You love your chickens, and you want to know, can chickens eat grapes? I’ve been raising chickens for more than 15 years and here’s what I’ve learned about feeding grapes to chickens.
The Big Question is: Can Chickens Eat Grapes?
Table of Contents
Can Chickens Eat Grapes?
We all know dogs can’t eat grapes (not even the amazing Colorado Mountain Dog!). But it leaves a chicken-keeper wondering, are there other animals that can’t eat grapes? And more specifically, “Can chickens eat grapes?” The short answer is yes, chickens can eat grapes.
However, there are some health concerns associated with feeding your chicken flock grapes. Grapes are high in sugar and acidity which can cause diarrhea in chickens if they’re not used to eating them or ingest a large amount.
I don’t feed my chickens grapes very often, but they have definitely enjoyed a few during the summer months. They can be a fun, juicy treat. If you want to feed your chickens grapes safely, remember to only serve up fresh, mold-free grapes, give just one or two per chicken, and cut them up if you want to make them even easier to eat.
Nutritional Value of Grapes
Grapes are a great source of many nutrients. They contain vitamins A, B6 and C as well as minerals such as potassium and iron. Grapes also contain antioxidants that may help prevent disease, including heart disease and cancer.
The nutritional value of grapes depends on how they’re prepared:
- Raw grapes have more fiber than cooked ones (1 cup raw = 3/4 cup cooked).
- Dried or frozen grapes have less vitamin C than fresh ones but still contain other nutrients like potassium and iron.
“Chickens can eat different parts of grapes, so this is good news. Among them are the seeds, meat, and peels. They find each element to be delicious, and they are compelled to have a taste of them. And this is essentially why you should divide the grapes into smaller pieces.
Backyard Chickens
How Many Grapes Chickens Should Eat?
The amount of grapes your chickens can eat will depend on their size, age and health. The general rule of thumb is to feed them no more than a few grapes per day.
If you have a young chick that is still growing, skip the grapes and just focus on giving your growing flock quality feed.
Risks of Feeding Grapes to Chickens
There are some risks to feeding grapes to chickens. Pesticides and mold on the grapes can be harmful to your flock’s health, especially if they eat a lot of them.
If you do want to feed your chickens grapes, make sure they’re fresh and organic, or at least washed thoroughly before serving them up.
What About Raisins? Can Chickens Eat Raisins?
Technically, yes chickens can eat grapes. They are just dried up grapes after all. That said, I don’t give my chickens raisin. They are a more concentrated source of sugar and chickens don’t need that.
What Foods are Poisonous to Chickens?
While chickens enjoy a wide variety of foods, it’s important to remember that there are recommended foods that you can (and can not) feed chickens.
Never feed these things to your flocks:
- Raw potato peels
- Avocado pit and peel
- Dry/uncooked beans
- Anything moldy or rotten
- Fried foods
- Salty foods
- Caffeine or alcohol
- High-fat foods
- High-sugar foods
- Artificial sugars
Conclusion: Can Chickens Eat Grapes?
- Yes, chickens can eat grapes.
- As with all treats, (like feeding chickens bananas) they should be given in moderation to adult chickens.
- Do not feed chickens moldy or decayed grapes (or any food for that matter!).
