Updated: December 2025 • Best for: backyard flocks • Goal: safe holiday enrichment
Giving Your Chickens a Christmas Tree After Christmas: A Complete Do’s & Don’ts Holiday Guide
Yes—chickens can enjoy a real Christmas tree after Christmas.
The key is simple: untreated tree + no decorations + smart placement.
- • Only use a real tree (fir/pine/spruce).
- • Only use a tree with no chemicals (no flocking, sprays, preservatives, fire retardants).
- • Remove everything that isn’t wood or needles (hooks, lights, ribbon, tags, wire).
Table of contents
- Why chickens love Christmas trees
- Is it safe? The “tree safety” checklist
- Do’s
- Don’ts
- Best ways to set up the tree in your run
- How long to leave the tree out
- Mistletoe: is it safe for chickens?
- Other holiday plants that are NOT chicken-safe
- Christmas decoration hazards
- Holiday food scraps chickens should avoid
- Holiday stress: visitors, noise, dogs
- Cold-weather holiday mistakes
- After-Christmas clean-up tips
- Where my herb blends fit in
- FAQ
- Printable checklists + charts
Tip: Click any section to jump. This article uses short paragraphs + lots of bullets for easy reading.
Why chickens love Christmas trees
Chickens are curious. When you add something new, they explore it fast.
What a tree gives your flock
- • Enrichment: new smells + textures + “something to do”
- • Foraging fun: scratches under branches feel like a mini-forest floor
- • Winter shelter: a windbreak pocket in the run
- • Boredom relief: helps reduce winter pecking drama
Why winter enrichment matters
Winter flocks often have less space and less stimulation.
Boredom can lead to:- • feather picking
- • bullying
- • restless pacing
Is it safe? The “tree safety” checklist
A real tree can be safe. The risks usually come from what was added to it.
Tree safety checklist ✅
- • Real tree only (fir, pine, or spruce).
- • No flocking (fake snow). No sprays. No preservatives. No fire retardants.
- • All decorations removed: hooks, ribbon, wire, tags, lights, garland.
- • Tree goes in the run (not inside the coop).
- • Supervise the first 10–15 minutes.
- • Assume it was treated.
- • Don’t give it to your chickens.
Do’s: how to give your chickens a Christmas tree safely
Do these things ✅
- • Use a real tree and keep it outdoors once it’s “for the flock.”
- • Remove every non-tree item (hooks, wire, tags, lights, ribbon).
- • Place it on the ground so chickens can scratch around it.
- • Supervise early to watch for:
- • bullying over the “tree fort”
- • repeated needle-eating
- • hidden metal hooks
- • Keep it dry and remove it if it gets soggy or musty.
Don’ts: what to avoid
Don’t do these things ❌
- • Don’t use artificial trees (plastic + wire = swallowing hazard).
- • Don’t use flocked or sprayed trees (chemical risk).
- • Don’t put the tree inside the coop (moisture + mess + harder monitoring).
- • Don’t leave the tree out for weeks in wet weather (mold risk).
- • Don’t ignore chewing: if a chicken repeatedly eats needles, remove the tree.
Best ways to set up the tree in your run
• Pick the setup that matches your space. Keep it easy to remove.
Option A: Lay it flat (scratch zone)
- • Best for foraging and boredom relief
- • Easy to drag out later
Option B: Lean it against a fence (windbreak)
- • Creates a sheltered pocket
- • Stake lightly if it tips
Option C: Cut branches and scatter (multiple zones)
- • Reduces “guarding” behavior
- • Spreads enrichment around the run
Option D: “Tree fort” (short-term)
- • Fun, but supervise early to prevent bullying
- • Best for calm flocks
How long should chickens keep the Christmas tree?
Most flocks get the best enrichment in the first few days.
After that, the decision is about moisture and mold risk.
Mistletoe: is mistletoe safe for chickens?
No. Mistletoe is not safe for chickens.
It’s a common holiday decoration, and it should stay far away from your flock.
Why mistletoe is risky:
- It contains compounds that can cause poisoning symptoms.
- Berries are especially dangerous, but leaves and stems are also unsafe.
- Dried mistletoe is still unsafe.
Note: This is general education, not medical diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet.
