Food safety
Can Chickens Eat Mushrooms? Not Wild Ones — Here's Why
Wild mushrooms can poison animals, so do not let chickens eat mushrooms growing in the yard or run. The Merck Veterinary Manual warns that mushrooms are hard to identify by eye even for experienced mycologists, and that the death cap is behind fatal poisonings in people and animals. Plain store-bought mushrooms are a different case and do not appear on extension avoid lists. If hens ate wild mushrooms, call a vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20265 min read4 sources
Why wild mushrooms are the danger
The Merck Veterinary Manual is blunt about identification: visual identification can be difficult, even for experienced mycologists. It names Amanita phalloides, the death cap, as the species most often linked to mushroom deaths in humans and animals worldwide, and it notes there are no proven antidotes, so treatment is decontamination and intensive supportive care.
Merck's mushroom pages draw mostly on dogs and do not discuss birds, so there is no poultry data showing any wild mushroom is safe for a hen. Chickens peck at almost anything novel in the run, and a mushroom that popped up overnight after rain is exactly that. With no way to rule out a toxic species, the safe call is none.
Keeping wild mushrooms out of the run
Mushrooms flush after rain, in damp shade and in wood chips, mulch, old straw and around tree roots, which describes many chicken runs. Walk the run and any free-range area after wet weather and pull up anything new, base and all, before letting the birds out. Bag what you pick and put it in the trash rather than the compost the flock scratches through.
If mushrooms keep coming back in one spot, the ground there is staying wet, so improving drainage or swapping soggy bedding helps. When a bird does eat one, save an intact specimen or a clear photo. Merck notes that a mycologist is needed to identify a mushroom with confidence, and a vet will want that information.
Scattering a small handful across a chicken run gives the flock something to scratch for; their complete layer feed still belongs in a covered feeder.
What about store-bought mushrooms?
Button, cremini and portobello mushrooms from the grocery store are not on the extension lists of foods to keep from chickens. UC Davis warns against avocado, raw beans, chocolate and nightshade leaves, and Texas A&M AgriLife adds onions, salty foods and stone-fruit pits; culinary mushrooms appear on neither. A few plain pieces are unlikely to cause problems.
Plain is the important word. Mushrooms in leftovers are usually cooked in butter with garlic, onion and salt, and UC Davis advises avoiding fatty foods while Texas A&M lists onions and salty foods as poisonous. Offer only unseasoned pieces, chopped small, as an occasional extra, and throw out any that are slimy or moldy, since moldy food can make chickens sick.
What to do if your chickens ate a wild mushroom
Do not wait for signs. Merck explains that mushrooms causing signs within about three hours are usually self-limiting, while those causing signs after more than six hours are life-threatening. With the death cap there is a latent period of six to twelve hours with no signs at all, then a stomach and gut phase, then a false recovery before liver or kidney failure.
Remove any remaining mushrooms, note how many birds were exposed and when, and call a vet who treats poultry, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. A consultation fee may apply. Merck also warns that an early, mild reaction does not guarantee a good outcome, because a bird may have eaten a mix of species.
Signs to watch for, and mushrooms and chicks
Watch the exposed birds closely for several days, not just the first evening. Texas A&M AgriLife describes a sick chicken as one that holds its head low, looks fluffed out, is lethargic, has no appetite, loses weight or limps. Any of those after a mushroom exposure, or watery droppings or trouble standing, means a same-day call to a vet.
Chicks are smaller, so any toxic exposure weighs more heavily on them. UC Davis recommends chick starter of about 20% protein for the first six weeks, and nothing from the yard needs to go into a brooder. If chicks share an outdoor pen, check it for mushrooms every morning during damp weather, and call a vet at once if one goes missing.
Better treats to offer instead
If you want to give your flock something from the kitchen, plain fruit and vegetables are the easy choice. University of Minnesota Extension notes chickens love fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen and garden, and University of Vermont Extension says they love blueberries. Leafy greens, cucumber and chopped melon are other low-risk options most hens enjoy.
Whatever you choose, keep treats to less than 10% of the diet, the rule of thumb from UF/IFAS Extension and Texas A&M AgriLife, and serve them after the main layer feed. The balanced feed provides the protein, calcium and vitamins a laying hen needs; treats are only for variety and fun.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.
Common questions
Can chickens eat raw mushrooms?
Not wild ones: Merck warns mushrooms are hard to identify even for experts and some species are deadly. Plain store-bought mushrooms are not on extension avoid lists, so a few small unseasoned pieces are unlikely to cause harm.
Can chickens eat cooked mushrooms?
Only if they are plain. Mushrooms in leftovers are usually cooked with butter, garlic, onion and salt, and extension services advise keeping fatty, salty and onion-seasoned food away from chickens. Wild mushrooms are unsafe however they are cooked.
Are the mushrooms growing in my chicken run poisonous?
You cannot tell by looking. The Merck Veterinary Manual says visual identification is difficult even for experienced mycologists, so treat every wild mushroom in the run as potentially toxic and remove it before the birds find it.
Do chickens know not to eat poisonous mushrooms?
Do not count on it. Washington State University master gardeners note that hungry, bored birds are the ones that risk nibbling dangerous plants, and a fresh mushroom in a bare run is a tempting novelty. Remove them instead.
How long after eating a poisonous mushroom does a chicken get sick?
It depends on the species. Merck describes signs within about three hours for some toxins, while the death cap has a latent period of six to twelve hours with no signs. Call a vet promptly rather than waiting.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
