptly and give only sound fruit.
How to prepare apples
Wash the apple, cut it into quarters and slice out the core with all its seeds. Chop the flesh into pieces about the size of a grape, or grate it for bantams. The peel can stay on.
Unsweetened applesauce is fine in small amounts. Skip apple pie, caramel apples, apple chips with added sugar and cider, all of which add sugar or alcohol. UC Davis lists alcohol among things that can be toxic to chickens.
Treats go further scattered in a chicken run than piled in a dish, and a proper feeder keeps their complete feed, which should be most of what they eat, clean and dry.
How much apple can chickens have?
UF/IFAS Extension and Texas A&M both put treats at less than 10% of a chicken's diet. A few chopped pieces per bird is a sensible serving, and a single cored apple will treat three or four hens. On days the flock has already had other scraps, hold the apple back.
Give fruit after the birds have eaten their feed, so they do not fill up on the sweet stuff first. UF/IFAS also suggests a small dish of poultry grit, since chickens grind food in the gizzard with small stones.
Apples for chicks
Chicks need a high-protein starter feed in their first weeks, which UF/IFAS lists as the basic requirement for young birds. Fruit adds sugar and water but little protein, so it can wait.
For chicks a few weeks old, a little finely grated apple with no seeds or core is a gentle first treat. UC Davis suggests offering grit once chicks eat anything beyond commercial feed. Keep portions tiny and clear leftovers from the brooder before they turn sticky.
Signs of trouble and when to call a vet
Too much apple usually means loose droppings for a day. If a bird got into a pile of rotting windfalls and seems unsteady, quiet or off her food, take it seriously.
Texas A&M lists a low-held head, a fluffed-up look, lethargy, no appetite, weight loss and limping as signs a chicken is sick. If you see these, or think a bird ate a large quantity of seeds or wilted apple leaves, call a vet who treats poultry, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661, where a fee may apply.
Other fall treats for the flock
Pears with the core removed, cooked pumpkin and squash, and chopped greens all fit the same treat share in the fall. Rotating them keeps apples occasional.
Avocado, dried or raw beans, chocolate, onions, salty or fatty leftovers, rhubarb, stone-fruit pits, green potato parts and nightshade leaves should stay out of the run.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.
Common questions
Can chickens eat apple seeds?
It is best to remove them. The ASPCA lists apple seeds as containing cyanide-forming compounds. A stray seed is unlikely to matter, but cored apple is the safer way to serve it.
Can chickens eat apple peels?
Yes. The peel is safe and adds a little fiber. Wash the apple first to remove surface residue, then chop the peel together with the flesh into small, grape-size pieces.
Can chickens eat rotten apples from the ground?
No. Texas A&M warns that moldy and spoiled food can make chickens sick, and fermenting fruit can grow mold quickly. Gather windfalls promptly and give only sound fruit.
Can chickens eat applesauce?
Plain unsweetened applesauce is fine in small amounts. Avoid sweetened versions and anything with added spices, which only adds sugar the flock does not need.
Can chickens eat apple cores?
Remove the cores, because that is where the seeds sit. The flesh around the core can be cut away and offered with the rest of the apple.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
