Can Horses Eat Chicken Feed? (Revealed!)

The answer to this question is no, horses can’t eat chicken feed. Chicken feed can be extremely harmful to horses as it contains many ingredients that horses are not meant to consume. Horses also have extremely sensitive digestive systems, so anything other than hay or grass can cause problems for them.

In this article we’ll take a look at what chicken feed is and why it’s harmful to horses.

We’ll also answer the following:

• Can horses eat medicated chicken feed?
• Can horses eat unmedicated chicken feed?
• Can horses eat unprocessed chicken feed?

We will also take a look at what to do if a horse eats chicken feed.

Let’s not waste any time and get right into answering these questions!

What is chicken feed?

Chicken feed is a food mixture made specifically to feed the complex nutritional needs of chickens.

It comes in several different forms to suit the specific needs of different chickens – which can vary depending on age and weight – but it is generally a mixture of mineral, protein, and vitamin supplements, as well as various grains.

Chicken feed can be either medicated or unmedicated and it is best to be aware of the difference so that if your horse eats some of it, you are able to best inform the vet of the situation.

Is chicken feed toxic to horses?

Chicken feed is toxic to horses as it contains many ingredients that are healthy for chickens and other birds, but that horses should avoid.

Horses can develop chicken feed toxicity and become very unwell, which can be fatal in the worst-case scenario.

Generally, chicken feed is referred to as a “slow poison” for horses, as continued exposure to it causes health problems in the long run.

Why is chicken feed harmful to horses?

So, why exactly is chicken feed harmful to horses?

Firstly, chickens are omnivores – which means they eat both meat and plants – whereas horses are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants and vegetation.

Since chickens eat both meat and plants, they have entirely different dietary requirements from horses.

For example, chickens require a much higher protein content in their food than horses – which is usually one of the main supplements in chicken feed and is often derived from meat.

Horses are not made to digest meat and so ingesting it can cause them some severe digestive problems, including colic, laminitis, heart failure and even death.

Another reason why chicken feed is harmful to horses is that it is often medicated and contain ingredients that are poisonous to horses and other larger animals.

Finally, chicken feed contains many healthy supplements such as iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc – which are all beneficial for horses.

However, the measurements are specifically tailored towards chickens, so can be unhealthy for horses.

Can horses eat medicated chicken feed?

Horses can’t eat medicated chicken feed as it is potentially the most harmful to horses.

As mentioned, some chicken feed is medicated with ingredients to treat certain health problems that chickens might have, or to protect against disease.

The most common ingredients that are added to medicated chicken feed are Lasalocid and Amprolium.

Lasalocid – also known as Bovatec – is an antibacterial ingredient, however horses in particular are extremely sensitive to toxicity from this ingredient and should be kept away from it at all costs.

Amprolium is an antibiotic used to prevent parasites in chickens and other animals, however it can also be toxic to horses, and should be avoided.

Can horses eat unmedicated chicken feed?

So, given the harmful effects of medicated chicken feed to horses, you may be wondering if horses can eat unmedicated chicken feed?

The answer is still no.

As mentioned, even unmedicated chicken feed contains ingredients that are geared towards the specific needs of chickens and not horses, so it is best avoided altogether.

Can horses eat unprocessed chicken feed?

Unprocessed chicken feed is essentially just mixed grains.

This is generally safe for horses if eaten in small quantities as they thrive on a fiber rich diet or hay and grass.

However, if you want to feed a horse grain, it is always best to check with a veterinary professional first to ensure the correct amount of each ingredient is being fed as horses have extremely sensitive digestive systems that are easily susceptible to disruption.

What should I do if a horse eats chicken feed?

Hopefully by now you are aware of the various risks posed by chicken feed to horses, but what should you do if your horse does in fact eat chicken feed?

Your first port of call should be to phone the vet immediately.

You should also pay attention to several things as it will help best inform your vet of the situation.

Firstly, what kind of chicken feed did the horse eat: medicated, unmedicated, processed etc.

If it is medicated feed, what is the main medicine in it?

This will help determine the level of risk your horse is in for toxicity and heart failure.

Secondly, try to determine exactly how much chicken feed your horse ate.

If you don’t know exactly, you should guess as best as you can.

You should also consider how long ago the feed was eaten as symptoms do not always appear immediately.

Finally, you should also be aware of your horse’s pulse rate and temperature as these could indicate health concerns.

In conclusion, horses cannot eat chicken feed.

This article has explained what chicken feed is and how some of the ingredients in it can be toxic to horses.

Medicated chicken feed is arguably the most harmful to horses, but all chicken feed should be avoided as a general rule.

If you think your horse has eaten chicken feed of any kind, you should contact your vet immediately.