What about Oranges? Can Chickens Eat Oranges? Yes, chickens can eat oranges. Chickens aren’t that picky, they eat almost anything. Poultry owners even go as far as giving their chickens kitchen scraps and leftovers and they are often called “mini trash cans”.
Chickens can also feed on fruits and vegetables, they go around pecking at fruits fallen from trees, vegetables, worms, and insects. This habit has proven to be a healthy one as they often come across nutritious foods.
Chickens also require vitamins and minerals for healthy developmental processes. These essential nutrients they acquire from fruits and vegetables give them a shot at a productive and active life. Orange is an example of fruit that supplies these essential nutrients. It is known to contain high levels of vitamin C which helps to boost the immune system of your chicken Oranges contain vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, citric acid, fiber, carbohydrate, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and many other important nutrients.
Table Of Foods And Fruits Chickens Can Eat
Sometimes, trying to figure out if you can feed your chickens certain foods or fruits can be complicated. You don’t want to be careless about their diet and you want them to be very healthy and robust.
Here’s a brief compilation of foods and fruits that your chickens can and can’t eat and what quantity they get.
Nutritional Table Of Oranges
Amount per 100g contains 47 calories
| Total fat | 0.1 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Potassium | 181 mg | 5% |
| Total carbohydrate | 12 g | 4% |
| Dietary fiber | 2.4 g | 9% |
| Sugar | 9 g | |
| Protein | 0.9 g | |
| Vitamin C | 88% | |
| Iron | 0% | |
| Vitamin B6 | 5% | |
| Magnesium | 2% | |
| Calcium | 4% | |
| Vitamin D | 0% | |
| Cobalamin | 0% |
Interesting Facts About Oranges
- Oranges are the largest fruits in the citrus family
- They are a hybrid of mandarin and pomelo
- More oranges are destroyed by lightning than plant disease
- There are 600 different species of oranges
- They are very high in vitamin C
- Spain has over 35 million trees
Can Chickens Eat Oranges
Chickens can eat oranges. Oranges are very healthy for your chickens. They should be given to your chickens as treats or supplements and not as a daily meal. Oranges can be sliced and served to your chicken. They can also be served frozen during the hot weather to refresh your chicken. The peel should be detached from the orange so that your chickens can have easy access to the juicy goodness inside.
Oranges should be fed to your chicken in small quantities, just like other fruits to avoid health complications. One slice of orange per chicken a few times a week is enough to supply the required nutrients. Some chickens are picky eaters and will refuse oranges. It is important to keep an eye out for such eating habits among your chickens to avoid giving it to the next time and seeking out alternatives.
You should avoid giving your chickens rotten or moldy oranges because this could result in health failure. Your chickens can also feed on the orange peels, not many chickens do this because of the difficulty of breaking it into smaller sizes. Orange peels are tough to consume. Your chickens would rather play with them, using them to ward off boredom. It is intriguing to watch chickens struggle with these orange peels just for the fun of it. We recommend dicing them up for a much better chicken feed giving it a little mix and serving in your chicken feeder.
What You Should Know About Oranges
Oranges are highly nutritious in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin K, Vitamin C, potassium, calcium, carbohydrates, sugar, protein, magnesium, among other nutrients. Oranges are round citrus fruits that grow on trees. They can be sweet or sour, depending on how ripe they are.
There are different types of oranges, some of them are;
- Navel oranges
- Mandarin
- Caracara
- Blood oranges
- Valencia
- Seville
- Jaffa
Always make sure to properly wash the oranges, especially store-bought ones, to avoid consuming pesticides that might have been sprayed on them.
Benefits of Oranges To Chickens
- Oranges contain antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation
- Boost the immune system of your chickens
- Aid growth
- Aid tissue repair
- Regulate blood pressure
- Protect bones against diseases
- Aid digestion
- Promotes cell growth
- Promotes good vision
- Energize your chickens and keep them active.
- Support bone health, teeth health, and aids organ function.
In Summary
Chickens should take oranges only as supplements. Oranges provide a lot of vitamins and useful minerals that may be deficient in your chicken’s daily diet. Too many oranges in your chicken’s diet could result in a running stomach and other health complications. It’s part of the reason chickens should eat oranges in small bits.