Chickens can eat a surprisingly wide range of foods as they are omnivores. For healthy chickens, you want their diet to be a mix of nutrients. A healthy diet means that not only will your chickens grow to be healthy, but their egg production will benefit as well. So what about garlic?
Chickens can eat garlic, and it’s even celebrated for its potential health perks! Garlic is known to enhance immune function and act as a natural pest repellent in the coop. However, moderation is key to avoid overpowering their feed with its strong flavor and ensuring a balanced diet.
So exactly how should you feed your chickens garlic?
Should Your Chicken Have It?
Garlic is a superfood. It is full of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, allicin, and more. With so many benefits and the need for your chickens to have a healthy and balanced diet, is garlic something that you should be adding to your chickens’ menu?
It is safe for chickens to eat garlic and it is very beneficial to your chickens. Garlic has properties that can ward off respiratory issues and infections in your chickens. Adding garlic to your chickens’ diet can help if your chickens seem weak or sickly.
It can also benefit chicks by establishing a strong immune system. However, garlic isn’t something that you should be feeding to your chickens in large quantities. Too much garlic can affect your chickens’ digestive system.
Another great benefit to feeding your chickens garlic is that it can work as a natural treatment to ward off parasites.
As you probably have experienced, garlic has that very sharp, almost spicy, flavor. The earlier you start feeding your chickens garlic, the more likely they are to accept it in different forms.
What to Look Out For When Feeding Chicken with Garlic
While garlic is a great addition to your chickens’ diet, you should always feed it to them in moderation. If you feed your chickens too much garlic it can cause problems. Another thing to look out for when feeding your chickens garlic is the method by which you are presenting it to them.
Now that we’ve established that your chicken can eat garlic, what are some things that you should look out for when feeding your chickens garlic? Be sure to feed your chickens garlic in moderation. If you notice your chickens gaining weight, you are feeding them too much garlic.
When feeding your chickens garlic, you have to watch out how you feed them the garlic. Garlic has a very potent flavor and when first introducing your chickens to garlic you want to start slow. You can add garlic to your chickens’ water or feed if it is chopped, crushed, or in oil.
Make sure not to leave the garlic out in your chickens’ coop for too long. If your chickens haven’t eaten it within 48 hours, remove it from the coop. Otherwise, you risk the garlic rotting and making your chickens sick. Also, avoid feeding your chickens roasted garlic. Garlic also tends to lose many of its beneficial properties once it has been cooked.
Adding garlic as a frequent supplement to your chickens’ diet can also alter the taste of your chickens’ eggs. With raw garlic, you might notice that your hens’ eggs taste a subtle garlic flavor.
Can Chickens Eat Garlic Skins/Peels?
It may be surprising to know, but garlic skin, or garlic peels, are also rich in antioxidants, not unlike the cloves of a garlic bulb. Garlic skin has a very mild flavor and with a dry texture, it is easy to repurpose.
So can you give your chickens garlic skin or peels? Chickens can eat garlic skins and benefit from antioxidants and vitamins from garlic skins. You can mix them in with your chickens’ feed easily.
Can Chickens Eat Garlic Chives?
Garlic chives are similar to regular chives, but unlike chives, they do not have a hollow center. Garlic chives have a mild garlic flavor and contain many of the beneficial properties that can be found in garlic cloves.
As a whole, chickens can eat garlic chives. Chickens who enjoy eating vegetables and garlic chives have the added benefit of providing much-needed vitamins and minerals. Garlic chives have a less potent flavor, which can make them more attractive for your chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Garlic Scapes/Leaves/Plants?
Chickens are notorious for being animals that can eat leftover food scraps. Also, being omnivores, chickens like a diet that is balanced in both proteins and vegetables. Garlic plants have green scapes and leaves, but are these safe for your chickens?
Chickens can eat garlic scapes and leaves. Both have a milder garlic flavor, which can make it a great way to introduce your chickens to garlic. Both garlic scapes and leaves also have the same nutritional benefits as garlic. Feeding the scapes and leaves from your garlic plants to your chickens can be a great way to reduce food waste.
This article was first published on December 17, 2021 by Pentagon-Pets.
Can Chickens Eat Garlic Powder?
Garlic powder is a great way to get the benefits of garlic while giving it a longer shelf-life than fresh garlic. Garlic powder is also easy to distribute sparingly across your chickens’ feed.
Can your chickens eat garlic powder? They absolutely can. It is a great way to introduce your chicks to the flavor of garlic. You can either add it to their water or sprinkle it over their feed.
Can Chickens Eat Garlic Cloves?
Garlic cloves are packed with plenty of vitamins and minerals. When raw, they offer plenty of health benefits for your chickens.
So can chickens eat garlic cloves? Chickens can eat garlic cloves, but how you feed your chickens garlic cloves is important. Your chickens are unlikely to eat garlic that is in full cloves due to the strong flavor. To feed your chickens garlic cloves, you should either crush, chop, or mince garlic cloves before giving them to your chickens.
Crushed garlic cloves can be added to your chickens’ water. You can also chop or mince garlic cloves and add them to your chickens’ feed. If you are crushing your garlic and adding it to your chickens’ water, as a general rule you should do one clove per liter. Crushing the garlic is a great way to keep all of those beneficial vitamins and minerals, but allows them to be released into the water.
Pentagon Pet is the owner of this article that was first published on December 17, 2021.
Can Chicken Eat Garlic? Is it Safe?
Chickens can eat garlic and it is beneficial for their health. Garlic is one of those rare foods that chickens need to grow accustomed to, due to its powerful flavor. Adding garlic to your chicken’s diet can help their immune systems, prevent parasites, promote digestion, and increase weight gain.
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This article and its contents are owned by Pentagon Pets and was first published on December 17, 2021.