If you’ve had chickens for long, you already know that they will try and eat almost anything. It can be a relief that your flock will peck up almost anything you offer them. However, it can also make people worried that their chickens will gobble up something that is harmful. In this guide, we’ll learn about the risks of pinto beans to chickens and how to keep your flock safe.
Can chickens eat dry or raw pinto beans?
The quick answer is no, they shouldn’t. Pinto beans contain a compound called hemagglutinin. This is a substance that can cause red blood cells to clump together. In chickens, this can lead to anaemia and even death. Even a small amount of dry pinto beans, just five beans, can be lethal to a chicken.
Can chickens eat cooked pinto beans?
Cooked pinto beans are much safer for chickens to eat than dry or raw beans. However, they should still be avoided as a regular part of their diet. The cooking process does greatly reduce the amount of hemagglutinin in the beans to safe levels, but it doesn’t eliminate it completely. In addition, to sufficiently soak and cook beans takes a long time, so it often isn’t worth the effort.
The one time you might want to give beans to chickens is if they are leftovers. As long as this doesn’t happen too often and the beans aren’t heavily seasoned, this is unlikely to do much harm.
Are cooked pinto beans good for chickens?
If you do have some leftover pinto beans, there are some health benefits, to giving them to your chickens.
Pinto beans are high in fibre
Fibre is important because it helps with chickens’ digestion. However, too much fibre can cause chickens to go pass a stool more often and makes a mess.
Pinto beans are a good source of protein
Protein is important for chickens as it helps them grow. It’s also very important because it promotes the growth of chicken eggs.
Pinto beans contain vitamins
Pinto beans are a good source of iron. Iron is very important for chickens as it helps them to make haemoglobin. Just like in humans, this is the substance in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen around the body. Pinto beans also contain vitamins B and K. These vitamins are important for chickens because they help with cell growth, blood clotting, and bone health.
How to safely prepare pinto beans for chickens
If you want to give your chickens pinto beans, it’s important that you take some precautions. The first thing you need to do is soak the beans in water for at least 12 hours. This will help to break down the hemagglutinin in the beans and make them safer for chickens to eat.
After soaking the beans, you need to cook them until they are soft. This usually takes around an hour. Once the beans are cooked, you can mash them up or leave them whole. Make sure the beans are cool before giving them to your chickens.
Do chickens enjoy eating pinto beans?
Most chickens will enjoy eating pinto beans, but others may not be so keen. If your chickens aren’t too keen on pinto beans, it may be because of a lot of salt or spice in the beans.
Final thoughts
Pinto beans can be dangerous for chickens to eat, even in small quantities. It’s best to avoid giving them to your flock as a regular part of their diet. However, if you do have some leftover cooked pinto beans, they can be given to chickens as a treat. Just make sure that the beans are soaked and cooked before giving them to your chickens, and don’t season them with salt or spices.
FAQs
Can chickens eat tinned baked beans?
While chickens might not like the beans if the sauce is too spicy, they can eat them. Chickens can be huge fans of unspiced beans like Heinz.
Can baby chicks eat pinto beans?
Baby chicks can eat pinto beans just like adults. However, because chicks are smaller be extra careful about making sure the beans are cooked.