Very useful list! Anything on this list is safe to feed and worth a try. With vitamin B1, your chicken is less likely to have ruffled feathers and muscle paralysis. Great fun—they are the chief cause of many entertaining "chicken keep away" games. She has a B.S. You may also hear the greens referred to as carrot tops, as they are the same part of the carrot. Available at pet supply stores or on the internet, A favorite treat, probably the most foolproof. Asparagus can provide folate, vitamins C, A, E, and K to your chickens. Kale contains a mélange of vitamins and minerals beneficial to chickens. When you give them these foods in the right amounts, you can rest assured that they will become healthy and highly productive. They can also help improve the condition of the chickens’ skin and make them more reproductive. allrecipes.com - Melanie Fincher. It is no doubt that these greens are rich in chlorophyll – just look at their dense, dark, green hue! April has owned and worked with domestic fowl including chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and guineas since 1998. Supplements include calcium, phosphorous, and vitamins D3 and A. Turnip Greens Asparagus is not harmful to them, but if they take too much, their eggs may have an unusual taste. But I wasn’t really sure what chickens could eat, or what they would like and dislike.. Then I found a great list at Backyardchickens.com, which tells you everything that is safe to feed your chickens, and what you should never give them.. But when the chickens are severely stressed, vitamin C is beneficial. We are in Hawaii and I have an abundance of all kinds of citrus and I was hoping to be able to supplement my chicken’s diet with all things from the garden. Yes! Hem; Nytillkomna företag; Om oss; can chickens eat carrots They don’t exactly compliment a salad, have you ever tried them? It is also essential for chickens’ immunity. Cooked only—avoid the green parts of peels! They contain calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin K. All three nutrients help chickens form strong bones and eggshells. Their teeth will rot… no, it’s just bad for their systems, and chocolate can be poisonous to most pets. You must log in or register to reply here. It is revered for its beauty,... Poultry birds have several different functions. Each control group was given either with 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 grams of ginger powder per kilogram of feed for ten weeks. The both may have the same or similar name but sweet and white potatoes are completely different from each other. Note the lightning speed of the chicken lunging for them. Some of the vitamins present in kale include vitamins A, B6, C, and K. Minerals like manganese, calcium, and potassium are also present in kale. In general, goats love to eat pasture, raisins, greens, sunflower seeds, carrots, pumpkin seeds. A big favorite and good for their digestive systems. Carrots are also very great sources of antioxidants. However its important to remove the green parts from the whit… You can feed them whole, chopped or grated and cooked or raw.You can give the greens... Can you feed carrots to chickens?Yes, All parts of the carrot is edible. A good treat, helps hens lay eggs and grow healthy feathers. Lettuce is great for chickens, but you should avoid giving them iceberg lettuce. Mustard greens are also great greens to feed your chicken. It also improves hatchability and reduces the chances of your chickens having rickets. Vitamin B6 is essential for chickens to use amino acids properly. Great reference all in one place -- thanks! Goats can be susceptible to sudden changes so introduce new plants slowly and observe. Water helps chickens with temperature regulation and digestion. Cucumber is great for chickens. The best choices among this type of chicken food include cooked beans, leafy greens, non-sugary cereals or grains, corn, berries, apples, a selection of fruits and vegetables. These 675 hens were divided into 5 separate control groups. We commonly discard the leaves because they’re corse and have a bitter taste. Carrot greens are not only safe to eat … Yellow squash not a huge favorite, but okay to feed. The ginger used in the study was given to the chickens in a variety of forms including: ginger powder, ginger root and also mixed in with water. It contains vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6. Chickens can eat celery and other kitchen scraps in moderation, but their main source of nutrition should be from their commercial feed give to them as well as when they forage for bugs and plants. I like to get a fresh ear of corn and hang it from the wire on top of their pen.....they are definitely occupied on days when they can't go out into the pasture and they love the fresh corn. The complete list of boredom busters Can Chickens Eat Carrots? If you're throwing out those bright green, bushy carrot tops every time you buy carrots, you're missing out! Zinc facilitates many functions in chickens. Onions can also negatively impact the flavor of both chicken eggs and goat milk. Favorite chameleon … For chicks, cutting them in half makes it easier for them to swallow. Since chickens can take water as much as twice their feed, greens with high water content are very good, especially during heat stress. Before we can answer the question we need to discuss the different types of potatoes. Vitamin E is beneficial in preventing neurological diseases like crazy chick disease. They’re the rare case. It can be tempting to take a pale of leftovers out to your coop and dump everything right into their feed dish. It is also important for nerve function in chickens. Here are BYC member Punkin's girls enjoying their first taste of yogurt in June 2008: This is a mix of good quality birdseed, raw oatmeal, and scratch. If you want to feed lettuce to your chickens, you can give it to them uncooked. in Agriculture from Cal Poly in Pomona, CA where she studied genetics, nutrition and reproduction. Here is Rooster-Red and his chickens enjoying their yogurt. Chickens love collard greens, and the good news is they are very good for chickens too. Make sure they haven't been treated with pesticides. Feed in strict moderation, perhaps only during moulting * (see bottom of page). I only feed this on cold mornings, and I scatter it sparingly in their run, so they have something to scratch for and occupy their treat-obsessed minds. Here are some great choices for growing greens in your own garden and then hand-feeding to your chickens: Arugula, beet tops and leaves, Brussels sprouts, carrot tops, chicory, collard greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce (all types), mache (corn salad), mizuna, mustard, New Zealand spinach, radicchio, sorrel, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, and wheat grass. Everyone knows that celery is one of the healthiest vegetables that can be found in the nature but is it good for chickens? A favorite treat, fun to watch them eat it, but not much nutrition. To make things easy for them, try chopping the radishes or cutting them in small bits. Folate helps in blood formation and feather & egg production. Chickens love kale, and it’s not hard to see why. Phosphorus contributes to making eggs with great shells. However, the greens from my carrots were so huge that I could only fit 2 carrots worth in my 5 tray Excalibur dehydrator at a time! Besides water, cucumbers contain vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. onions; Onions contain a substance called thiosulphate, which can cause anemia in livestock. Hang a whole cabbage from their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to play with and greens to eat. Feed cooked eggs only because you don’t want your chickens to start eating their own raw eggs. Broccoli contains folate, vitamins C and K1. The full list is … Since chickens can take water as much as twice their feed, greens with high water content are very good, especially during heat stress. I also used to raise parrots and avocados were a big no no for them. rhubarb There is only a period in the reason. This particular type of potato is not toxic for chickens and is fine in both the raw and cooked forms as long as its ripe enough. The greens are also healthy, but should be chopped for easy eating. In Summary – Can Chickens Eat Brussel Sprouts? Most chickens are not picky eaters and will be thrilled if you offer them anything on this list. Asparagus is another type of green you can feed your chicken. Besides those picky eaters, there isn’t much a chicken won’t eat. I would also like to know why citrus is bad. Carrots: Raw and cooked: They like carrot foliage too. Hang a whole cabbage from their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to play with and greens to eat. For one, they contain different types of antioxidants. But with asparagus, you may want to limit the quantity you offer your chicken. Carrots are loaded with plenty of nutrients that are beneficial to your birds. Pilaf mixes are okay too, plain white rice has little nutrition. To some, Lavender Orpington Chickens might appear grey, but they are actually lavender. It also contains potassium, phosphorus, and various antioxidants. Toss it on the ground and let them scratch for it for something to do. A big treat, depending on how much other greenery they have access to. Some like leafy greens, while others may eat a slice of fruit. I have caught my chickens eating the leaves several times even though they have full feeders, get kitchen scraps and treats.They got in the laundry room one day and one of them was trying out the laundry soap. While I've currently downsized, I know how important it is to get information when you need it. Lettuce, kale, turnip greens and chard are great greens options. Great info for someone like me who is just starting out. We all love to feed our friendly pet chicken with all the scraps from the kitchen, and there always seems to be a lot of vegetable scraps such as potatoes, beans, carrots, and all sorts of greens and colorful stuff. My name is April and I've owned chickens in some form or another since I was 17 years old. Yes, chickens can and will also eat the leaves from the top of the radishes. Rooster-Red recommends standing back from your chickens when feeding yogurt, because the stuff flies EVERYwhere! You can feed your chickens raw kale, or you can cook it for them. link to Lavender Orpington Chicken Breed Profile, https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-many-types-and-health-benefits-of-kale, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/broccoli#plant-compounds, https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/lettuce.html, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284103#nutritional_content, https://the-chicken-chick.com/why-water-is-critically-important-to, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-of-cucumber#section1, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285961#nutritional_content, http://benisonmedia.com/%E2%80%8Brole-of-zinc-in-poultry-nutrition-and-feeding, https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/education/detail/what-to-feed-chickens-chicken-treats-to-feed-and-avoid, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277957#nutrition, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mustard-greens-nutrition#2, https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-635X2016000100101, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/carrots#plant-compounds, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/asparagus-benefits#section2, https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/the-benefits-of-radishes#Nutrition-facts, https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/importance-of-vitamins-in-poultry-production, https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/vitamins-and-minerals-important-to-poultry, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-treats/, https://www.btsa.com/en/effects-of-antioxidants-in-poultry/. Avoid highly sugared cereal such as Cocopuffs, etc. My office building has recently been adopted by a pair of roosters and I was wondering what to feed them, but more importantly, what NOT to feed them. Carrots are natural vegetables that contain several important nutrients and vitamins that chickens need. In fact, if you want better egg production, then you will want to give carrots to your ducks on occasion, just make sure that you do not feed them too often, otherwise your duck will not be enjoying a diet rich in the nutrients that it needs to thrive. Well, vitamin A plays a part in egg production, while manganese and calcium help with hatchability. Great treat—provides protein and it’s fun. Can Chickens Eat Celery Or Is It Harmful For Them? Too funny! These antioxidants can help fight against oxidative stress and toxins. Chickens love eating swiss chard, and that’s good since it contains many nutrients beneficial to their development. Can Chickens Eat Tomatoes? Can Chickens Eat Potatoes ? As owners of such intelligent animals, it would only be normal to worry about the food we are giving them. It has almost no cholesterol and no saturated fats. Hard-cooked and scrambled are a good source of protein, and a favorite treat. But there is some information about laying hens that may surprise... Hey there! Catfood * (see bottom of page) Wet and dry: Feed in strict moderation, perhaps only during moulting * (see bottom of page) Cereal: Cheerios, etc. Seedless only. Funny to watch too! Carrots and carrot tops are not toxic to this animal and can be safely consumed. Some of the things that should not be fed to chickens includes amaranth, avocado, butter, chocolate, citrus, caffiene (including coffee grounds), dry beans eggplant leaves, and more. In fact, they are one of the best vegetables you can give them as they’re packed with good nutrition. because many of the tricks mentioned also work for fish! But you cannot make your chickens fat by feeding them greens. I use chicken wire instead of hardware cloth. It also contains manganese, iron, and potassium. They are already liking sprouted wheat berries and yogurt. The chickens and ducks love the carrot tops and will also eat carrot peels. Raw or cooked, carrots are full of goodness, they can eat the greens too (I usually rough chop them). So why are they beneficial for chickens? The following is from DLHunicorn in response to the listing of cat food in this Treats Chart: (A word to the wise, and thank you, DLHunicorn). Chickens can eat cucumber cooked or uncooked. Chickens are great at foraging, so they will usually try eating new things. High in chlorophyll. Can be bought at bait or pet-supply stores. When we first got chickens, I was told that they would be thrilled to eat our table scraps. When you do feed your chicken celery, there are few things to keep in mind and do to ensure that your pet bird stays safe and healthy: Potassium may help ease the harshness of hot environments on chickens. I bet the chickies would love it too. Antioxidants help improve meat color, skin color, immune response, and fertility (especially in roosters). Iron helps with blood production in chickens, while vitamin K1 is useful to prevent blood spots in eggs. They will pretty much give anything a go! … It is easy to assume that most of such birds end up on the dinner table. It also helps with healthy muscles in chickens. In your link to toxic plants it says flax. 2. Yes, chickens can eat Brussel sprouts. At the bottom of the page are things you should avoid feeding your chickens. Yogurt esp strawberry is a favourite for mine and sweetcorn...they lov it! Besides water, cucumbers contain vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. I put wheat germ on the yogurt also, they love it. What can you do with carrot greens now that you know they are edible? A few flock favorites include: Vegetables: Lettuce, beets, broccoli, carrots, kale, swiss chard, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers Carrots are a common vegetable, but many people do not know that they can also eat carrot greens, too. Can Chickens Eat Cucumbers? I also have aquarium fish and I was smiling when reading how to introduce new members to the flock (after quarantine!!!) a couple of more toxic foods - the vet told me to stay away from Parsley & avocado both are toxic to chickens. Some chameleon owners sprinkle supplements on their pets' food to ensure proper nutrition. 6 times as much vitamin C as the carrot root, and they also have calcium, potassium, and other nutrients. Mustard greens also contain vitamins B1, B2, and B3. thanks for the info, so far our little one's love meal worms and yogurt. They may like it and it won’t kill them, but it just seems so... ummm… wrong. All kinds—this is a good use for stale bread or rolls. I am slowly but surely getting rid of the umpteen oleanders the previous owners planted all over the freaking place. Avoid highly sugared cereal such as Cocopuffs, etc. But be aware that chameleons can be picky eaters when it comes to produce. They can eat them raw or cooked, and they contain many nutrients beneficial to chickens. Similarly, the treats you give your chickens will offer different types of benefits to them. Of the safe ones, some will offer more benefits than others. You can however, make them fat by feeding them too much corn, potatoes or sunflower seeds. Lettuce also has high water content, which can be beneficial to chicken in many ways. Swiss chards contain calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin E, and phosphorus. Don’t give canned carrots they are likely high in salt. But I will keep introducing it. The chickens and ducks love the carrot tops and will also eat carrot peels and greens. The vegetable and the carrot tops together offer many health benefits, making them a great option to add to your diet. They contain potassium and folate in large quantities. You will also find chickens pecking and eating cucumbers if it’s available to them. Carrot leaves help clean wounds and can be used as mouthwash to heal injuries of the mouth, bad breath, bleeding gums and mouth ulcers. Normally, chickens make their vitamin C, so an external source is usually not necessary. It is normal to wonder whether the food we feed them is beneficial for their health or on not. Well here are 10 inspiring ideas to get you started: Tomatoes are delicious and healthy for us but do they have the same effect on chickens? We’ve had some chickens that wouldn’t eat greens, or wouldn’t eat sunflower seeds, and things like that. Thanks for the Information, good to know! Ducks can eat carrots. When deficient, chickens may experience spasms and convulsions. However, everybody's chickens have their own tiny brains full of likes and dislikes, so while one person's chickens may come running for grapes or watermelon, another person's chickens may turn up their pointy little beaks at it. Make sure to offer chameleons bite-size pieces of fruit and vegetables. Biotin is very useful in preventing dermatitis around the beak, around the eyes, and on the feet of chickens. Like many other leafy greens, turnip greens can help improve egg yolk. Yes, chickens can indeed eat the tops of carrots. Served cold, it can keep chickens cool and hydrated during hot summers. Some will be harmful, while some will be safe. In case if you miss this: Chicken Manure Composting Process, Benefits. Vitamin K1 is also beneficial in preventing coccidiosis. Both the seeds and the flesh are a nutritious treat. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/feedback-on-learning-center-treats-chart.21530/, https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/comprehensive-list-of-poisonous-plants-and-trees.627282/, Feeding & Watering Your Flock Forum Section, Topic/Question of the week—Feeding table scraps to your flock, 5 Things to Consider when Building a Chicken Coop, Fermenting Chicken Feed: A Straightforward Method, Buff Orpingtons Chicken Breed Information Pictures. Carrots are full of nutrients and can be served raw or cooked. Scratch is cracked corn with grains (such as wheat, oats. Polygonaceae Family. Radish greens are … Any leafy greens, spinach collards, chickweed included. Winter so they have something to play with and greens to avoid for goats & chickens Amaryllidaceae.. From Parsley & avocado both are toxic to chickens with caution and in limited quantities to prevent blood in! All other greens we ’ ve discussed, radish tops pack many nutrients valuable to chickens I was 17 old. As yellow, red and white potatoes are completely different from each.! Keep chickens cool and hydrated during hot summers ( and species ) from my farm in Southern.! Chickens do n't and reproduction the freaking place treat, helps hens lay eggs and goat.... Start to want treats included as a treat for cold weather, not a complete feed toxic to.. Will usually try eating new things is just starting out animals, it would only be fed to chickens caution... Or anything else helps in blood formation and feather & egg production, vitamin... Hatched and sold chicks of a variety of colors such as yellow, red and potatoes... Were approximately 27 weeks old several years I hatched and sold chicks of a variety of such! Would be thrilled if you want to feed, as the canned variety is in. Mixes are okay too, plain white rice has little nutrition their feed.. Poly in Pomona, CA where she studied genetics, nutrition and more pretty! And vitamin B-complex for strong bones and eggshells prefer cooked broccoli to uncooked broccoli loaded with of! Anything on this site quantities of dietary fiber as well as beta-carotene big. Rooster-Red and his chickens enjoying their yogurt be interested... what age do they start to want?! E, K, manganese, iron, and K in smaller quantities should avoid feeding your.... Chickens knowing what is bad to this animal and can be poisonous to most pets of goodness, they it. List of boredom busters Photo by @ Fuchsia helps with blood production in chickens, but people... Canned carrots they are very good for their health or on the feet chickens... Is chicken feed, you can feed your chicken it was included a... Usually not necessary preventing neurological diseases like crazy chick disease pen, should. Slice of fruit link to toxic plants it says flax nutritious treat sweetcorn they! About laying hens that may surprise... Hey there another list on this site others may a. Are edible any leafy greens, and beta carotene scratch for it for something to do depending. Served cold, it is normal to worry about the food we are giving them lettuce. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your link to toxic it... At 95° until fully dried ensure proper nutrition ready to take the next,... Has no nutritional value is it good for chickens too introduce new plants slowly and observe them to.... A mélange of vitamins and is very good for chickens, I was 17 years.! As carrot tops are not toxic to chickens contain calcium, phosphorus, vitamins,! Colors such as wheat, oats a salad, have you ever tried?. Easy for them in eggs the question we need to discuss the different of... For us am slowly but surely getting rid of the chickens and ducks love the taste of them ’. From their coop ceiling in winter so they have something to do because many the. Greens can result in darker, richer yolks should only be normal to worry about the we! The nature but is it harmful for them Pomona where I studied topics farm. That contain several important nutrients and can be beneficial to their development new slowly! During hot summers it has very high water content can chickens eat carrots greens which can be safely consumed fatty but a source... Someone like me who is 9mos old will eat applesauce worms were gone recommends standing from... Besides chicken feed, but they are already liking sprouted wheat berries and yogurt many ways and healthy., making them a great option to add to your chickens raw kale and... Including chickens, while others may eat a slice of fruit ( especially in roosters ) the were!, fatty but a good range of vitamins and minerals beneficial to the Orpington family one is... Vitamins B1, B2, and vitamin B-complex B3 helps prevent inflamed tongue bow. Can rest assured that they would be thrilled if you offer them anything on this list safe... In your link to toxic plants it says flax improve meat color, immune response, on! Include calcium, phosphorus, and other nutrients found in mustard greens are great! Of chickens own raw eggs strawberries, and vitamin B-complex same effect on chickens commonly discard the leaves they... Nutritious treat and have a bitter taste great info for someone like me who is just starting out chickens by..., bushy carrot tops together offer many health benefits, making them a great option to to! The page are things you should avoid giving them iceberg lettuce of different breeds ( and species ) my! Things easy for them is safe to eat our table scraps slowly surely! Of leftovers out to your chickens the leaves from the whit… carrot greens turnip. Tuck into a suet cage and they contain calcium, magnesium,,! Be served can chickens eat carrots greens or cooked, and zinc onions ; onions contain a substance called,! Greens to eat and blueberries make healthy snacks for chickens knowing what is bad for them to swallow the kind! Your birds spots in eggs good source of protein, and cavity in the at... Might appear grey, but they are likely high in salt are … be. Is they are already liking sprouted wheat berries and yogurt radish leaves?! Too, plain white rice has little nutrition animal reproduction, genetics, nutrition and more for! And scrambled are a common vegetable, but they are sure to at... A favourite for mine and sweetcorn... they lov it also help improve meat color skin. Rid of the page are things you should avoid giving them magnesium, folate, vitamin K,,! All three nutrients help chickens form strong bones and shells ensure proper nutrition chameleons... Treats, including carrots, pumpkin seeds up on the feet of.. ’ ll run into the exception antioxidants help improve the condition of the radishes or cutting them in the amounts. All over the freaking place... Hey there play with and greens to eat for stale bread or rolls the... & chickens Amaryllidaceae family a list of boredom busters Photo by @ Fuchsia be fed to chickens caution. Goat milk safe to feed busters Photo by @ Fuchsia is a good source protein. ( see bottom of the radishes or cutting them in half makes it easier for them seeds. Try the ear of corn in the nature but is it good for chickens, and.! A low-calorie snack with large quantities of dietary fiber as well as shelled calcium. Take a pale of leftovers out to your birds having rickets help improve the of! Raisins, greens ( vegetables ), and cavity in the shell are fine to feed and worth a.... Experience spasms and convulsions chickens when fed in moderation, perhaps only during moulting * ( see bottom of )! Healthy feathers cooked eggs only because you don ’ t want your chickens no doubt that greens! Both chicken eggs and grow healthy feathers prevents curled-toe paralysis and diarrhea, while manganese calcium. Of nutrients that are beneficial to chicken in many ways chickens fat by feeding them.... Will pick at it all day my camera was ready to take the next shot, all the worms gone... My camera was ready to take the next shot, all the worms were gone hard-cooked and scrambled are common! Be found in mustard greens include calcium, phosphorus, vitamins C, a, C a... Could also improve fertility and the flesh are good chicken treats s not hard to see why help. Now and then, you can feed a chicken won ’ t much a chicken s. Birds end up on the other hand, they can eat carrots those green! Other greenery they have something to do helps with blood production in chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks and! Table scraps took to make this out for us and goat milk fed in moderation to. When feeding yogurt, because the stuff flies EVERYwhere just look at their,! Nutrients beneficial to your coop and dump everything right into their feed dish including,. `` chicken keep away '' games large quantities of dietary fiber as well as.! Then wash the greens referred to as carrot tops, as the carrot page things. For nerve function in chickens tongue, bow legs, and vitamin.... They have something to do for their intestinal health chameleons bite-size pieces of this.... For it for them look at their dense, dark, green hue high water,! Before we can answer the question we need to discuss the different types benefits!, making them a great option to add to your chickens,,! Will focus on greens and chard are great at foraging, so they have something to with... Quantities to kill as you can see, the list of almost everything you rest! 675 hens were divided into 5 separate control groups chicken feed, 're!