Can Chickens Eat Blueberries – What Do You Think?
We all know that blueberries are very beneficial to humans, they are bursting with goodness.
And there are people out there who ask the question.
Can chickens eat blueberries?
I think it’s time to answer this don’t you think.
Are BYueberries Safe For Chickens?
I for one know that blueberries are not cheap when you buy them at the shops.
Now if you have some blueberry bushes out in your back yard.
You might just have an abundance of them.
So what about your chickens…
You are thinking that either you have some leftover blueberries that are really not that good for eating that you have from the supermarket.
But before you go throwing them into the compost, you think…
What about the chickens.
Can I feed these blueberries to my chickens?
Of course, we think about our feathery friends at moments like this.
And want to give them as many treats as we can.
So, can chickens eat blueberries? as treats people…
But we are hesitant and are not sure what we are throwing into their chicken run is going to be good for them.
Now, blueberries are a part of the Vaccinium family of perennial flowering plants.
They are well-reputed to contain large amounts of antioxidants which are beneficial to chickens as it is to ourselves.
So yes…
You can breathe easy.
Your backyard chickens are safe with eating blueberries…
In fact, studies have shown that potassium contained in blueberries can help keep your hens producing eggs.
Now that is a good thing right?
Your chickens actually need 150 mg of potassium every day, according to the National Research Council (1994).
Can Your Backyard Chickens Eat Blueberries?
As we know now…
Chickens can very well eat blueberries.
They are one of the healthier berries if there is such a thing.
So if you do have some blueberries that you forgot about in the fridge that are not looking as perky.
Do think about your backyard chickens before you go putting them into your mouth.
It is fairly rare that chickens would get many blueberries in a household because they are expensive to buy, and when you do buy them you only get a little punnet of them.
So…
If you do have a blueberry bush in your backyard, of thinking about getting some.
Then your chickens will benefit from them buy you having more to offer them.
If they do not break out of their chicken run and find their own way to your blueberry bushes before that of course…
As far as blueberry stems are concerned, well your chickens might just eat them if they can tear themselves away from the blueberries themselves of course…
How Do Chickens Eat Blueberries
Blueberries are quite small in comparison to some other berries out there.
So your chicken will have no trouble with swallowing these berries whole.
Even if there are some bigger blueberries amongst the bunch, they still have the ability to swallow them down in one gulp.
How Many Blueberries Can Chickens Eat?
Apart from the expense of blueberries or if you do have them in the garden.
You can not go giving them to the chickens in great amounts.
That would not be a good idea.
Anyway, think of them as a treat.
No matter how much the chickens say different.
They would be happy enough to eat them all the time.
Then you might just have the sight of your chickens lazing around in your chicken pen with stomach aches.
Looking like they should not have gone out the other night…
Now I know this is a human trait.
But that is what it would look like with your chickens,
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Roosters, hens, the lot.
So can chickens eat blueberries more than twice a week?
I would not push it.
We are talking about their tummies here.
And I would make a habit of giving them blueberries that are not ripe, as they can cause stomach aches as with us.
Of course, you can put a few in, but your chickens know best and are going to go for the ripe blueberries every time.
If they are out foraging in the backyard on your blueberry bushes on their own, they will make the decided choice if they pick some of the unripe blueberries.
But mainly they are looking for the ripe ones as they are the ones that are the tastiest.
And no matter how delicious the berries are, you have to say no to them for their own good.
As an antioxidant superfood, these blueberries are packed with antioxidants and Phytonutrients.
If you are not sure what ‘Phytonutrients’ means.
These are the natural chemicals within the plant itself which guards it against outside influences and are also very beneficial to the one who eats it.
They are also high in vitamin C and potassium, making them the top choice for us and our fowls.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Blueberries
Blueberries are good for all ages of chickens.
Whether they are young or old.
I am not saying really young chicks, as they should be on chick crumble for a little while their systems get used to bland food.
Then you can introduce them to blueberries.
But it should be in moderation, I would not give your young flock any more than one each for a while.
That way their systems can get used to the richness of these berries.
Because ok B-6 being a part of the blueberry itself.
This is going to be beneficial to your young chicks if young chickens have nervous behaviour or poor growth.
Even a lack of appetite can be some of the characteristics a baby chick might have that has been fed a diet deficient in vitamin B-6.
So if your chicks are lacking, give them a cut blueberry or a mashed one if they are very small to boost up their systems.
Can Chickens Eat too Many Blueberries?
There is one thing to ask, can chickens eat blueberries?
But how many blueberries can a chicken have?
Sure…
They are high in key nutrients, such as vitamin C, fibre, and vitamin K.
But that does not mean because they are very good, that you should be filling the buckets with them to give your backyard chickens.
You should not be feeding blueberries too often to your chickens.
Think of it as a treat.
So what do we do with treats?
Anybody?
We have them in moderation.
And so it is with our backyard chickens as well.
No blueberries as staple diets here…
Anyway!
Do you really want to have purple chicken poo all over the chicken coop?
The chicken run, and also on the chicken perches.
Having too many blueberries is going to do that to you…
And if you think you can get that blueberry stain out.
Think again…
You might just have to be thinking of making their chicken house have purple decor.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberries Whole
Ahhh…
We have already talked about this question before, but it is one that does come up and needs to be addressed.
So.
Here we go again.
Your chickens when of adult age do have the ability to swallow some quite big things.
And as blueberries are not that big anyway.
You don’t have to ask can chickens eat blueberries?
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Can they swallow them whole?
You bet they can.
I have seen some of my chickens swallow some mighty big things through the years.
Some things that even make my eyes water.
But to the chicken, it is a matter of having something that they want.
Or having it stolen by another of the chickens or two…
So they run away from the other chicken and try to swallow a piece of food down their throats a quickly as possible so the other hen can not get it.
When it comes to sharing something that they really like.
I am afraid it is the ‘first one in gets it!’
NO SHARING!
Can Chickens Eat Blueberry Leaves
Apparently, research has found that the leaves of the blueberry plant do not contain any harmful toxic compounds in them.
but I can tell you now that I have never seen a chicken eat a blueberry leaf before.
Why would they when they can have the blueberry fruit which is so tasty?
No.
Do not go throwing in any blueberry leaves to their chicken run as they will ignore them.
They might come up and have a look at them then walk away.
So all your efforts have gone to waste.
They would rather you go and get some grass for them instead.
Do Chickens Eat Blueberry Plants
Again, it depends on what this question really is asking.
As far a blueberry plants that have blueberry on them.
Sure they will.
They have no issues with going up to a blueberry plant and picking off the blueberries themselves.
It is nothing different from what they did when before they were domesticated.
They spent a large part of their time harvesting the plants around them.
Picking off the fruit that they wanted.
They will also knock off some blueberries to the ground, and then eat them as they fall.
I am not saying that they shake the blueberry plant.
Can’t do that.
But with their rustling around, the blueberries do drop off.
The more ripe ones anyway…
Not to be left behind, the chickens will find them on the ground and hover them up.
Can Chickens Eat Dried Blueberries
I can’t see why not…
Not that you would be feeding them dried blueberries anyway.
Would you?
They are small enough to swallow.
But where is the fun in that?
As they do not taste a good as the raw blueberries as they slide down their throats.
Can Chickens Eat Frozen Blueberries
I know that the question of can chickens eat blueberries is one thing...
But…
Can chickens eat frozen blueberries?
I do not think that they would be in the artic now.
Your chickens would not like that.
But…
Frozen. well, I guess you can.
And it might be a nice treat on a hot day.
But remember here that your chickens have beaks and not teeth.
And I have never seen a chicken lick anything before.
At least here is where they would get the coolness of the blueberry and its taste.
Instead, it would be like swallowing a frozen lump.
Whether your chicken would like that.
I really do not know.
I don’t think it would be the most pleasant of things.
If anything.
I would give them old blueberries from the fridge on a hot day.
That way the blueberries are still soft and they can taste them.
And also the sight of coldness is not going to have your chickens hanging from their chicken coop roof in fright.
So…
I hope that I have covered the question of ‘can chickens eat blueberries?’ enough to help you make their way to the blueberry haven a delight for them and you.