Quick answer: Yes, chickens can eat eggplant, but only the ripe fruit. The flesh, skin and seeds of a ripe eggplant are safe, while the leaves, stems, flowers, green cap (calyx) and unripe fruit contain solanine and should never be fed.
Treat it like any other garden extra: a few chunks now and then, not a meal. My flock goes wild for it, and in late summer when our plants are loaded, the overflow goes straight to the run.
My husband and I grow eggplant (aubergine) from seed every year, and we almost always have more than we can eat. Here is exactly how I feed it, which parts I throw away, and how much is too much.
Which Parts of an Eggplant Can Chickens Eat?
Eggplant is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), the same family as tomatoes, potatoes and peppers. Nightshade plants make natural defense chemicals called glycoalkaloids, and solanine is the best known. These are concentrated in the green, growing parts of the plant and in fruit that is not ripe yet.
As the fruit ripens, its glycoalkaloid level drops, which is why the ripe eggplant you buy at the store is fine for people and for chickens. Use this table as your cheat sheet:
| Part of the eggplant | Safe for chickens? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe flesh (raw) | Yes | The main safe part. Cut it up or halve it. |
| Ripe flesh (cooked) | Yes | Plain only, with no salt, oil, garlic or onion. |
| Skin / peel | Yes | Fine from a ripe fruit. Wash it first. |
| Seeds | Yes | The small soft seeds in a ripe eggplant are not a problem. |
| Green cap (calyx) and stem | No | Cut off and compost (where your hens cannot reach). |
| Leaves | No | Highest risk part. Keep hens out of the eggplant bed. |
| Flowers | No | Part of the green plant, so treat it like the leaves. |
| Unripe (green, hard) fruit | No | Wait until it is fully ripe and glossy. |
| Moldy or rotten eggplant | No | Mold can make chickens sick. Toss it. |
Is Eggplant Safe for Chickens?
Yes, as long as you stick to the ripe fruit. We feed our extra ripe eggplants to our hens every summer. The risk comes from the plant, not the vegetable on your cutting board.
Most chickens will not seek out eggplant leaves, but a bored or hungry hen will peck at almost anything. That is why I fence our eggplant bed off when the flock is free-ranging, and why I never toss whole plants into the run at the end of the season.
What Is Solanine and Why Is It Bad for Chickens?
Solanine is a glycoalkaloid toxin found throughout the nightshade family. In large enough amounts it irritates the gut and affects the nervous system. NC State Extension notes that only the fruit and seeds of the eggplant are edible, while the leaves, flowers, stems and roots contain alkaloids including solanine and are poisonous.
Signs of nightshade poisoning to watch for
- Drowsiness, weakness or wobbly walking
- Diarrhea or loss of appetite
- Drooling or trouble breathing
- A hen that hides away and stops acting like herself
If you think a chicken has eaten a lot of eggplant leaves or green fruit, move her somewhere quiet, give fresh water, and call a vet who sees poultry. I also keep a basic list of signs my chickens are sick handy, because catching problems early makes all the difference.
Eggplant Nutrition Benefits for Chickens
Eggplant is mostly water (about 92%), so think of it as a hydrating, low-calorie snack rather than a power food. According to USDA FoodData Central, one cup of raw eggplant has about 20 calories and roughly 2.5 g of fiber, plus small amounts of these nutrients:
| Nutrient | Why it matters for chickens |
|---|---|
| Fiber | Supports digestion and can help keep bored hens busy instead of pecking each other. |
| Potassium | Helps hens cope with heat stress and keeps them drinking in hot weather. |
| Vitamin B6 | Needed for a healthy appetite; a lack can lead to anemia and nervous behavior. |
| Manganese | Important for bone development and eggshell quality. |
| Folate | Supports feather growth and healthy blood. |
| Vitamin K | Helps blood clot properly if a hen gets a cut. |
| Thiamine and niacin | B vitamins that support appetite, skin and digestion. |
| Copper | Helps prevent anemia. |
None of these amounts are big enough to fix a deficiency. A complete layer feed already covers your flock’s vitamins and minerals. If you are worried your hens are missing something, my guide to common vitamin deficiencies in chickens covers the warning signs.
How Much Eggplant Can Chickens Eat?
Treats of any kind, eggplant included, should stay at or under about 10% of what your chickens eat in a day. Purina’s poultry nutritionists call this the 90/10 rule: 90% complete feed, 10% treats.
In practice, that looks like this for my flock:
| Flock size | How much ripe eggplant | How often |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 hens | 2 to 3 small chunks each, or a quarter of a small eggplant to share | 1 to 2 times a week |
| 4 to 6 hens | Half a medium eggplant, halved or cubed | 1 to 2 times a week |
| 10 or more hens | 1 whole medium eggplant, cut into several pieces and spread out | 1 to 2 times a week |
A standard-size laying hen eats roughly a quarter pound of feed a day (bantams eat less), so a little eggplant goes a long way. Read how much to feed chickens per day if you want the full breakdown.
How to Feed Eggplant to Chickens
- Pick a fully ripe eggplant. It should be glossy, heavy for its size, and give slightly when pressed. Skip hard, green or moldy ones.
- Cut off the cap and stem. Remove the green calyx at the top and any stem. Throw away any leaves.
- Wash it. Especially if it came from the store, since the skin may have been handled or sprayed.
- Halve it or cube it. I set two halves cut side up on the grass so the hens can peck at the soft middle. Small cubes work well mixed with other veggies.
- Spread it out for bigger flocks. Cut it into four or more pieces so the bottom of the pecking order gets a turn.
- Try a hanging treat. String a halved eggplant up in the run. It keeps them busy for ages on boring days.
- Clean up leftovers. Remove anything not eaten by evening so it does not attract rats or start to rot.
Here is a video of my chickens eating eggplant from our garden.
Do Chickens Like Eggplant?
Mine do. They head straight for the soft middle of a halved eggplant, as you can see in the video above. Every flock is different, though. If yours are unsure, try cooked eggplant, which is softer and sweeter, or cube it small and mix it with a favorite like pumpkin.
Can Chickens Eat Cooked Eggplant?
Yes. Plain roasted, steamed or boiled eggplant is safe and many hens actually prefer it because it is soft. Cooking does not make the leaves or unripe fruit safe, so the same rules about which parts to use still apply.
Skip leftovers like eggplant parmesan, baba ganoush or stir-fries. Those usually have salt, oil, cheese, garlic or onion. Too much salt is dangerous for chickens, so only share eggplant that was cooked plain.
Can Chickens Eat Raw Eggplant?
Yes, raw ripe eggplant is safe. It is firmer and a little bitter, so some chickens are less keen on it raw. Cutting it into small cubes helps.
Can Chickens Eat Eggplant Skin, Peels and Seeds?
Yes. The skin and peel of a ripe eggplant are safe, and the small soft seeds inside are not harmful either. If you are prepping eggplant for dinner, the peels and ends (minus the green cap) make a perfectly good treat for the run.
Can Chickens Eat Eggplant Leaves or Plants?
No. Eggplant leaves, stems and flowers are the most toxic parts of the plant. Do not throw spent eggplant plants into the run at the end of the season, and do not let free-range hens graze the eggplant bed. The same goes for tomato and potato plants. My post on what chickens cannot eat covers the other nightshades and foods to avoid.
Can Chickens Eat Unripe (Green) Eggplant?
No. Unripe eggplant holds more glycoalkaloids than ripe fruit. If a fruit drops off the plant before it is ready, compost it in a closed bin instead of feeding it.
Can Baby Chicks Eat Eggplant?
I wait until chicks are at least a few weeks old and eating chick starter well before offering any treats. After that, a tiny amount of mashed, cooked, ripe eggplant is fine, along with chick grit. Starter feed should still be almost everything they eat.
Should I Keep Chickens Away From the Eggplants in My Garden?
If your chickens free-range, yes. Most hens are not interested in the leaves, but they will happily scratch up young plants and peck at low-hanging fruit. A simple fence or a row of chicken wire around the bed solves it. I share a few more tips on letting your flock roam safely in my guide on how to free-range chickens.
Tomatoes are nightshades too, and our chickens leave both the tomato leaves and the eggplants alone. Even so, I would rather be safe than lose a hen.
Final Thoughts
Ripe eggplant flesh, skin and seeds are a safe, hydrating treat. Leaves, stems, flowers, the green cap and unripe fruit are not. Keep it to a few chunks a couple of times a week, and let a good layer feed do the heavy lifting.
Looking for other healthy extras from the garden? My list of the best greens for chickens and my post on Swiss chard are good next reads.
Keep reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Can chickens eat eggplant?
Yes, chickens can eat ripe eggplant. The flesh, skin and seeds of a ripe eggplant are safe. The leaves, stems, flowers, green cap (calyx) and unripe fruit contain solanine and should not be fed. Offer eggplant as an occasional treat, keeping all treats to about 10% of the diet.
Can chickens have eggplant leaves?
No. Eggplant leaves are the most toxic part of the plant because eggplant is a nightshade and its green parts hold the highest levels of solanine and related glycoalkaloids. Keep chickens out of the eggplant bed and never put spent plants in the run.
Which parts of an eggplant are poisonous to chickens?
The leaves, stems, flowers, green calyx and unripe green fruit are the parts to avoid. These contain solanine. The ripe fruit, including its skin and seeds, is the safe part, so cut off the cap and stem before feeding.
Can chickens eat cooked eggplant?
Yes, as long as it is cooked plain with no salt, oil, garlic, onion or cheese. Many hens prefer cooked eggplant because it is softer. Cooking does not make leaves or unripe fruit safe.
Can chickens eat eggplant skin and seeds?
Yes. The skin, peel and seeds of a ripe eggplant are safe for chickens. Wash the eggplant and remove the green cap and stem first.
How much eggplant can I give my chickens?
A few small chunks per hen, one or two times a week, is plenty. For a flock of four to six hens, half a medium eggplant is a good serving. Treats of all kinds should stay at or under about 10% of what chickens eat each day.
