Can chickens eat potato?
Cooked, plain potato can be given to chickens in small amounts as an occasional treat, but raw potato — and any potato with green skin or sprouts — should never be fed, as it contains solanine, a compound that is toxic to poultry. Treats like this should stay a small addition to a proper layer feed, not a replacement for it.
Why raw and green potato are genuinely dangerous
Raw potato, along with the green parts that develop when a potato has been exposed to light and any sprouted 'eyes', contains solanine, a naturally occurring compound in the nightshade family that is toxic to chickens as well as to many other animals. Cooking breaks down much of the solanine in the flesh, which is why cooked, plain potato without green skin is considered safe in moderation, while raw or green potato is not.
Potato peelings can carry a higher concentration of solanine than the flesh, particularly if the skin has any green tinge, so peelings are best avoided or composted rather than fed to your flock.
How to feed cooked potato safely
Offer potato plain and cooked — boiled, baked or mashed with nothing added — rather than with butter, salt, gravy or other seasoning, none of which do a chicken's diet any good. Cut or mash it into pieces your birds can manage easily, and remove any skin that shows the slightest green tinge before cooking.
Keep the portion small and occasional. A layer feed formulated for chickens should always make up the bulk of their diet, with kitchen scraps like potato treated as a rare extra rather than a regular part of feeding.
Signs of solanine poisoning to watch for
Diarrhoea, lethargy, weakness, laboured breathing and a general reluctance to move or eat can all indicate solanine toxicity if a bird has eaten raw or green potato. Because these signs overlap with several other poultry health problems, any bird showing them after eating raw potato scraps should be treated as an emergency.
If you suspect a bird has eaten a significant amount of raw or green potato, isolate it from the rest of the flock, keep it calm and warm, and contact a vet experienced with poultry as soon as possible rather than waiting to see if symptoms pass.
What to feed instead of table scraps
A proper layer pellet or mash, formulated for the nutritional needs of laying hens, should remain the main part of the diet, with mixed corn and genuine poultry treats making up the occasional extras. This keeps the balance of protein, calcium and other nutrients that scraps alone cannot reliably provide.
Fresh water and grit alongside a good-quality feed do more for flock health day to day than any treat, potato included — treats are a small, occasional bonus rather than something to build feeding around.
Make treat time better
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
Tarhong Paw Ikat Teal Pet Placemat – BPA-Free PVC & EVA
A vibrant teal ikat placemat with paw print accents — BPA-free, wipe-clean, and 29 × 48 cm for protecting floors under pet bowls.
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Tarhong Country Orchard Melamine Pet Saucer
A pretty fruit and floral orchard-print melamine saucer for pets — BPA-free, non-slip, shatterproof, and dishwasher safe at 13.2 cm.
£9.49
Tarhong Heart Print Pet Placemat
A charming heart-patterned, wipe-clean placemat that keeps spills off your floor at every mealtime.
£8.49
Common questions
- Can chickens eat raw potato peelings?
- No. Raw potato, including peelings, contains solanine, which is toxic to chickens, and peelings can carry a higher concentration of it than the flesh, especially if the skin has any green colouring. Only cooked, plain potato with no green skin should be offered.
- Is it safe to give chickens mashed potato?
- Plain mashed potato with nothing added — no butter, salt, milk or gravy — can be given in small amounts as an occasional treat. Keep the portion modest and make sure it is properly cooked through, not just warmed.
- What happens if a chicken eats a green potato?
- Green potato skin contains higher levels of solanine, a compound toxic to poultry, and eating it can cause diarrhoea, lethargy, weakness and breathing difficulty. Treat any of these signs after eating green or raw potato as an emergency and contact a vet experienced with poultry promptly.
- How much potato can chickens have?
- A small amount, offered occasionally rather than as a regular feature, is plenty. A proper layer feed should always make up the large majority of a chicken's diet, with cooked potato and other scraps treated as an infrequent extra.
- Can chickens eat potato skins if they're cooked?
- Cooked potato skin without any green tinge can be given in small amounts, though it is worth trimming away any green or sprouted parts before cooking rather than after, since solanine does not fully break down even with heat if the concentration is high. When in doubt, cut the questionable part away and discard it.
Related
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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.