Having chickens as pets has many benefits. One of them is that they require very low maintenance. They are omnivorous and will eat almost anything you offer them. That includes vegetables, stains, and fruits. But can chickens eat mango?
Yes, chickens can eat mangoes. Mango has a good nutritional value for chickens as it contains different vitamins and minerals like calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. It is easy to digest, rich in antioxidants, supports their heart health, and can boost their immune system.
The adverse effects of feeding mangoes to chickens include the risk of choking, pesticide intake, rise in sugar level of blood, and allergy. Taking safety measures like washing the mangoes properly, picking out the pits, and choosing fresh mangoes can help.
Nutritional Benefits Of Mangoes
Mango contains some of the most important food nutrition that almost every animal requires. Check out the following table:
| Whole Mango (100 g) | Amount | Importance |
| Calories | 60 calories | Essential for energy and growth. |
| Water | 80-85 g | Vital for hydration and overall health. |
| Sugar | 14 g | A source of quick energy for active chickens. |
| Vitamin C | 36.4 mg | Boosts the immune system and aids in stress resistance. |
| Vitamin E | 1.11mg | Important for reproductive health and antioxidant protection. |
| Vitamin A | 1,082 IU | Necessary for good vision and overall well-being. |
| Vitamin K | 5.2mcg | Vital for blood clotting and bone metabolism in chickens. |
| Potassium | 168 mg | Supports muscle and nerve function in chickens. |
| Calcium | 11 mg | Crucial for strong bones and eggshell production. |
| Zinc | 0.11mg | Supports immune function and feather development. |
| Manganese | 0.078 mg | Necessary for proper growth, reproduction, and bone development. |
| Copper | 0.137 mg | Essential for the formation of connective tissues and red blood cells in chickens. |
Benefits of Feeding Mangoes to Chicken
There are several benefits of feeding mangoes to your chickens. It will help them stay healthy and fit. Here are some of the major benefits your chickens will experience from eating mangoes:
1. Rich Antioxidants Components
Mangoes are a good source of antioxidants, such as polyphenols. Antioxidants are important for their role in protecting cells from free radical damage. These free radicals are destructive compounds if they can reach animal cells. Polyphenols save chickens from these radicals.
Antioxidants are also important to control anxiety and stress. Therefore, providing your chickens with mangoes occasionally as snacks will help them stay healthier and better.
2. Good Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Mango contains different vitamins, including vitamins A, E, and C. Additionally, there are minerals like potassium, zinc, selenium, calcium, and magnesium. These essential food components contribute to the overall well-being of your chickens in many ways.
These vitamins maintain a good reproductive and digestive system and boost the immune system of your birds. Vitamin A improves their vision. All these nutrients make mango a good addition to chicken’s diet.
3. Boost the Immunity of Chickens
The immunity system ensures a disease-free life for chicken. Backyard chickens can sometimes peck scraps containing pesticides. This can make them seriously ill. Hens and chickens with better immune systems can help them have stronger immune systems. Therefore, feeding your chickens mangoes can also contribute to their healthy lives.
4. Support the Heart Health
Another health benefit of mango as chicken feed is that it supports the heart health of your chicken. Mango contains important minerals like magnesium and potassium. These minerals are crucial for chickens’ health as they can:
- Contribute to maintaining a healthy pulse
- Increase the relaxation of blood vessels, and
- lower the blood pressure level
5. Improve Digestive Health
Juicy fruits like mango are good for the digestive system. Chickens eat different types of foods, and therefore, they need a better digestive system. Otherwise, they won’t eat enough and soon get ill.
An improved digestive system lets them have proper food, which improves the quality of their meat and eggs. Therefore, you should give your chickens mangoes on a regular basis.
How To Feed Mango To Your Chickens?
Can chicken eat mangoes? You already got the answer but the question might arise in your mind, how to feed mango to your chickens, right? Here is a guideline on how you can feed mangoes to chicken.
1.Selecting the Fruits
You should be careful while choosing mango for your flock. Make sure they are fresh and the mango skin contains no mold, dirt, or pesticide. It will be safe for them to eat then.
2. Serve them a Whole Mango
If the mango is ripe, then you can give a whole mango to your chickens to eat. They will peck and eat out the flesh and the peel of the mango. Chickens can also eat the skin of mangoes. However, giving them unripe mango might not be a good option for them. Though the pits are safe for chickens to eat in small amounts, you should avoid feeding them to them.
3. Chop Into Small Pieces
Whether chickens or any other bird, you must always chop fruits or skins into small pieces. Chickens will find it more convenient to eat for them then.
4. Prepare Mango Chicken Treats
If you are okay with spending some time, then you can prepare some delicious healthy treats for your chickens. You only need ripe mangoes, oats, and plain yogurt. Here is what you will have to do:
- Wash and peel mangoes. Remove the seed and cut the flesh into small pieces.
- Add mango slices and a small number of oats to the blender. The oats will add some texture. Blend both ingredients till they become a thick paste.
- Add some yogurt to make the treats creamier.
- Take small spoonfuls of mixture and shape them into small balls or patties
- Put the treats in the refrigerator before serving them to the chickens.
Risks Of Feeding Mango To Chickens
Here is a thing: chickens can eat mango. But that is a limited amount. You should not feed them mangoes every day. Here are some side effects of feeding mango to chickens that you should consider:
- Mangoes are high in sugar, which makes them taste sweet. Chickens, on the other hand, cannot handle high sugar levels. If you feed chickens large amounts of mango, the sugar level will rise and can cause health complications.
- Remember that chickens are active animals, and they are almost always on the move. As a result, the sugar level in their blood is already high. Feeding them frequent fruits can result in serious health problems.
- Mango skins can sometimes contain pesticides that can enter the body of chickens. This can result in health issues.
- If the mango pieces are not properly chopped, there is a chance of choking for chickens. The risk is intense when you serve unripe mango seeds along with the fruit.
- Some chickens can be allergic to mangoes due to the presence of urushiol.
- Excessive consumption of mango can lead to diarrhea. This can happen due to the presence of high levels of sugar.
- Feeding only mango can lead to an imbalanced diet. It will make your chickens suffer from a lack of nutrition, and they can get sick.
Things You Should Remember While Feeding Mango to Chickens
To ensure your chickens stay healthy, you should take some precautions to make sure they are getting good food in the right manner. Here are some steps that you should remember:
- Choose the mango carefully for your chickens. They should not contain any mold, bacteria, or pesticide.
- Always wash fruits before giving them to chickens. It will reduce the risk of pesticides, dirt, and chemicals.
- Though chickens like to eat mango flesh, they may not enjoy the skin of a mango. Therefore, you should observe if they are enjoying it or not. Otherwise, you will have to peel out the fruits.
- Do not give seeds or pits to chickens. Otherwise, the fruit’s flesh and skin are safe for them.
- You should give your chickens a measured amount of mango. Chickens should not eat too much mangoes.
- Remember that chickens are prone to sugar. Therefore, if you provide them with mango, do not give them other foods that are also high in sugar.
- Monitor the reaction of your chickens. If they are not allergic, then you can give them regularly. However, if they show adverse reactions, do not force them.
Can Chickens Eat The Mango Peels?
Well, it is obvious that chickens can eat mango. But what about the skin? Is mango skin safe for them? The answer is yes. In fact, chickens love mango peels. Mango skin is safe for chickens despite the presence of urushiol.
Urushiol is a chemical that is harmful to chickens. This can also cause allergic reactions in chickens. Still, the skin of the mango is quite safe to feed your chickens. However, you should wash the skins properly before feeding them.
The skin of ripe mango has an earthy flavor, which can deter some chickens. However, the skin of green mangoes contains less urushiol, and they are crispier. You can cut them into small pieces and serve them in moderation to your chickens.
Urushiol is the same component that you will find in poison ivy. So, if your chickens are vulnerable to poison ivy, there is a big chance that they will be allergic to mango as well.
What Other Fruits Can Chickens Eat?
Chickens like juicy fruits. You can give them various kinds of fruits, along with mango. Here is a list of fruits that you can offer to your chickens:
| Apples | A good source of vitamins and fiber. However, make sure to remove seeds and core before feeding them to chickens. |
| Bananas | High in potassium and a favorite among chickens. |
| Berries | Chickens eat Blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. They are packed with antioxidants. |
| Pears | Pears can remove seeds and cut into small pieces. They are a nutritious choice. |
| Watermelon | A very juicy fruit. A hydrating treat during hot weather. |
| Grapes | Chickens can eat grapes and they are rich in vitamins. However, you should slice them to avoid choking hazards. |
| Oranges | A great source of vitamin C. Nonetheless, oranges should be fed in moderation due to high acidity. |
| Cantaloupe | Rich in vitamins and make a good addition to chicken’s diet. |
FAQ
Can Chickens Eat Mango Seeds?
No, chickens cannot eat mango seeds, the stone inside, or the pit. You should always remove the pit while serving them mangoes. Remember that the seed contains a toxic cyanide compound that can make chickens ill.
Can Chickens Eat Mango Leaves?
Chickens are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat fruits, vegetables, and grains too. They can also consume mango leaves. It is quite beneficial for them as well. It helps and improves their growth rate.
Can Chickens Eat Mango Trees?
Chickens do not peck on trees, even if it is a mango tree. They can eat the fruit or leaves. But they are less likely to attempt to eat the tree, which is also inedible.
Can Chickens Have Dried Mangoes?
Yes, chickens can eat dried mangoes. However, you should make sure the dried fruit does not contain any harmful ingredients, especially added sugar. If you have dried the mango at home, then there is no problem giving it to chickens.
Is raw mango good for chickens?
Mango is quite a healthy addition to chicken’s diet. Chickens can easily digest mangoes. They can eat the flesh, skin, and also the leaves of mango trees. You can give them raw and green mangoes. There is no harm in it.
Can Chickens Eat Frozen Mango?
Chickens have a strong digestive system that helps them digest different kinds of foods, including frozen mango. You should not serve them frozen mango, though. Let it defrost so that it gets softer and the risk of choking gets reduced.
Conclusion
So, the answer to your question, “Can chickens eat mango?” is yes, they can. Chickens can eat both green and ripe mangoes. It is a very nutritious addition for them. However, mango should not be made their primary food. You should follow the given instructions to avoid the above-mentioned side effects of giving mango to your chickens.
