Can chickens eat pickles?
No, and there are two reasons rather than one. Pickles are high in salt and vinegar, neither of which suits a chicken. Separately, and regardless of what the food is, it is against the law in the UK to feed poultry on anything that has been in a domestic kitchen, and that applies to a few hens in a garden as much as to a commercial flock.
Picked for your pet
Johnson's Poultry Tonic
A 500ml multi-vitamin conditioning tonic for chickens and other poultry
£11.99
Johnson's Poultry Mite & Lice Powder
A 250g diatomaceous earth powder to keep bird housing dry and discourage red mite
£6.79
Johnson's Poultry Corn 'N' Grit Treat
A 270g corn and grit treat for poultry keepers, sold to help digestion
£3.85
Johnson's Poultry Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner
Apple cider vinegar water conditioner for chickens, ducks, geese and other poultry
£6.99
The legal position, which catches people out
UK rules prohibit feeding poultry with catering waste or with material from a domestic kitchen. The restriction exists to limit the spread of disease, and it applies to back garden keepers, not only to farms.
This surprises a lot of new keepers, because feeding scraps to hens is a long-standing tradition. The rule is nonetheless in force, and it means the answer to most "can chickens eat this leftover" questions is no on legal grounds before nutrition is even considered.
Why pickles are a poor food anyway
Pickles carry a high salt content, and birds are relatively sensitive to excess salt. Vinegar adds acidity that does nothing useful for a chicken and can cause digestive upset.
There is no nutritional case for them either. Nothing in a pickle is something a laying hen needs that a complete layers feed does not already provide.
What to give instead
A complete layers feed should make up the bulk of the diet, with insoluble grit for grinding and oyster shell for eggshell calcium available separately.
For treats, use products sold for poultry, such as corn or dried mealworms, and keep them to a small share of daily intake. Too much corn in particular displaces the balanced feed and shows up in laying.
More for your pet
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
Johnson's Poultry Housing Spray
An HSE-approved 250ml aerosol to kill mites, lice and fleas in poultry housing
£6.25
Supa Ringwood Poultry Feeder
A 2.5kg poultry feeder with a rain hat and raised legs, built for a small flock
£21.99
Supa Poultry & Bird Feeder
Gravity-fed 6kg feeder for poultry and game birds, stands on the ground or hangs
£14.99
Supa Poultry & Bird Drinker
A 6 litre gravity drinker for poultry, with a dome top birds cannot perch on
£9.99
Common questions
- Can chickens eat pickles?
- No. They are high in salt and vinegar, neither of which suits a chicken, and in the UK it is also against the law to feed poultry on material from a domestic kitchen regardless of what it is.
- Is it really illegal to feed chickens kitchen scraps in the UK?
- Yes. Feeding poultry with catering waste or material from a domestic kitchen is prohibited, and it applies to garden flocks as well as commercial ones. The rule exists to limit disease spread.
- What treats can I give my chickens instead?
- Products sold for poultry, such as corn or dried mealworms, kept to a small proportion of what they eat each day. The complete layers feed should remain the bulk of the diet.
- What if my chickens have already eaten a pickle?
- A small amount is unlikely to cause lasting harm to a healthy bird, but do not make a habit of it. Make sure fresh water is available, since salt increases thirst.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.