If you’re a chicken keeper, then you know that it’s important to provide your flock with a variety of vegetables to eat. But can chickens eat Swiss chard? And if so, is it a good vegetable choice for them? In this blog post, we’ll answer those questions and give you some tips on how to prepare Swiss chard for your chickens.
Can chickens eat Swiss chard?
Chickens can eat Swiss chard, but there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, some parts of the plant aren’t easy for chickens to eat. The leaves and stems are fine, but the tough veins that run through them are a little bit tough when raw. Swiss chard is actually a great vegetable for your chickens as it is full of nutrients.
Swiss chard is full of calcium and beta carotene
Calcium and beta-carotene are important for chickens. Luckily Swiss chard is full of these. Both of these compounds can help improve the quality of your chicken’s eggshells. In fact, if a chicken does not get enough calcium, it can sometimes stop laying.
Swiss chard has lots of vitamin A and C
Vitamin A is important for a chicken’s vision and immune system while vitamin C helps with tissue repair. The high concentration of these vitamins in Swiss chard can it can also help your flock stay healthy.
How to prepare Swiss chard for chickens
Now that we know that chickens can eat Swiss chard, what is the best way to prepare it? You can either chop up the leaves and stems into small pieces, or you can shred them. If you’re shredding them, you might want to remove the tough veins first. You can also cook Swiss chard before feeding it to your chickens, which will make it more palatable for them. To cook Swiss chard , simply steam it or saute it in a little bit of oil.
Which parts of Swiss chard can chickens eat?
As we mentioned before, there is no part of Swiss chard that will hurt your chickens, but the veins can be tough. The worst that can happen here is that your chickens won’t eat the tough parts, so don’t worry if you want to just give your flock some roughly chopped Swiss chard.
Do chickens like Swiss chard?
Some do and some don’t. It really depends on the chicken. Some might take to it right away, while others might need a little bit more time to get used to the taste. If your chickens seem hesitant to eat Swiss chard, mix it with other vegetables that they like or cook it before feeding it to them. With a little bit of patience, you’ll eventually find a way to incorporate Swiss chard into your chickens’ diet.
Frequently asked questions
Can baby chicks eat Swiss chard?
Yes, baby chicks can eat Swiss chard. Just make sure to chop it up into small pieces or shred it so they can easily eat it.
What about Oxalic acid in Swiss chard?
The leaves of Swiss chard do contain oxalic acid. However, this is not a problem for chickens as they can easily metabolize it. If you are worried about this, you can cook the chard before feeding it to your chickens to break down this acid.