What plants do chickens eat? This question mostly comes to mind when chicken owners want to go organic chicken farming or when chicken feed becomes too expensive to find a substitute to cut down feeding costs.
In a previous article, we discussed the benefits and success stories of using Azolla plants in feeding chickens and other farm animals. There are more plants there for chickens to feed on to survive.
Naturally, chickens can survive on their own without factory-formulated feed. Chickens can pick grasses, insects, fruits like mango, and anything edible. So, let’s move on to know the plants you can feed your chickens can eat.
What plants do chickens eat?
The best plant for chickens should be toxic-free, withstand winter, perennial plants, and overall quick-growing plants.
1. Azolla Plant
The Azolla plant is an aquatic fern of the Azollacea plant family. It grows in marshes, freshwater lakes, and ditches; it is considered invasive and can potentially change aquatic habitats and biodiversity.
2. Mango Plant
The mango plant is a perennial plant that bears mango fruits. Mangos are juicy, and chickens love to feed on them. Chickens can feed on the mango pulp and the skin.
3. Banana
Banana has a nice flavor, and chickens easily get attracted to them. Banana is one food your chickens won’t spare if they chance on them. You can cut the ripe banana into pieces for them to feed on.
4. Comfrey
Comfrey for chickens is an excellent feed for backyard chickens when you plant them near their coop. It’s strong in protein, vitamins B12, A, and C, potassium, sulfur, calcium, iron, phosphorus, selenium, fiber, and birds.
5. Wormwood
Wormwood is highly prized in chickens for its tonic impact on the liver, gallbladder, and digestive system and its vermicidal function. It is an incredibly beneficial remedy for chickens with weak or underactive digestion.
6. Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a high-protein forage crop that makes a fantastic addition to your chickens’ diet, providing them with the nutrition they need to regrow their feathers after molting.
7. Clover
Clover is good for chickens. Clovers are completely safe for chickens. Hens enjoy eating clovers since they are edible and have a good texture with high nutrients.
8. Sunflower
Sunflowers provide several health benefits to chickens, including digestive support and cell damage prevention. Sunflower seeds and other parts can be fed to your chickens anytime.
9. Buckwheat
Buckwheat is an excellent food source for hens since it contains various essentials such as protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Buckwheat also includes l-dopa, which has been demonstrated to boost chicken egg production.
10. Blueberries
Blueberries are non-toxic fruits that are safe to feed chickens due to their numerous health advantages. Chickens can feed on blueberry leaves and seeds, chickens. You should be cautious about the berries you give your hens because not all are suitable.
Find below other plants chickens feed on
- Thyme
- Chickweed
- Dandelions
- Nettles
- Basil
- Squash
- Peas
- Legumes
