Can chickens eat oranges?

Why

The flesh of the orange is generally safe for chickens to eat as a treat, but the high sugar content means it should not be a staple of their diet. The peel and seeds can be difficult to digest or potentially irritating, so they should be avoided to prevent any digestive upset.

If you do feed it

• Offer only a few small segments of the flesh as an occasional treat, not a daily food.
• Always remove the thick, bitter peel and any seeds before feeding.
• Ensure the oranges are fresh and not moldy or spoiled.
• Introduce the fruit slowly to see how your flock reacts.

Watch out for

• peel and rind
• seeds
• sweetened or candied orange products
• moldy fruit

Better choices