Cilantro is a herb that’s popular in the kitchen. With its zesty taste, it can be used in a variety of dishes. Every household use this amazing herb in some form. If you have backyard chickens, you may wonder if you can share cilantro with them.
Can chickens eat cilantro? Yes, chickens can eat cilantro, either cooked or raw. Cilantro is a nutritious herb that’s rich in antioxidants and vitamin C. It’s a good idea to feed them in moderation to avoid digestive issues.
Is Cilantro Good for Chickens?
Like many other herbs, cilantro have plenty of nutrition that’s healthy for the chickens.
What makes this herb good for the chicken is that it’s low in calories, while rich in vitamin A, C, and K. It’s also a good source of antioxidants
Below are some health benefits of feeding cilantro to your chickens:
Boost the Immune System
Cilantro is a good source of vitamin C, which is important for a healthy immune system. Chickens that are fed plenty of cilantro will have their immune system strengthen. This in turn will prevent the chicken from getting sick easily.
The nutrients in cilantro will also help in detoxifying fluids.
Proper Growth of Body
Cilantro contains a lot of vitamins and antioxidant agents. These nutrients make the chicken healthy and strong. It also keeps their heart in food condition.
Vitamin K is one of the nutrients in cilantro that’s responsible for this. This vitamin can improve the chicken’s bone health and make it denser. This will prevent the bone from breaking.
Other nutrients such as folate, phosphorous, and folate are needed for proper organ function.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Cilantro?
Baby chickens can eat cilantro, but it’s a good idea to wait until they are at least 3 weeks old. During this time, their digestive system is still developing and won’t be able to digest the herb properly.
Once the chicks are at least 3 weeks, their digestive system is more mature, and you can try to feed them cilantro. Give them a small piece of the herb and cut it into smaller pieces. This will make it easier for them to digest it.
Also, make sure to have grits available for the chicks. This is what their gizzard will use to grind down the herb.
Can Chickens Eat Cilantro Stems?
Yes, chickens can eat cilantro stems, and it’s healthy for them to eat them. You may want to cut the stems into small pieces, so it’ll be easier for them to eat them.
Another way to feed the chicken is to give them the entire cilantro with the leaves attached. Make sure to wash the cilantro first. Then toss the cilantro to the chickens.
They will peck and eat the cilantro leaves. The chickens will peck on the stem as well, but some may eat it and some may not.
How Do You Prepare Cilantro For Your Chickens
When it comes to cilantro, you can either give them cooked or raw. Both are great for feeding the chickens.
Whether it’s cooked or raw, you can feed them the whole leaves. The cilantro is soft and won’t be any choking hazard for them.
Cilantro is also available in dried herbs, which is a good way to give them a boost in nutrition. You can simply sprinkle some dried cilantro onto their feeds or treats.
How Much Cilantro Should You Feed Your Chickens?
While cilantro is healthy for chickens, you should only feed them in a small amount.
For an adult chicken, they can eat about 3-5 sprig of cilantro. As for baby chickens, they should not be fed any cilantro.
Cilantro doesn’t have enough nutrients in them to meet the chicken’s dietary needs each day. Feeding them too much cilantro will cause them more harm than good.
Also, cilantro contains a moderate amount of oxalate, which could cause digestive issues for the chickens.
How Often Should You Feed Your Chickens Cilantro?
Chickens should be fed cilantro in moderation. This is due to the herb containing oxalate. Too much of it can cause harm to the chickens.
Also, cilantro doesn’t have enough nutrients to support the health of the chicken.
Like most other herbs, cilantro should only make 10% of their chicken’s entire diet. The rest should come from quality commercial feeds. These feeds are formulated from the manufacture with the right amount of ingredients to provide the proper nutrition for chickens.
For that reason, you should feed cilantro to your chickens, once or twice per week.
Other Vegetables That Chickens Can Eat
Basil
Basil is one of the best herbs for chickens. This herb is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The chickens will also benefit from the antibacterial properties that the basil has as well.
Lavender
Lavender is another herb that chickens will benefit a lot from. It has a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrition. For hens that are laying eggs, lavender will benefit them greatly since it will help increase blood circulation.
Parsley
Parsley is one of the herbs that are extremely high in nutrients. Add this herb to your chicken’s diet, it will give them a boost in vitamin. Also, parsley will aid in blood vessel development. For hens, parsley is a laying stimulant. Offer fresh parsley for the chickens for the best quality.
Conclusion
Cilantro is a herb that makes a great treat to give the chickens. It’s packed with nutrition that the chickens can benefit from. Due to the cilantro containing oxalate, it’s best to feed them in moderation to avoid health issues.
