The Short Answer
Raw potato peels are dangerous, and even cooked ones aren’t great. Potatoes are another member of the nightshade family, and their peels concentrate the toxin solanine — especially when they’re green, sprouted, or raw. Cooked potato flesh is safer (score: 65), but the peels themselves are a risk your flock doesn’t need.
The Solanine Problem
Solanine is a glycoalkaloid that the potato plant produces as a natural defense against pests. It’s concentrated in the skin, eyes, and sprouts of the potato — essentially all the parts people tend to toss into the scrap bucket for their chickens.
Green coloring on a potato isn’t just cosmetic. That green tint means the potato has been exposed to light, triggering increased solanine production. Green potatoes score just 5 on our safety scale, and raw green peelings score an alarming 3. This is firmly in Dangerous — Do not feed territory.
Solanine isn’t fully destroyed by cooking, either. Heat reduces it somewhat, but cooked peels still carry more solanine than cooked potato flesh. That’s why cooked peels score 55 (caution range) while cooked potato flesh scores a more reasonable 65.
What the Scores Tell You
- Raw green potato peelings (score: 3) — Extremely dangerous. Never feed these.
- Green potatoes (score: 5) — Toxic. The green means solanine overload.
- Potato eyes/sprouts (score: 5) — Concentrated solanine. Remove and discard.
- Raw potato (score: 10) — Dangerous and hard to digest.
- Cooked potato peels (score: 55) — Caution zone. Some risk remains.
- Cooked potato flesh (score: 65) — Generally safe in moderation, with skin removed.
Symptoms of Solanine Poisoning in Chickens
Solanine attacks the nervous and digestive systems. Watch for:
- Diarrhea and digestive upset
- Drowsiness and lethargy
- Trembling or muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination
- Labored breathing
- In severe cases, paralysis or death
Symptoms typically appear within a few hours of ingestion. If you suspect solanine poisoning, contact an avian vet promptly.
The Sweet Potato Alternative
Here’s the good news: sweet potatoes are an entirely different plant and are excellent for chickens. Despite the name, sweet potatoes belong to the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), not the nightshade family. They contain zero solanine.
Cooked sweet potato scores a fantastic 90 on our safety scale — one of the best treats you can offer your flock. It’s packed with beta-carotene, vitamin A, and fiber. Cook it, mash it up, and watch your chickens go wild. Even the skins are safe once cooked.
The Bottom Line
Cooked potato peels score 55 on our safety scale — in the Caution tier — and raw green peelings plummet to just 3, deep in the Dangerous zone. The safest move is to keep all potato scraps out of the coop, especially anything green, sprouted, or raw. If you want to share a starchy treat with your flock, reach for a sweet potato instead — all the comfort, none of the risk.