The holidays are a time for joy, laughter, and Christmas trees. Every home enjoys the cheer and excitement that tinsel-covered Christmas trees bring to your house over the holiday season.
But after the holidays, what do you do with your leftover merry Christmas tree? Throwing it away may seem like the easiest option after Christmas; farm animals, though, can use them.
Can chickens eat a Christmas tree? Both yes and no are the responses. There are certain precautions to take and things to think about before adding pine needles and branches from Christmas trees to the chicken coop, even though they can be a fun and interesting addition to a chicken’s diet.
In our guide, you can learn more about this farm animal Christmas tree use. By the end, you’ll know how you can use these cedar trees or can’t use them as a treat for your chickens. (Read What Time Do Ducks Wake Up)
Understanding Pine Needles and Pine Trees
Pine needles are a pleasant and abundant source of vitamin C for chickens as part of their diet. The branches from Christmas trees serve as a source of entertainment for chickens, which like to scratch and peck at them.
It’s important to remember in mind that large quantities of pine needles can be toxic to chickens. Pine needles are a member of the nightshade family and can be toxic if taken in large amounts.
Artificial Trees:
If you have a fake tree, it is not advisable to let your chickens come too close to it. Artificial trees frequently include chemicals and fire retardants that could be harmful to chickens if consumed.
Old Christmas Trees:
Before giving your chickens old Christmas trees, consider a few things.
Chickens may experience health problems after ingesting pollutants and heavy metals from old trees. Additionally, if the tree has been treated with any chemical or pesticide, it is advised not to give it to your chickens.
The Entire Tree:
Before giving your chickens an old Christmas tree, make it important to cut the wood into small pieces. Chickens can become strangled by larger branches, and the sharp needles can cut their eyes, beaks, and feet.
One thing to remember is if you heat your coop, keep any wood away from the heat source to avoid fire.
Pine Shavings:
Pine shavings complement a chicken’s diet and can be used as bedding in the coop. Making sure the shavings have not been exposed to any chemicals or insecticides of any type is important.
Trees Offer A Diversion:
Christmas trees are not only a great source of food for chickens, but they are also a source of entertainment.
The branches from Christmas trees are the ideal distraction for chickens since they like scratching and pecking. When the garden and yard may be barren in the winter, the trees provide the chickens with a great source of fresh air and a change of scenery.
Fishponds:
Even fish ponds can benefit from leftover Christmas trees! The needles can be used as a natural source of vitamin C and other minerals for fish, while the branches can provide shade and cover.
Giving your leftover Christmas tree to your flock of birds in your yard is a great tip for chicken owners. The Vitamin C and other minerals in the needles are great for the health of your chickens, and it’s a unique and entertaining way to offer them something fresh to peck at. (Read Can Chickens Eat Sweet Potatoes)
Weak Egg Shells and Christmas Trees: What You Need to Know
One potential side effect of chickens eating Christmas trees is eggshell cracking. Christmas trees may contain chemicals like fire retardants that may negatively impact the chickens’ health and the quality of their eggs despite not being toxic to chickens.
In addition, pine needles’ high vitamin C content may inhibit calcium absorption, leading to thin egg shells. Owners of chickens should exercise caution while bringing a real tree inside the coop and consider opting for an artificial tree instead.
They should keep their chickens away from the tree if they choose a natural one, and they should pick up any branches or needles that fall to the ground. Give your flock fresh vegetables, calcium-rich supplements, and foods to help their overall health and the tensile strength of their eggshells.
Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that not all trees are safe for chickens. Some trees, particularly those in the nightshade family, are extremely toxic and should never be around chickens. Poultry owners may ensure that their flocks thrive and provide nutritious eggs by paying attention to what they consume and taking steps to protect their health.
Tips to Keep your Christmas Tree Fresh
1. Buy your tree close to the source.
Although you can cut down a small tree from the woods for your chicken run each winter, trees in the woods don’t quite resemble “Christmas trees” and require careful pruning and trimming to attain the perfect tree shape.
2. Choose the freshest tree.
Ask the dealer where the trees came from and roughly when they were cut if you find yourself in a tree lot.
3. Shake the branches.
Once you’ve decided on what you believe to be the perfect tree, check the needles to make sure they are brilliant green and don’t seem to be beginning to dry up.
Shake the branches vigorously to count the number of needles that fall off. Pine needles should not fall off a fresh tree.
4. Cut off the bottom.
Regardless of where you buy your tree from or when you cut it down, you should make a fresh, new cut across the tree’s base right before you put it in the base and fill it with water. Set up your tree as soon as you come home to give it a drink of water straight away and to give the impression that it is still in the ground.
Set your tree in a pail of water outside, inside the garage, or in the barn to keep it hydrated if you can’t put it up in the house right away. Note: Your Christmas tree should remain fresh well into the new year if you follow these easy instructions; after that, you can add it to your chicken coop.
Only use a tree you have identified as safe for chickens, as you could find some species highly toxic when chickens eat pine needles from these.
Using Christmas Trees After the Holiday
When you’re ready to take down your tree and have removed the lights, decorations, garlands, and other finishing touches, think about giving the tree a second chance. Ensure it isn’t treated with pesticides or other chemicals to avoid health problems.
For Livestock
Both goats and chickens will appreciate the tree if you raise them. Chickens enjoy perching on the tree in their chicken run, and it’s a great idea for ducks to nap beneath the branches. Both goats and chickens love to eat the needles.
As Mulch
To use the branches as mulch for your garden beds, shrubs, or bushes, trim them. Some plants, like rhododendrons, blueberries, and azaleas, prefer acidic soil and will benefit from having pine branches placed around their bases as if they were on the forest floor.
To generate mulch for your garden or compost pile, you can slice up the tree trunk or run it through a wood chipper to cut it into small pieces. (Read Can Chickens Eat Peas)
FAQs
What Animal Eats Christmas Trees Besides Chickens:
In addition to chickens, other animals that may eat an old tree include goats, sheep, deer, and rabbits. Because they are typically kept as livestock, these mammals may perceive the Christmas tree as a feed source.
It’s important to remember that some Christmas tree trees can contain harmful chemicals and that not all of them are suitable foods for animal consumption. Such plants should never make up the bulk of their feed and ensure your birds don’t start to like the taste of these trees over their regular healthy foods.
Are Christmas Trees Safe for Chickens?
As chickens tend to scratch and dig up roots, you can plant trees or shrubs in their run or around your yard if they free-range. However, ensure you protect the base of each plant. Alternatively, you might build a tiny chicken coop out of dead plants like old Christmas trees or tree-pruning branches for your birds.
Are pine trees poisonous to chickens?
Pine needles are entirely safe for your chickens to use in their run, coop, or nesting boxes, even though there is some debate about whether or not pine shavings are toxic.
Why do chickens like Christmas trees?
The trees provide diversion and create a windbreak besides offering something to peck at. It’s a good idea to ensure there are no ornaments or Christmas lights when you lay the tree in the chicken coop.
What can chickens can’t eat?
Food leftovers that are heavy in fat or salt should never be fed to hens, and food that is rancid or spoiled should never be given to them. Raw potatoes, avocado pits, chocolate, garlic, citrus fruits, uncooked rice, and uncooked beans are a few specific food types that hens shouldn’t be fed.
Although onions are frequently used in cooking, they contain a poison known as thiosulphate. Jaundice or severe anemia may result from it.
Can ducks eat Christmas trees?
Have you ever considered how great leftover Christmas trees are for chickens, goats, ducks, and even fish ponds?
