Can chickens eat onions?

If one of your chickens has already eaten this and you are worried, contact your veterinarian.

Why

Avoid. Thiosulphate in quantity damages birds' red blood cells; a scrap in a mixed bowl is a different matter from a diet of them. Onions contain thiosulphate, a compound that damages red blood cells and can cause severe anemia in birds. Even though a tiny scrap mixed into a bowl might not cause immediate harm, feeding them onions regularly is dangerous and can be fatal.

Watch out for

raw onions
cooked onions
onion powder
onion skins
onion scraps in compost

Better choices

chopped leafy greens like kale or spinach small pieces of cooked chicken or mealworms fresh berries as a treat chopped carrots or squash

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