Can Chickens Eat Spinach – What Do You Think?
Do you eat spinach?
Do you know just how good spinach is for you?
It is packed with nutrients that are so beneficial.
So if it is so good for us.
What about your chickens.
Can chickens eat spinach?
Let’s find out.
Is Spinach Good For Chickens
Well, the age-old favourite ‘popeye the sailor man’ used to eat spinach to grow his arms and have great power when needed.
I do not know if you ever saw the cartoon when you were young.
But spinach has been labelled an almost superfood for its benefits.
So…
Your backyard chickens.
Can they benefit from this as well?
And it is a resounding YES!
Chickens can eat spinach as well…
In fact, Spinach contains several other vitamins and minerals:
- B9
- magnesium
- vitamins B6
- potassium
- E
It is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable.
Not only that!
It has high amounts of:
- vitamin C
- iron
- folic acid
- carotenoids
- calcium
- vitamin K
Now, that’s a lot…
Is Too Much Spinach Bad For Chickens
Yes…
There is a catch to all of this though…
Spinach contains oxalic acid.
Now, this can lead to soft-shelled eggs in your hen’s eggs if given too much spinach.
The reason why this happens is that oxalic acid combines with metals such as sodium, calcium, iron, potassium and potassium in the body to form crystals of the corresponding oxalates.
Which in turn irritates the kidneys and gut of your hens.
Because it binds the vital nutrients being calcium, any long-term consumption of any food that is high in oxalic acid can lead to nutrient deficiencies in your birds.
Now we do not want that do we…
So you need to give your chickens spinach as a treat.
So no going overboard on this vegetable because it is so good for backyard chickens.
See also Getting the Most Out of Your Backyard Chickens: How to Maximize Egg Yield With Proper Feeding
Too much then can cause it not to be so good for your chickens…
It is still regarded as one of the best vegetables you can give your chickens.
Can You Feed Baby Chickens Spinach?
Yes you can give your chicks spinach.
But you need to remember the downfalls of space when giving too much.
So I would a little while before giving your young chicks spinach to eat.
Give them at least three weeks before introducing it to them.
In little pieces.
And very little because they are so young.
These young chicks are new to the world and have not become hardened as yet to what they can eat successfully.
Can Chickens Eat Spinach Leaves
Spinach leaves are most probably the best part of the spinach to give them.
It is crisp when young so the is the best time.
As it gets older it gets harder to break up and consume.
Even for us.
So any scraps you have.
Save a little for your chickens, and if you have too much.
The rest can go on the compost heap.
Just because you might have a hand full of spinach leaves in your hand.
This does not mean that you should give them that much.
It has to be in moderation. You do not want o be seeing soft-shelled egg in your laying box, do you?
Can Chickens Eat Spinach Stems
There is no reason why your chickens should be denied in eating these if you have any in your garden.
They are young and crisp.
In fact, you try to stop them if they get their sights on them.
It is young it is also not mature where all the nutrients have formed.
See also Can Chickens Eat Celery - What Do You Think?
So it should not be edging on harmful in giving them more than you would the mature spinach.
Can Chickens Eat Cooked Spinach
Now we have all seen the cooked spinach.
As this is how we humans eat it.
I do not think you would be eating raw spinach would you?
Anyway. .
We can boil it and steam it.
I feel that when it is cooked it is therefore reduced in its nutrients through the cooking process.
But I would be happy to give the cooked spinach to your chickens.
In fact, if it is steamed.
It keeps more of its nutrient and is still fairly soft for your chickens to tear it apart with their beaks in no time.
Can Chickens Eat Frozen Spinach
If you for any reason have any frozen spinach sitting around your house.
I can not see why not.
On a hot day, you could have cut it up previously and frozen it.
Not in whole leaves, I am sure.
Then you can take it down to your chickens and either leave it in the bowl for them to start pecking at it as it thaws.
Or you can put it in a shallow bowl of water.
As it melts your chickens will be chasing all the little bits of spinach around the water in the bowl to eat them.
What fun…
Can Chickens Eat Canned Spinach
Canned spinach is ok for your chickens.
But do remember as with any canned food.
There are going to be preservatives in it.
And this also includes sugar and salt.
So here again…
Do not give them much because of this.
No fat chickens in your chicken run…
Can chickens eat spinach you ask…
Try and stop them.