For those who own chickens and keep them as a part of their family, we’re always looking for things to feed them as alternatives to the same old ho-hum.
One of the things my wife pulled out while digging through our house were craisins and cranberries.
Of course, I don’t like to just feed my chickens random food without checking on it first, and here’s what I found.
Chickens can eat craisins and cranberries safely in small doses. They make great treats due to their high fiber while being relatively low in sugar. Craisins are a little less healthy than normal cranberries due to the lower amount of water in the fruit. Feed these as a treat and not a staple.
Let’s dive into this topic.
Table of Contents
Can Chickens Eat Craisins?
Chickens can eat craisins safely even though it’s an odd treat.
The biggest concern with this fruit is the amount of sugar to water ratio.
The drying process removes some water and nutrition, but eating this in smaller amounts poses no danger.
Being high in fiber, many owners enjoy watching their birds gobble up these sweet treats.
Another thing to consider is added sugars and preservatives.
Some craisins have extras in them that your chickens don’t need.
Opt for all-natural craisins if at all possible to ensure a healthier option for this treat.
Natural cranberries are much better, but if you have some extra craisins, feel free to share.
Craisin Health Information
For those who like the details, here is the nutrition information for 100g of craisins.
| Part of Nutrition | Amount |
| Calories | 335 |
| Carbs | 83 g |
| Fiber | 5.7 g |
| Sugar | 65 g |
| Fat | 1.4 g |
Source: Carb Manager
Can Chickens Eat Cranberries?
Cranberries are an healthy snack and treat for your chickens.
They are high in fiber, high in water (90% actually!), and relatively low in sugar compared to many other fruits.
These come naturally in the wild, so chickens can eat these in reasonable amounts without any problems.
Leaves, stems, and the fruit itself are safe and sound.
As with craisins, take care when buying packaged cranberries to ensure there aren’t many added sugars.
Cranberry Health Information
Check out the details here for 100 g of natural cranberries:
| Nutrition Part | Amount |
| Calories | 46 |
| Protein | 0.4 g |
| Carbs | 12.2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Fiber | 4.6 g |
Source: Healthline
Benefits Of Craisins And Cranberries For Chickens
There’s a lot good about this little fruit. Let’s look at some of the most important reasons you’ll want to use this as a treat.
Antioxidants
Cranberries and, to a lesser extent, craisins are filled with antioxidants.
Antioxidants are as good for chickens as they are for humans.
Main benefits include:
- Fight off radical cells (which cause diseases such as cancer)
- Boost immune system
- Strengthen cells
- Provide more energy
Nutritionally, one of the best ways to get more antioxidants is through fruits. Berries, such as cranberries, are some of the best fruits too!
Vitamin C And E
Along this line, cranberries have reasonable amounts of vitamin C and E.
These help strengthen the immune system and help chickens stay robust and disease-free.
High In Fiber
Fiber is critical for your chicken’s health.
For these birds, it’s one of the best and most essential nutrients.
It aids in digestion, and fiber makes the body absorb more of the other nutrients from food.
Many poultry experts say the chicken diet should include something around 10% of fiber to improve health.
If you’re like us and raise chickens for eggs, fiber is an absolute must and helps produce good eggs.
Offers Some Variety In Flavor
Chickens are omnivores in every sense of the word and will eat pretty much anything they can reach (even if it’s not safe for them!).
This being said, a lot of people who own many chickens will just give them commercial chicken feed.
And this is perfectly OK!
They can live a long and healthy life with this feed and some vitamin/mineral supplements.
But truth be told, this is pretty boring.
Giving some variety in flavors by adding fresh fruits and veggies like cranberries and craisins will make them happier.
Plus, it’s fun to see how excited they get!
Low In Fat
Some fruits are higher in fats, but berries, and specifically cranberries, aren’t.
This puts them in the perfect middle ground for a regular fruit to feed your chickens.
Low In Sugar*
Too much sugar isn’t suitable for any animal, and chickens are no exception.
Cranberries and natural craisins aren’t that high in sugar compared to many other fruits, so it’s OK to feed them larger amounts of this fruit.
Of course, if you buy prepackaged berries, there’s a chance the manufacturer added some sugars and preservatives, so be sure to read the nutrition guide for added ingredients or get them from a local farmer.
What To Watch For In Craisins For Chickens
It’s not all sunshine and roses in the craisin department. Here are a few things to be aware of about the dried version of this fruit.
Added Sugar
Most craisins come with added sugars. In some cases, they have sky-high amounts compared to the natural version.
Sugars will mess with the chickens’ bodies, potentially causing disease and obesity.
Less Water
Water is the key to all life on this planet, and it’s a critical part of a healthy chicken.
Cranberries have a lot of water, but in craisins, the water is gone.
This takes away one of its main draws.
Less Nutrition
The same dehydration process that pulls out the water also removes some of the nutrition. In the same amount of craisins compared to cranberries, you’ll have less fiber and less vitamin C and E.
Not A Staple
The dirty truth is this:
While craisins aren’t bad for chickens, they aren’t really good either.
They shouldn’t be used as any kind of staple fruit because they’re kind of a waste of calories.
As a treat, it’s just fine, and chickens will enjoy the variety in flavor.
But in terms of value, it’s better to opt for the authentic and natural cranberry when possible.