Chickens are known to eat nearly everything. When you are a chicken owner you consider giving your chicken various kinds of food for them to have a balanced diet.
Many of us do not know which feeds we can give our chickens as a treat. Chickens can eat a wide range of foods including vegetables and fruits.
Chicken can also eat fungi but they do not consume all kinds of fungi. Mushroom is a fungus and some chickens consume some of the mushroom varieties.
The question is; are all types of mushrooms safe and if so, what health benefits do they have to the chickens?
So, can chickens eat mushrooms? Of course, yes. However, it depends on the type of mushroom. Not all mushrooms can be eaten by chickens.
Button mushrooms and morel mushrooms are safe to feed the chickens with. Wild mushrooms can be toxic and we need to familiarize ourselves with different types of mushrooms as the chicken may find them on their way while roaming.
We need to monitor our gardens to ensure no toxic mushrooms are growing for the chickens that may access them while roaming.
Do Hens Like Mushrooms?
Yes, they do. Edible mushrooms are always tasty and the hens like them very much. However, the mushrooms are normally hard for the chickens to feed on them.
The mushrooms can be diced into small pieces and cooked for them to be soft then mixed with other artificial feeds before it served to the hens.
The mushrooms should be served in moderation as too much of it may cause stomach problems to the hens.
It should be served as a treat. It should not take the larger percentage of the hens’ diet hence it should be served in small amounts.
Are Mushrooms Toxic to Chickens?
Yes, most of the mushroom varieties contain toxic substances that can harm the chickens. There are only a few types that are recommended to feed the chickens. That is a button, morel mushrooms, hen of the woods, chicken of the woods, and oyster mushrooms.
However, the recommended types of mushrooms also contain some toxic substances hence it should be served in small amounts to avoid chickens consuming the toxin in large amounts.
We should be very keen on the wild mushrooms that grow by themselves in our gardens as the chickens may easily access them when they are roaming around.
When the toxic mushrooms have been consumed by the chickens, they may cause neurological issues, kidney failure, digestive problems, bleeding, and eventually death.
The side effects may last for years and may cause a lot of damage to the organs as the chickens do not have a strong immune system to fight against it.
Mushrooms can be avoided from the chickens’ diet as when the toxic ones are consumed may cause more harm than good to your flock.
Can Chickens Eat Raw Store-Bought Mushrooms?
Yes, chickens can eat raw store-bought mushrooms. Any store-bought mushrooms that can be consumed by humans, it can also be given to chickens in small amounts.
However, the mushrooms are hard to digest hence they should not be served to chickens when they are raw. It needs to be cooked for it to become soft before it is served to the chickens.
Do not feed your chickens with mushrooms that have been fried in oil as the chickens will struggle to digest the fats. You only need to boil the mushrooms for few minutes.
Mushrooms that are bought from stores are safe as they have undergone extensive testing to confirm the amount of toxin in it.
Chickens can eat the mushrooms bought from the stores as they are safe for them.
Can Chickens Eat Wild Mushrooms?
No, chickens cannot eat wild mushrooms. The mushrooms have a rubbery surface and this does not attract the chickens to eat them.
Chicken eats those foods that are soft and attract them. They do not easily consume wild mushrooms hence giving the owners confidence of allowing them to roam around.
However, chicken owners should not be overconfident about that, they need to walk around the garden in the morning and confirm if wild mushrooms have popped out.
Wild mushrooms are poisonous and when consumed by the chickens, it may cause great harm to their health.
Do Chickens Stop Eating When They Are Full?
Yes, they do. Chickens know when they have eaten enough. Most animals, chickens included were designed to forage and they know exactly how much they eat.
Chickens should have a constant supply of food throughout the day. They will eat when they need it and should go to bed when their crops are full.
They need a lot of food to produce eggs. This makes them stop fewer dominant chickens from getting their food.
The chicken will only stop eating when they feel that their crops are full.
How Can You Serve Mushrooms to Your Chickens?
When mushrooms are raw, they are quite rubbery and this makes it difficult for the chickens to eat and digest.
The mushrooms should be washed, diced into small pieces, and boiled for few minutes for them to become soft to be easier for the chickens to feed on it.
It should not be fried in oil as the chickens find it difficult to digest fats. Additives should not be included as they may affect the health of the chickens.
The mushrooms should be mixed with other commercial feeds for the chicken to consume together with the other feed.
It should be served in small amounts as too much of it may cause health problems to the chickens.
Do Chickens Eat Morel Mushrooms?
Yes, they do eat more mushrooms. Morel mushrooms are commercially produced and the amount of toxic is monitored hence it is safe for both humans and chickens.
The mushroom should not be served to the chickens raw as they have a rubbery texture that makes it difficult for the chickens to break down.
It should be served in moderation as too much of it may cause stomach problems to the chickens and it should be served as a treat, not a main meal.
Chickens can eat more mushrooms as it safe for them.
Can Chickens Eat Raw Portobello Mushrooms?
Yes, they can eat portobello mushrooms. Portobello mushrooms are store-bought and any store-bought mushroom is safe for both humans and chickens.
They should not be served raw to the chickens because of their rubbery nature which makes it difficult for the chickens to eat and digest.
However, they should be served in a minimal amount as too much of it may cause stomach problems to the chickens.
Chickens can safely eat portobello mushrooms as they do not contain toxic substances.
Can Hens Eat Raw Mushrooms?
Yes, hens can eat raw mushrooms. However, raw mushrooms have a rubbery texture and this makes it difficult for the hens to eat and digest.
The mushrooms can be diced into small pieces and boiled for few minutes to make them soft and easier for the chickens to eat and digest.
The hens should be served with small amounts of mushrooms as too much of it may cause problems to their health.
In Conclusion
Chickens can eat mushrooms. However, wild mushrooms should not be served to chickens as it contains toxic substances that may cause a lot of problems to the organs of the chickens.
The store-bought mushrooms are recommended for chickens as the amount of toxin in them is moderated as they grow hence safe for both humans and chickens.
Raw mushrooms should not be served to chickens as they have a rubbery texture which makes it difficult for the chickens to eat and digest.
The mushrooms should be diced into small pieces and boiled for few minutes to make them soft and mixed with other feed before it is served to the chickens.
The number of mushrooms to be served to chickens should be moderated as too much of it may cause stomach problems to the chickens.