It’s no secret that chocolate cake is a delicious dessert people all over the world enjoy.
But what happens if that sweet treat goes bad or molds before you can eat it?
Can chickens eat chocolate cake that you no longer want?
The short answer is no; if you’re interested in why that is, read on because we’ll share that in more detail below.
Will Chickens Want to Eat Chocolate Cake?
Chocolate cake is usually moist, spongy, sweet-smelling, and an exciting shade of black or brown that chickens will likely find enticing.
If you have conditioned your flock of chickens to expect you to bring them delicious foods and treats, they will probably eat wherever you toss out to them with little to no hesitation.
After your flock sees one chicken take a peck, they will all be interested in trying out the new treat, creating a frenzy.
Since it is so calorie dense and highly palatable with a high amount of sugar, the chickens will likely enjoy it and make quick work of the cake or slices you provided.
Unfortunately, this immediately sets them up for failure.
The chocolate cake contains caffeine and high amounts of theobromine, which is toxic and deadly for chickens (and other fowl). It can lead to irregular heartbeats, heart palpitations, or heart failure. It also damages the kidneys. Chickens will lose a lot of liquid in the process and can quickly experience dehydration.
Coffee, sugar, and excess salt are also bad for chickens, and each ingredient often appears in traditional chocolate and chocolate coffee cakes.
This makes the chocolate cake even more dangerous for your birds.
If you want to learn more about appropriate foods (and other dangerous treats) for chickens, be sure to read The Definitive List of Chicken Treats: What Can Chickens Eat?
The Chocolate Cake Nutrition Profile
Yes, chocolate cake is bad for chickens and should not be given to them. But what does the nutrition profile look like? Let’s take a look. One slice of chocolate cake (weighing 109 grams) is approximately:
- 424 Calories
- 58 grams of carbohydrates
- 44 grams of sugar
- 22 grams of fat
- 3.8 grams of protein
- 2.4 grams of fiber
- 379 milligrams of sodium
- 249 milligrams of potassium
- 33 milligrams of calcium
- 6.5 grams of caffeine
- 3 milligrams of iron
The Specific Nutrition Needs of a Chicken
| Nutrition Item | Amount Present in a Slice of Chocolate Cake | How Much a Chicken Needs Per Day |
| Protein | 3.8 grams | 17 grams, for a light breed hen, or 23 grams for growing broilers |
| Fat | 22 grams | 6 grams |
| Fiber | 2.4 grams | 3 grams |
Is It Safe For Chickens To Eat Chocolate Cake?
It is not safe for chickens to eat chocolate cake.
The theobromine, caffeine, sugar content, and even salt used in chocolate cake is unhealthy in the best case scenario and deadly in the worst case scenario.
Your chickens may experience mild discomfort or die in less than an hour after consumption.
Because of this, it would be your birds’ best interest to reserve chocolate cake for elsewhere.
If you have pigs on your homestead, consider offering the chocolate cake to them instead, because they can handle chocolate, caffeine, and sugar in limited quantities.