Quantity
A handful of coffee grounds can contain 50-100mg of caffeine — more than enough to seriously harm a 6-pound chicken. There is no safe amount of concentrated caffeine for poultry.
Notes
The most common exposure is coffee grounds tossed into compost that chickens can access. Used coffee grounds still contain significant caffeine. Tea bags, energy drink cans, and caffeinated sodas left in the yard are other culprits. Never toss caffeine-containing items into the chicken run.
Negative Signs
* Restlessness and erratic behavior
* Rapid breathing and panting
* Increased heart rate (you may feel the chest vibrating)
* Tremors and twitching
* Seizures
* Collapse and sudden death
FAQ
Q: I've been putting coffee grounds in my compost that the chickens scratch through. How bad is that?
A: Stop immediately. Coffee grounds retain enough caffeine to be dangerous, and chickens will eat them. Either fence off your compost pile or put coffee grounds directly into garden beds where your chickens can't access them.
Alternatives
Coffee grounds make excellent garden fertilizer — just put them directly in the soil of a fenced-off garden bed, not in the compost pile your chickens scratch through.
Risks & Disclaimer
If your chickens ingested coffee grounds, tea bags, or any concentrated caffeine source, contact an avian vet. Remove the source immediately and isolate any affected birds so you can monitor them closely.
