Can Chickens Eat Honey?

The nutritional benefits derived from honey are well-known and documented. A team of busy bees produces the golden ooze, and we have been farming and consuming honey for thousands of years. Regarding chicken treats, can chickens eat honey?

Chickens can eat honey as it contains a healthy mix of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, which will enhance the health of the chicken flock. Honey, like other chicken treats, is to be fed in small amounts due to its high sugar content, which can lead to overweight and obese chickens struggling with their health.

Honey is considered both medicine and food. You won’t find any fat in honey and only trace amounts of protein or fiber, but rather a host of antioxidants, including phenolic acid and flavonoids, which help to fight free radicals from damaging body cells. Chickens can eat honey, and here is why they should indulge in the treat.

Chickens can eat honey in moderation as an addition to a diet that consists of 90% approved commercial chicken feed. Raw honey will provide more nutrients compared to processed honey.

One tablespoon of sweet liquid honey provides you with 64 calories in the form of sugar derived from carbohydrates. It’s not good for people struggling with diabetes. However, honey packs a lot of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, which help offset the impact of its high sugar levels.

Honey, when fed as an occasional treat, can do wonders for the health of the flock because it consists of antioxidants, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial elements.

Honey is good for the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.

Is Honey Healthy For Chickens?

Honey is a healthy snack for chickens and humans alike. We don’t consume mountains of honey at a time as it’s high in sugar, and your chickens should not be fed massive amounts regularly. Overfeeding honey to your chickens can lead to obesity, diabetes, and other health issues.

Sugar is not good for our feathery friends. Even if your chickens seem to love the sticky yellowish-brown fluid produced by bees and nectar from flowers, moderation is key, as with all non-poultry chicken treats.

Honey, when implemented as part of a balanced diet, brings the following healthy bioactive substances to the table:

Antioxidants – Honey contains antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, which help neutralize damage-causing free radicals, which in turn results in less chance of cancer, heart disease, and inflammation.
Propolis – A main component of honey, propolis promotes the blending of collagen, which is beneficial to wound healing while lowering the activity of destructive free radicals.
Riboflavin – Known as vitamin B2, Riboflavin helps turn food into energy and promotes good skin, hair, and healthy blood.
Copper – A mineral that helps to keep the body’s immune system healthy and plays a role in iron metabolism. Copper helps to produce red blood cells.

The essential amino acids found in honey help build chicken bodies, while the antioxidants enhance organ functionality while protecting the immune system. Honey can be used to help underweight chickens gain weight.

How To Feed Honey to Chickens?

So honey in moderation is good for your feathery friends, but how do you feed honey to chickens? Honey is sticky, and when you feed it to your chickens in its natural state, you can expect a mess that involves stickybeaks and feathers galore.

Here is how you can avoid the mess and keep your chickens happy when feeding them honey:

Combine honey with milk and oats – Warm up a cup of milk, add the honey, and mix it with ½ a cup of rolled oats. Your chickens will love you even more!
Combine honey with other treats – Add a spoonful to chicken treats such as fruit, vegetables, and bread. A spoon of liquid gold mixed into a fruit mix goes a long way to ensure happy chickens come to treat time.
Combine honey with water – The easiest way to get honey into the chicken system without any mess or fuss is to add it to their drinking water. Add two big spoons of honey to a liter of warm water and give it a good mix before adding it to the drinking supply of the flock.

Can Chickens Eat Honey Bunches of Oats?

Honey Bunches of Oats is made from oats and honey, and chickens can eat it as a treat now and again. Commercial cereals are often rife with added sweeteners, preservatives, additives, and artificial flavorings, which can negatively affect the flock’s health.

You can feed your chickens much healthier treats than Honey Bunches of Oats, which, as a chicken treat, is on the low side regarding nutritional value.

If you’re looking for healthier chicken treats, consider the following:

Cooked grains – Unseasoned rice
Fresh fruits – Melon, watermelon, berries, cherries, and apples
Vegetables – Carrots, cucumbers, and spinach
Protein treats – Mealworms and insects

Can Chickens Eat Honey-Roasted Peanuts?

As chickens are omnivores you can expect them to eat honey-roasted nuts. Honey-roasted nuts are often produced by coating nuts in honey and adding sugars and salt to the mix, resulting in a snack high in sugar and salt.

If you are going to feed your feathery friends some honey-roasted peanuts, ensure it’s made with raw honey and free of unnecessary additives. Start by feeding your chickens small amounts to see if any members of the flock show adverse effects.

Conclusion

Honey is a healthy treat and can be introduced to a healthy diet in teaspoons of moderation. Too much honey is not good as it contains high levels of sugar, so be mindful when feeding it as a treat to your chickens.

A chicken’s diet should consist of 90% commercial chicken feed and 10% treats. Honey, with its antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and essential amino acids, can add value to chickens’ diets when fed occasionally and not every day.