Can chickens eat french fries?

Better not: chickens shouldn’t eat french fries. UF/IFAS Extension says chips, fast food and heavily salted leftovers should be avoided. Too much salt can quickly lead to dehydration and kidney damage. The British Hen Welfare Trust says very salty food may be toxic. RSPCA Australia lists salty food among things chickens should never get.

Good to know: According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, signs of salt poisoning in poultry include increased thirst, labored breathing, weakness and watery droppings.

Kitchen scraps: The rules depend on where you live. US extension services allow small amounts of table scraps, no more than 10 percent of the daily diet (Oklahoma State). In the UK, it’s illegal to feed kitchen scraps to chickens, even pet hens (RSPCA, APHA). In the EU, Germany’s agriculture ministry (BMLEH) says kitchen and food waste must not be fed to laying hens.