Banana Peels Are Beneficial for Chickens

Yes! Not only can chickens can eat banana peels and bananas, but both add substantial nutrients for healthier chickens and egg production!

Banana peels have been successfully used as a partial replacement for maize in chicken feed. The result was increased egg production (at around 18% and no more than 25% banana peels vs. the corn meal), and decreased food costs for a huge win-win in the health and well-being for the chickens, for families with chickens, as well as for chicken farmers.^[1]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311932.2022.2116803^[2]https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4728&context=igc

Dried banana peel can replace up to 18% of white maize grain economically without affecting body weight and egg quality of chicken.

REFERENCE: Study published online: 04 Sep 2022 on effects of banana peels as substitute for white maize grain

The Peels of Bananas Provide Antioxidant Benefits for Chickens

Another benefit of chickens eating banana peels are the numerous nutrients and antioxidants properties contained.^[3]https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/catalog/6945056 It’s sobering to consider that this free, nutrient rich food typically ending up in landfills discarded as garbage!

If you’re making your own organic compost, then chances are good that you’re already adding banana peels to your compost pile, which is great.

Banana peels, raw or as dried and powdered, has potent antioxidant capacity and dietary supplementation as a feed additive.

REFERENCE: Study on antioxidant capacity of banana peel in broiler chickens.

Researched Benefits on Banana Peels for Chickens

A study using fermented banana peels (FBP) and dried banana peels (DBP), resulted in healthier hens and eggs:^[4]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31760563/^[5]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311932.2022.2116803

• NUTRIENT RICH – banana peels are high in:
  • vitamins A, C, B6, and B12
  • potassium
  • magnesium
  • antioxidants
• EGG QUALITY – Use of banana peel meal in place of 5-25% yellow corn in chicken feed showed:^[6] … Continue reading –
  • 49% increase in vitamin A levels
  • Thicker shells
  • Brighter yolks (indicative of more vitamin A)
  • No change in cholesterol
  • No change in fatty acid content
• EGG PRODUCTION – study showed increased egg production and quality at no more than 18% supplementation.^[7]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311932.2022.2116803
• CHICKEN HEALTH – studies show that fermented banana peel nutrients were found to help:^[8]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31760563/
  • positive increase in blood hemoglobin
  • decrease in uric acid levels, which can contribute to gout in chickens and in humans who consume them
  • decrease coliform population in the ileum

For more possible benefits, see our article on banana peel benefits.

A scientific studies revealed that banana peel powder (BPP) fed to chickens exerted a potent antioxidant effect at 5% of the main diet.

REFERENCE: 10/3/2019 study on Antioxidant capacity of banana peel… for broiler chickens.

How to Feed Banana Peels to Chickens

• Whole bananas
• Chopped bananas
• Whole banana peels
• Chopped banana peels

You can find videos by chicken owners on YouTube that show you their methods of feeding banana peels to chickens. When feeding chickens whole bananas, they can make very quick work of pecking through the skin to the fruit within, consuming all along the way.

For feeding just banana peels, depending on the chicken’s customary diet, most chickens will tend to consume banana peels. Unless they’re used to just the fruit.

For example, my friend, Adriana, has chickens and she said their chickens are so spoiled that they tend to eat the fruit more than the peels. See some of Adriana’s pampered — and beloved — chickens in the photo below, and more in her article on raising backyard chickens.

If Your Chickens Won’t Eat Banana Peels

However, if your chickens won’t eat the peels alone, you can try acclimating them to it by given them whole bananas or sliced whole bananas. Chances are they’ll pick through and eat the peel and the pulp.

The bottom line is that there’s no one way, as different chicken owners regularly use different approaches without issues.

It’s to your — and your chickens’ — benefit to consume up to 25% of banana peels. Their benefit for health, and yours in savings on feed. In other words, free food! See more banana peels benefits here.

So another approach if you have picky chickens is to blend banana peels or whole chopped bananas in a food processor and feed that finely chopped or ground pulp to your chickens.

Banana peels ar a nutritious free food source for chickens.

Can Baby Chicks Eat Banana Peels and Bananas

Yes, baby chicks can also eat banana peels and bananas in moderation. However, if feeding banana peels to baby chicks, it’s best to shred the banana peels in a food processor, or chop to dice small for easier consumption and digestibility.

41.25 Tons of Benefits

In 2021, global bananas production reached close to 125 million tons. That’s ~41.25 tons of banana peels! Science has proven that this waste now has many benefits.

REFERENCE: Statista.com on the volume of bananas produce worldwide

You may enjoy perusing our full article on banana peels benefits you can put to use for your plants, animals and people!

Real Examples of Chickens Eating Banana Peels

Okay, but beyond the scientifically proven benefits, to chickens LIKE banana peels?

Yes! Most chickens will eat banana peels, especially if they’re given those first. In other words, if they’re hungry, they love them. If they’re full or regularly fed the banana pulp instead, then they may turn their beak up at it just the peel.

Yes, You Can Give Chickens Whole Bananas!

See More Banana Peel Benefits

• Banana Peels Benefits
• Disadvantages & Benefits of Banana Water for Plants
• How to Dry Banana Peels

Yes, Chickens Will Eat Banana Peels!

This video shows chickens enthusiastically eating banana peels.