Can Chickens Eat Walnuts: 3 Health Benefits & Potential Risks
Do you ever wonder if feeding nuts to chickens is a good idea? Do you worry it might actually be bad for them?
Chickens can eat lots of different nuts like peanuts, walnuts, and almonds, which are really good for them. Just chop them up small and mix them with their food or spread them out on the ground.
Adding nuts to your chickens’ meals can be a good idea. Even though we often think of birds eating nuts, you shouldn’t let your chickens eat too many or just any type. Some nuts can be harmful, and others ought to be fed in a safe way to be healthy.
The problem usually doesn’t arise if you keep an eye on it. I’ll explain everything you need to know about feeding bananas with peels to your chickens below.
Can Chickens Eat Walnuts?
All nuts have a lot of vitamins, fiber, and protein that help enhance the immune system. So, in the cold winter months, when chickens need extra protein to stay warm and vitamins to avoid getting sick, nuts can be a good thing to add to their food.
If you have peanuts that are still in their shells, you can give them to your chickens whole. The shells aren’t bad for them, and trying to get the peanuts out can keep chickens busy, especially when it’s too cold outside to look for food.
However, you ought to make sure the nuts don’t have salt on them. Too much salt can cause health issues in chickens, like making them lay eggs without shells, which can lead to a serious condition that might kill them. Also, eating too many nuts can lead to too much fat and protein, which can make chickens sick and even contribute to Sudden Chicken Death Syndrome. So, it’s best to give them nuts only once in a while. Can Chickens Eat Corn Husks?
Are Walnuts Safe For Chickens?
Walnuts are safe for chickens but only in small amounts. Walnuts have a lot of fat, which can be hard for chickens to handle if they eat too much. It’s best to remove the shells and cut the walnuts up to avoid any choking or blockages in their digestive system.
Healthline says that in every 1-ounce serving of walnuts, there’re:
1.9 grams of fiber
18.5 grams of fat
4.3 grams of protein
Plus lots of other healthy stuff including antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Even though chickens eat differently from us, they can still get a lot of benefits from the nutrients in walnuts.
You can think of them as a snack full of protein for chickens that are laying eggs or losing their feathers.
Benefits of Walnuts to chickens
Good for Muscle Building
Walnuts are packed with protein, which is essential for the development of strong muscles in chickens. This is especially important for laying hens, as they need strong muscles to produce eggs. Adding walnuts to their diet can help them stay strong and healthy.
Improves Feather and Egg Quality
Full of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, walnuts are ideal for making chickens’ feathers look shiny and healthy. These fats also play a big role in improving the quality of the eggs they lay. So, feeding your chickens walnuts can lead to better-looking feathers and tastier, healthier eggs.
Keeps Chickens
Healthy
Walnuts come with antioxidants including polyphenols and vitamin E, that help prevent chickens from getting sick. These antioxidants fight off harmful stress and diseases, keeping your chickens in top shape. Including walnuts in their diet means you’re helping them stay healthy and happy.
Risks Of Feeding Walnuts To Chickens
While walnuts and other nuts often get a bad reputation for being harmful to some pets and small animals, the main concern is with nuts that have been left on the ground for a while or stored in wet or bad conditions. These nuts can get moldy.
The mold comes from certain types of fungus, mainly Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. Nuts are more likely to get moldy than other foods because their shells can crack open when they’re ripe, attracting bugs to the nut inside.
However, if you buy nuts from a store and they’ve been kept in good condition, are fresh, and so on, it’s safe to give them to your chickens. You can feed your backyard chickens nuts as long as they seem fine for you as well.
Other Nuts That Are Healthy for Chickens
Most nuts are packed with good stuff, especially protein, which makes them a great snack for chickens.
Feeding your chickens nuts often is ideal. If you’re looking to mix things up, here are some nuts that chickens really like:
- Cashews
- Pistachios
- Pine Nuts
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
Guide To Feeding Walnuts To Chickens
When giving nuts to chickens, remember two important things:
First, make sure the nuts aren’t salted or have any spices on them. If they do, just rinse them off, and they’ll be okay.
Second, take off the shells and break the nuts into smaller pieces to avoid any stomach problems for the chickens.
That’s pretty much it. Then, you can feed them in any way you like. You can put some nuts in their feeding area, let them peck at the nuts from your hand if you dare, or scatter them around for the chickens to find and eat.
FAQs
Final Thoughts
In short, chickens can eat walnuts, including both English and Black walnuts. Like many nuts, walnuts are full of protein and other good nutrients for chickens.
But keep in mind, even though it’s enjoyable to give treats to your backyard chickens, things like nuts, fruits, veggies, and table scraps are just treats.
Chickens should get most of their food (at least 90%) from a good quality chicken feed. This way, you still have a little space to give them some extra healthy snacks like walnuts.
