Whether you are a backyard chicken owner or someone thinking of buying your first chickens, you may want to know whether chickens can eat tangerines.
Yes, they can. Tangerines are good for chickens and can be enjoyed as treats. Not only do they provide a good source of nutrients, but they also help to promote better digestion in your flock.
Is It Safe For Chickens To Eat Tangerine?
Yes, it’s not only safe, but it’s healthy and nutritious for your flock too. Tangerines are a good source of vitamin A, which can help keep your flock’s feathers and skin healthy and the high water content can help keep them hydrated during those hot summer months when they need it most.
Now that you know tangerine is a healthy treat for your chickens, let’s look at how to introduce this fruit into their diet.
When you first try giving tangerine to your chickens, make sure you only give them one or two slices at a time so there’s not too much sugar in their system all at once (the same goes for other fruits). Once they’ve gotten used to the taste of tangerine and their digestive systems have adjusted to digesting this new treat without any problems, then you can start giving them more pieces per day.
I also recommend cutting up the tangerine slices into small pieces before feeding them to your hens because if they swallow whole pieces of fruit then sometimes those pieces will get stuck in their throat.
What Are The Benefits Of Tangerine For Chickens?
Tangerine and its benefits are not just available to humans. If you think of keeping chickens, then you can also provide tangerine to your chicken. Tangerine contains many nutritional values that will surely benefit your chicken.
This fruit is rich in nutrition and can be used to treat several illnesses in chickens. Tangerines are an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, which are required by the chicken to fight against some illnesses.
Tangerine contains beta carotene which will help to improve the health of the feather of the chicken and also give a good color to their feather.
Tangerine is a great source of Vitamin B6 which will help the chickens maintain their nervous system healthy. It also helps in improving the immune system and fighting against disease.
Icariin is an antioxidant found in tangerine that helps to maintain good heart health, prevent cancer and decrease cholesterol levels.
Tangerine is also a good source of magnesium, potassium, copper, and manganese, which will help to strengthen the bone structure of your chickens as well as improve their muscle growth or development.
It also contains protein which helps in making healthier eggshells, so if you give this fruit to your chickens they will lay healthier eggs with solid shells.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Tangerine?
Baby chickens can eat tangerine but in moderation. The fruit is high in vitamin C and has a high water content which would be beneficial for the chicks.
Make sure that you peel the fruit and remove the seeds to avoid any choking hazards and only give them small pieces.
To prevent diarrhea, start by giving them a small piece of tangerine, then gradually increase the amount to see how they react to it.
Can Chickens Eat Tangerine Peels?
You may wonder whether you can feed your chickens the peels of tangerines or other citrus fruits. Because these peels have an abundance of fiber and Vitamin C, they are definitely healthy for your hens.
However, you should keep in mind that most poultry doesn’t have the best teeth. You’ll want to make sure that you chop or tear up these peels before feeding them to your birds. If the peels are too big or hard, it could lead to choking or even death!
How To Feed Tangerine To Chickens
The first step is to peel the tangerine. Once peeled, you can break it up into smaller pieces and place them into a bowl. Be sure to dispose of the peels and any leftover membranes or seeds.
Have your chickens nearby and simply sprinkle the tangerine pieces on the ground in front of them. The smell will attract them, as will their curiosity about the new treat.
You can also put the tangerine pieces into their food dish if you’d rather not feed it them outside. Or, you can mix it in with other treats that you give them on a regular basis, such as lettuce or corn. If this is the case, then be sure to keep track of how many tangerines they are getting so that you don’t over-treat them.
If you want to know more about feeding fruits and vegetables to your chickens, then be sure to check out our post on what vegetables chickens can eat!
How Often Can Chickens Eat Tangerine?
Chickens can safely eat tangerines only occasionally. Tangerines are citrus fruit, so they contain a lot of acidic content, which is not healthy for chickens. When given in moderation, the benefits of feeding tangerine to your chickens are more than the risks.
Tangerines have a high water content compared to other fruits, and this makes them good for your chicken’s health during hot summer days.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the answer is “yes”, chickens can eat tangerines. Tangerine can be a part of the chicken’s diet, especially during the winter season. However, there are some specific conditions that should be taken into account. First of all, the tangerine fruit should be fully ripe and fresh, or else you will get sour and not tasty fruit. You can also try to spread some salt on the fruit.
Secondly, tangerine fruits are rich in calories so it is not a good idea to feed them to your chickens too often. When feeding this fruit do not forget to monitor when your chickens eat too much because they can get sick just like people get sick after eating too many sweets.
