Many chicken owners love to feed leftovers to their flock. While in my house, most of the pizza gets eaten by me and there are rarely leftovers, if you do have leftover pizza, you might want to feed it to your chickens. In this guide, we’ll cover exactly why you shouldn’t feed chickens pizza.
Can chickens eat pizza?
No, chickens should not eat pizza. The main reason why is because pizza is loaded with cheese and fat, which can be detrimental to a chicken’s health.
Why can’t chickens eat dairy?
The reason why chickens can’t eat dairy is that they lack the enzymes necessary to break down lactose. In other words, chickens are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other products made from milk.
When chickens consume lactose, it can cause digestive issues like diarrhoea. Milk is only produced by mammals and so chickens, as birds, are not evolved to consume it.
Why should chickens avoid fatty foods?
Pizza is high in calories and fat, and it can also lead to digestive issues in chickens. Fatty foods can also cause oily feathers and potentially pancreatitis in chickens. While some people argue that a small amount of cheese on pizza won’t hurt chickens, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not feed them any pizza at all.
Can Chickens eat vegan pizza?
Vegan pizza is made without cheese. As a result, vegan pizza is actually a healthier option for chickens than regular pizza. That said, it still does not contain the nutrition chickens need, so it should still be kept to a minimum.
Do chickens like pizza?
Chickens aren’t very discerning when it comes to picking out healthy food. They love to eat pizza, even though it is not good for them. This is something I can relate to.
Final thoughts
All in all, it’s best not to feed chickens pizza. While they might enjoy the taste, it’s not good for their health. Vegan pizza is a better option, but it should still be kept to a minimum. Chickens need a diet that is high in protein and low in fat, and pizza, while tasty, does not fit that bill.