Chickens can eat peaches (both the skin and flesh) and will really enjoy this fruit. However, you should first remove the pits (seeds) as these can be toxic to your backyard chickens.
Peaches are naturally sweet summer fruits, full of juice, and are a joy to eat. Your chickens would definitely agree! If you have a peach tree in your yard and your backyard chickens have access to it, you may see them milling about just waiting for one of those fruits to drop.
Are Peaches Safe for Chickens to Eat?
The fruit of the peach (peach flesh) is safe for chickens to eat. It contains the most water content and therefore should only be fed in moderation as chickens have trouble digesting too many watery foods.
Peach skins are also safe for chickens to eat and provide the most nutrition, being plentiful in both vitamins and minerals, and being a great source of fiber.
Peach pits are not safe for chickens to eat. The pit of the peach is toxic to humans as well as chickens and contains solanine which turns into cyanide in the body.
Just as you should never feed green potatoes to chickens, you should always remove the pits from peaches prior to giving them to your chickens.
Is it Healthy to Feed Chickens Peaches?
Peaches (and other stone fruits such as nectarines and plums) have numerous health benefits and are a healthy choice if provided in moderation to your chickens.
Peaches are a great source of vitamins and minerals and contain:
- Vitamin C
- Antioxidants
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Peaches are low in calories and healthy fat, although they do have a higher sugar content than other fruits such as blueberries or citrus. Peaches can help boost the overall health of your chickens if fed in moderation as part of a balanced diet alongside commercial feed.
Peaches can help with health issues such as maintaining blood pressure levels, boosting overall immunity, fighting free-radicals, and providing hydration during the warmest months of the year. They also can help your chicken’s eggshells and overall egg production because of the calcium that peaches have.
Peaches are a good source of natural sugar and carbohydrates. They are also high in fiber and can prevent diseases like obesity from occurring because they aid in overall digestion as long as they aren’t fed in excess.
Is it Okay to Feed Chickens Canned Peaches?
Fresh peaches are much better than canned peaches because canned peaches typically have extra sugars and preservatives to give them a long shelf-life.
If you want to provide peaches year-round, simply can peaches yourself using proper canning methods, but be sure that you don’t add extra sugar.