Can chickens eat potatoes?

Better not: chickens shouldn’t eat potatoes. UF/IFAS Extension says never to feed raw green potato peels or potato plants; green or sprouting potatoes contain solanine. The British Hen Welfare Trust also advises against potato peelings. UF/IFAS considers plain cooked potatoes generally safe in moderation, but in the UK, it’s illegal to feed kitchen scraps to chickens (RSPCA), so we err on the side of caution.

Good to know: Above all, avoid green spots and peels, sprouts and the plant (UF/IFAS, UC Cooperative Extension, Colorado State).

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.