Feeding Chickens Potatoes & Potato Skins Safely
Can chickens have potatoes? Yes, it is perfectly safe to feed your chicken flock potatoes. Like everything else, moderation is key. It’s not always as simple as tossing them your kitchen scraps. While potatoes can be a healthy addition to their diet, there are some important safety concerns you need to know.
How you prepare them and which parts of the potato you offer can make all the difference between a nutritious snack and something that could harm your flock or throw them out of balance and interfere with their laying.
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Potatoes contain the toxic glycoalkaloids solanine and chaconine, which could upset your chickens’ digestive systems, leading to diarrhea and vomiting.
Never feed your chickens raw potatoes or raw potato skins, and never offer them green potato flesh or skins, either.
If you let your chickens free-range and pick through your compost, or even compost directly in their coops, I would not be overly concerned about any raw potato scraps because it is highly unlikely your chickens will even find the raw potatoes appealing.
I have never seen my chickens show interest in raw potatoes or skin.
When feeding chickens potatoes, it’s important to know that raw potatoes themselves aren’t necessarily dangerous, but the green parts are. Solanine, a natural toxin, develops when potatoes are exposed to sunlight and turn green. This toxin is primarily found in green skins and sprouts. These parts should be avoided entirely, as solanine can harm chickens.
To be safe, cooking white potatoes before feeding them to your flock is best. Cooking breaks down any small amounts of solanine that might still be present and ensures the potatoes are safe to eat.
On the other hand, sweet potatoes are not part of the nightshade family, so they don’t contain solanine. This makes them a safer option for chickens, whether they’re served raw or cooked.
How to Safely Feed Potatoes to Chickens
I keep two small compost bins on my kitchen counter. One is simply marked “compost,” and its contents should be self-evident, and the other is labeled “chicken scraps,” which contains the choicest leftovers and bits that I feed directly to my chickens, like any leftover potatoes, for example.
I feed my chickens potato peelings too, but I roast them in the oven first to make them palatable. To save on energy, I roast the skins alongside other food I’m preparing for my family.
As for portion sizes and frequency, potatoes should only be given as an occasional treat. They are starchy and, while not harmful in small amounts, shouldn’t replace a chicken’s regular balanced feed or higher protein treats.
A good rule of thumb is to offer potatoes no more than once or twice a week, in small quantities that they can finish within a short period. Treats like potatoes should make up no more than 10% of their overall diet to ensure they’re getting the proper nutrition.
You can serve sweet potatoes raw or cooked since they don’t contain solanine. However, cooking sweet potatoes can make them softer and easier for your flock to eat. They’re more likely to actually eat them when cooked.
Nutritional Value of Potatoes For Chickens
Potatoes can offer some nutritional benefits to chickens when fed in moderation and properly prepared. While they are not a complete food source, they can provide energy through their starch content and contribute some essential nutrients. The key is to view potatoes as an occasional supplement to a well-balanced diet rather than a staple food for your flock.
Nutrients in White Potatoes:
- Carbohydrates – Provides energy for chickens.
- Vitamin C – Supports immune health and overall vitality.
- Potassium – Helps with nerve function and muscle health.
- Vitamin B6 – Important for metabolism and proper protein digestion.
- Fiber – Aids in digestion.
Nutrients in Sweet Potatoes:
- Beta-Carotene (Vitamin A precursor) – Promotes good vision, healthy skin, and improves egg quality.
Studies on Feeding Potatoes to Chickens
I was surprised to learn there were studies on the topic of feeding potatoes and sweet potatoes, but the industrial agriculture sector is always looking for ways to reduce costs while maintaining performance. The amount of corn available for animal and poultry feed has also been unpredictable in recent years due to the increased use of corn for ethanol production.
One study showed that “potato meal could be included up to 30% as a substitute of corn meal in both broiler and laying hen diets without having any negative effects.” (Source: 1.)
Another showed that “feeding potato protein to poultry has an antimicrobial effect in the intestines, reducing the level of coliforms, useful E. coli-like bacteria that serve as indicators of fecal contamination.” (Source: 1.)
Another study evaluated the performance and carcass quality of broilers fed diets containing sweet potato root meal and found favorable results. The optimum levels of inclusion of sweet potato in the diets were considered to be 27% and 30% for starting and finishing broiler chickens. (Source: 1.)
By offering these add-ons to your chicken’s normal balanced feed, potatoes—especially sweet potatoes—can be a valuable addition to your chickens’ diet when served as an occasional treat. However, their starchy nature means they should be balanced with higher-protein and more nutrient-dense feed to meet your flock’s daily nutritional needs.
When you’re feeding treats and foods with lots of carbohydrates, like oatmeal, corn, grapes, and bananas, compared to higher-protein foods like meat, eggs, and dairy, or more nutritious things like tomatoes, you need to exercise restraint and moderation and keep an eye on how your chickens are responding.
Are your egg-laying chickens suddenly laying fewer eggs, but molting and seasonal rhythms aren’t the culprit? Or are the eggs soft-shelled and brittle, or the chickens might even have resorted to eating them? Look to feed issues first, especially if you feed many scraps.
Ultimately, your chickens don’t need anything but their chicken feed (we love fermenting chicken feed for extra benefits), and if they’re on pasture, they are already getting loads of extras.
Chickens can eat potatoes, but it’s important to prepare them properly. White potatoes should be cooked and any green parts removed to avoid the risk of solanine, while sweet potatoes are a safer option, even when raw. Both types of potatoes can offer some nutritional benefits, but they should be fed in moderation as an occasional treat. By following these guidelines, you can safely incorporate potatoes into your flock’s diet without compromising their health.
