Can Chickens Eat Blueberries? Yes, chickens can eat blueberries. Chickens need to have a balanced diet for healthy growth and high-quality productions, be it meat or eggs.
Chickens, like humans, appreciate the variation in their diets. Who doesn’t get tired of eating one particular type of food, over and over again? Giving chickens something different from the regular, to snack on is a great treat for them.
Chickens being omnivores, have a wide range of choices you can pick from to treat them with. A little delicious treat here and there would not hurt them. As easy as it would be to just cast all of your leftovers to the chickens in your yard, you should know that not all foods can be eaten by your chickens or are healthy for them.
Here’s a list of foods or fruits you should not consider giving to your chicken:
- Bread
- Avocado pit
- Onions
- Salted food
- Moldy food
- Tomato stem, leaves, and flowers
- Green potato peels
- Unripe tomatoes
- Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Eggplant among others
The foods or fruits listed are considered dangerous and harmful to chickens. They contain certain toxins or compounds that can make your chicken sick or even kill them.
To find out more about what your chickens can eat or should avoid, check out
Nutritional Table For Blueberries
In 100 grams, there is 240kj of energy.
1 cup contains 84 calories
Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
Carbohydrate | 14.49 g | |
Sugars | 9.96 g | |
Dietary fiber | 2.4 g | |
Fat | 0.33 g | |
Protein | 0.74 g | |
Calcium | 6 mg | 1% |
Iron | 0.28 mg | 2% |
Magnesium | 6 mg | 2% |
Manganese | 0.336 mg | 16% |
Phosphorus | 12 mg | 2% |
Potassium | 77 mg | 2% |
Sodium | 1 mg | 0% |
Zinc | 0.165 mg | 2% |
Water | 84 g |
Vitamins A Equiv. beta carotene
Lutein zeaxanthin |
32 ug
80 ug |
0% |
Vitamin A | 54 IU | |
Thiamine B1 | 0.037 mg | 3% |
Riboflavin B2 | 0.041 mg | 3% |
Niacin B3 | 0.418 mg | 3% |
Pantothenic acid B5 | 0.124 mg | 2% |
Vitamin B6 | 0.052 mg | 4% |
Folate B9 | 6 ug | 2% |
Vitamin C | 9.7 mg | 12% |
Vitamin E | 0.57 mg | 4% |
Vitamin K | 19.3 ug | 18% |
Interesting Facts About Blueberries
Blueberries fall under the group of flowering perennial plants that produce blue or purple berries. They are from the family of Ericaceae, the genus Vaccinium.
There are two kinds;
- The lowbush (wild) blueberries
- The highbush blueberries.
The lowbush species are known for the production of small blueberry fruits and the case is reversed in the highbush species. The highbush blueberry species produce larger fruits. The Lowbush blueberry species reproduce through cross-pollination. Blueberries are shrubs that vary in length from 10cm to 400cm in height.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberries?
Of course, chickens can eat blueberries. Blueberries serve as a nice variation to their regular meal, offering a way different taste from what they are used to. Chickens love blueberries and would struggle with each other just to get to the golden treat before others do. It is important to provide just enough for all of your chickens to prevent the struggle among them.
Blueberries should not be fed to your chickens as a daily meal, replacing their formulated chicken feed. This is because your chickens would end up malnourished and unproductive. Blueberries are soft, small, and round, making them easy for chickens to consume. You may decide to slice them into smaller bits for your chickens to eat. If not, your chickens would do just fine pecking at the blueberry whole.
You can also give your chickens frozen blueberries in the hot weather. Giving your chickens 2-3 berries a few times during the week is enough to treat them with. You can also mix blueberries with other fruits, for your chickens, presenting them with a mash-up of nutrients and vitamins. Utilize your chicken feeders to ensure these fruits are kept clean and away from contamination.
What You Should Know About Blueberries
Blueberries contain 14% of carbohydrates, 0.7% of proteins, 0.3% of fat, and 84% of water. They contain high levels of fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K. They are also low in calories and proteins. Blueberries contain 15 grams of carbohydrates and 15% sugar. They also house traces of hydrogen cyanide, the quantity of which is not enough to hurt or kill your chicken.
Benefit Of Blueberries To Chickens
- Aid the reduction of cholesterol levels
- Helps to improve the blood sugar level
- Support healthy weight loss
- Aid digestion
- Increase fertility in chicken
- Aid growth
- Protect the chickens against diseases by strengthening their immune system
- Aids the production of nutrient-rich eggs
- Supports adaptation to new environments
- Aids effective blood circulation.
In Summary
Blueberries contain loads of nutrients and serve as healthy variations in your chicken’s diet. They have a lot of health benefits that your chickens would enjoy if they get their beaks on them. Remember, blueberries cannot replace the formulated feeds that provide a near-balanced diet. They can only serve as supplements, filling in for missing nutrients in their diets such as vitamins. Your chicken treat should not be more than 10% of their usual diet. Avoid treating chickens to blueberries too often because it can change their taste and prevent them from eating healthy.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on raising backyard chickens, you should check out our blog post.