The Truth About Feeding Green Beans to Chickens
Can chickens eat green beans? Yes, your flock can enjoy green beans as part of their diet, but like with most foods, it’s important to follow a few guidelines. Green beans are a healthy, nutrient-dense vegetable that can be a fun and nutritious treat for your flock. However, it’s important to understand how to prepare them properly so that they remain safe and beneficial.
Green beans should never be fed raw or be given to baby chicks.
Green beans contain a good amount of fiber and vitamins, making them a great occasional snack. But there are considerations to keep in mind, especially when it comes to how they’re served.
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Can Chickens Eat Raw Green Beans?
While chickens can eat raw green beans, it’s not the best idea.
Raw green beans contain lectins, which can be toxic to chickens (and humans, for that matter) if consumed in large amounts. Lectins interfere with nutrient absorption and can upset your chickens’ digestive system. Although it’s unlikely that your chickens will eat enough raw green beans to cause serious harm, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
The same goes for feeding chickens potatoes and potato skins or other raw plants that might contain certain toxic substances or antinutrients.
The safest way to feed green beans to your chickens is to cook them first. Lightly steaming or boiling the beans will neutralize the lectins and make them easier for your flock to digest.
If you garden and grow green beans in abundance, like I do, you might notice that your chickens love to eat the emerging shoots, leaves, and flowers if you let them. In my experience, they avoid the more mature pods entirely outside of a random peck here and there.
I can imagine some chickens being drawn to the tender new pods as well.
I have never had issues in this case outside of being annoyed that my garden is being plundered.
How to Safely Prepare Green Beans for Chickens
To ensure green beans are safe for your chickens, cook them before offering them as a treat.
Steaming or boiling green beans breaks down the lectins, making them safe for your chickens to enjoy. You should not add any seasoning; plain cooked green beans are best.
After cooking, chop the green beans into bite-sized pieces. Chickens don’t have teeth, so breaking the beans down makes pecking and swallowing easier.
Nutritional Benefits of Green Beans for Chickens
Green beans pack some great nutrition into a small package, making them a nice addition to your chickens’ occasional treats. They are a good source of fiber, which helps support digestion. Green beans also offer vitamins and minerals that can benefit your flock.
Nutrients in Green Beans:
- Fiber – Aids in digestion.
- Vitamin C – Boosts immune health and overall well-being.
- Vitamin K – Supports bone health and proper blood clotting.
- Folate – Important for cell function and overall growth.
While green beans are healthy, they are not a complete food for chickens. They lack the protein and essential nutrients found in a balanced chicken feed.
This is why offering them sparingly is important—think of green beans as a treat, not a meal.
How Often Should Chickens Eat Green Beans?
Green beans, like any treat, should be given in moderation. Chickens thrive on a diet mostly made up of their chicken feed, which provides the right balance of nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and the essential things that chickens need to grow and thrive.
Green beans, while nutritious, are not a high-protein food and should make up no more than 10% of your chickens’ overall diet. Assuming you’re also feeding other treats, that means they should make up even less.
Chicken owners can face problems when overfeeding too many green scraps and less nutritious foods like corn, oatmeal, and bread. Even fruits like bananas, grapes, and tomatoes will begin to take a toll.
Have your chickens stopped laying eggs in peak season? Look at what you feed them first.
A handful of cooked green beans once or twice a week is plenty. When feeding green beans—or any treat—it’s important to observe how your chickens respond. If you notice any changes in egg production or digestive issues, it’s a sign to pull back on the treats and focus on their main feed and higher protein supplemental feed.
On our homestead, we feed all of our chickens, ducks, and geese the same whole grain soy-free, corn-free chicken grower feed from birth onwards. We make simple fermented chicken feed before giving it to them for better digestion.
Related: Fermenting Chicken Feed For Healthier Hens, Better Eggs, & Cost Savings
Everyone also gets a weekly ration of scrambled eggs, any meat trimmings, and access to the compost pile to pick through and eat whatever scraps and bugs they choose. Occasionally, I will ferment their feed with leftover whey mixed with water from making yogurt or even just fresh whole milk from our farmer.
Baby Chicks, Laying Hens, Broilers, & Meat Birds
Baby chicks should not be fed green beans. They do not need anything other than their chicken feed. Any treats should be sparing and high in protein.
Related: Chick Care: Raising Baby Chickens The Right Way
Laying hens need monitoring to make sure they are laying as expected and that the shells of the eggs are not weak or brittle — a clear indication of poor health.
Broilers and meat birds may have their rate of growth affected by feeding too many treats, especially treats like green beans.
Chickens can absolutely eat green beans, but you need to prepare them correctly. Always cook the green beans first to break down any harmful lectins and cut them into manageable pieces. While green beans offer great vitamins and fiber, remember to feed them as an occasional treat and not a substitute for regular chicken feed.
