So, you love kiwis, and you eat a lot of them. After all, they are rich in nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and folates (and they are delicious). But what if you are wasting their skins (which have a high nutrient content and plenty of fibers)? What can you do with them?
If you have chickens in your yard, you might consider giving them to your animals. After all, it is fun to feed fruits and vegetables to your chickens: they are rich in nutritional content and provide them with plenty of vitamins and minerals. And it is part of keeping a flock of chickens to offer them treats and scraps.
Usually, these animals love eating grains, vegetables, and a range of fruits. But can chickens eat kiwi fruit skins? And what should you know about feeding them this fruit? You are in the right place to find that out.
Chickens are omnivores, meaning they can eat various foods without complications. But that doesn’t mean you can feed them with everything that crosses your path because some food might damage your birds. Also, keep in mind that all animals (including humans) need a balanced diet: too much of a good thing, even if healthy, might cause severe issues.
In this essential guide, you’ll learn about feeding chickens kiwi fruit skins and everything you must know, including how often and how much to give them to avoid causing trouble to your birds.
Can Chickens Eat Kiwi Fruit Skins?
Let’s go straight to the core of the question: yes, chickens can eat kiwi, including their skins. Skin, flesh, and seeds are all safe. Nothing (in moderation) poses harm to your birds. The entire fruit is non-toxic and packed with fibers, proteins, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Skins are healthy and rich in vitamins and folate.
However, skins and the ends of the core might be challenging to digest for these animals. Even then, they will provide your birds with plenty of rich nutrition. Because of their high fiber content, these delicious fruits are perfect to aid digestion. And, as we mentioned before, they apport plenty of minerals and vitamins, necessary for your animals’ healthy development. And chickens love them.
You might notice that chickens tend to leave most of the kiwi’s skin, but that doesn’t make it unhealthy for them. It happens with peels from fruits like grapefruits and squashes: chickens learn not to eat them to prevent digestive issues. So, while they can eat kiwi fruits skins, they might prefer not to do so. Feed your chickens ripe fruits: they tend to be easier to digest, minimizing digestive problems.
Also, don’t forget that, as with all types of fruits, you should offer kiwis as an occasional treat: indeed, they shouldn’t replace their regular pelleted feed, which should be their primary food source. It is what meets their nutritional requirements the best, so don’t skip that.
Also, giving your chickens too much fruit might cause them to prefer their sweet and juicy taste over their feed, resulting in problems for you and your animals’ development. Don’t offer them treats too often. Instead, add them from time to time to increase the variety and make sure your animals eat a balanced diet.
How To Feed Kiwis to Chickens
Kiwis are low in calories and fat and provide your chickens with the necessary nutrients for their growth. You can feed kiwis to your chickens in many ways. Keep in mind that while most chickens will like fruits, some might have different preferences. And that’s normal. Not every chicken will eat the same thing. Buying ripe fruits can help you increase your chances of being successful at feeding them kiwis. If you are giving your chickens the fruit’s skins, don’t be annoyed if they don’t like them.
Can Chickens Eat Kiwi Fruit Skins?: Conclusion
Don’t forget that too much fruit can cause your chicken complications, including obesity and high blood pressure, due to the high sugar content. Avoid making kiwis part of their daily diet.
Use a feed that contains all the essential nutrients for your chickens. You can buy that in stores or make mixing grains like oats, wheat, beans, and alfalfa. Because they are treats, kiwi shouldn’t make up for more than 5% of your chickens’ diet.
Related Article: When is Kiwi Season?