Can Chickens Eat Turkey Carcass, Feed, or Leftovers?

Can chickens eat turkey carcasses, feed, or leftovers from your last turkey dinner? I’m answering all these questions from my own personal experience. If you want to learn more, I also wrote an article on how to raise chickens for cheap, how and when to clean farm fresh eggs, and how much space do chickens need in a coop.

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Being intentional about what your backyard flocks eat is a good idea. I tend to err on the side of being as close to nature as possible. And whenever possible, I don’t give my turkeys or backyard chickens any bagged poultry food that I have to buy off the farm.

Pretty much the only time I “feed” my chickens bagged poultry feed is when they are confined either as babies or when I’m collecting chicken eggs to incubate. But since organic chicken feed is expensive, it’s more budget-friendly to let our chickens free range and forage for their own food.

Kitchen scraps are always available, along with bugs and seeds that are common in our outdoor area. That’s what I prefer my poultry animals eat.

A group of chickens walking around in a green yard with stone pathway.

Can Chickens Eat Turkey?

Yes, chickens can eat turkey. Chickens are omnivores that eat a mixture of meat, bugs, seeds, fruit, and vegetables. It’s natural and safe to feed chickens turkey carcasses, turkey feed, and turkey leftovers with only a few exceptions.

I’ll go over the exceptions, below.

Woman pulling a turkey carcass out of a large stock pot.

Can Chickens Eat Turkey Carcasses?

Yes, chickens can eat turkey carcasses. Chickens are omnivores and naturally eat different meats. It’s safe to give chickens your leftover turkey carcasses. The only exception is to avoid moldy, stinky, or rotting meat. You don’t want to give your chickens bad meat that will make them sick.

As long as the turkey carcass is fresh, recently cooked, or recently boiled for turkey stock, you’re good to go.

Turkeys walking behind a stainless steel harvesting table and boiling water pot outside.

In nature, poultry often eat carcasses from other animals. When we harvest our turkeys on our farm, our chickens walk close by and nibble on some of the extra parts that we don’t use.

I don’t have a problem with chickens eating turkey carcasses or turkeys eating chicken carcasses. It’s a special treat for them. However, I don’t let them eat their own kind. That seems really wrong to me.

A red and white three-slot chicken feeder sitting on the ground with turkey feed inside.

Can Chickens Eat Turkey Feed?

Yes, chickens can eat turkey feed. Both animals are poultry and both have similar tastes and needs. Chickens don’t need quite as much protein that’s in turkey feed, but it won’t hurt them to have it. I’ll go over some exceptions below.

Although we prefer to not feed our chickens and turkeys when they are able to forage for their own food, we do use a feeder when we go out of town. Sometimes we put turkey feed inside, and sometimes the chickens eat small amounts of the turkey feed. Most of the time, though, the chickens and turkeys avoid it altogether to hunt for worms and bugs in the yard.

Turkey feed is higher in protein and other essential nutrients than chicken feed. Turkeys need a 30% protein starter, and about 14% protein once they’re fully grown. The nutritional value varies between breeds, so do some research in advance.

In contrast, chickens need roughly a 20% protein starter (more if they are a meat bird). And they need about 15% protein once they’re fully grown and laying eggs.

If you keep your chickens in a stationary coop, it won’t hurt them to get turkey feed every now and then. I wouldn’t make it a habit, though. It’s best to give your chickens the balanced diet their bodies need. Especially when they are babies.

A group of turkeys walking on green grass.

Can Chickens Eat Turkey Leftovers?

Yes, chickens can eat your turkey leftovers. So whether it’s left over from Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday or family gathering, save your scraps to feed your chickens! I’ll go over the exceptions, though.

I love leftovers, and so does my family. While the dogs get most of the table scraps around here, sometimes the scraps go to the chickens. Especially if there are large amounts of scraps left over from holidays.

It’s completely fine to give your chickens leftover turkey meat, as long as it’s not too old or moldy. You don’t want to give your chickens bad meat that might make them sick.

Chickens are omnivores and will eat fresh carcasses of other animals in the wild. That’s natural for them. What’s not natural is for chickens to eat rancid meat. Leave bad meat for the vultures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Thanksgiving leftovers can chickens have?

Chickens can eat most of the Thanksgiving leftovers you have. Leftover turkey meat, cranberry sauce, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, leftover sweet potatoes, and all the vegetables. Just be sure to avoid too much citrus fruit, if that was on your Thanksgiving menu. Citrus isn’t harmful in small amounts, but too much can cause digestive issues and reduce calcium absorption.

Can chickens eat turkey eggs?

Yes, chickens can eat turkey eggs. They can be either cooked or uncooked. Give them the shell, too! The shell is high in calcium and can be a replacement for oyster shell, which is a supplement that most chicken keepers give their flocks to support strong chicken eggs.

Can chickens eat turkey skin?

Yes, chickens can eat turkey skin. Turkey skin is a bit fattier than chicken skin, in my experience. Especially if you raise your own turkeys and let them forage for their own food. Be careful when introducing new food to your backyard flock. Small amounts of new food shouldn’t hurt them, but if you switch out their regular feed with something completely different, it may cause digestive upsets and loose stools.