I’m not a fan of arugula at all. In fact, I can’t stand it but my husband likes it in his salads. When I am in a rush I sometimes accidentally grab a spring salad mix with arugula in it.
If my husband does not eat it all I have to figure a way to repurpose it. I hate wasting food and I refuse to eat the bitter lettuce herb!
Luckily we have chickens, so they get the leftover arugula to munch on as a treat. Is arugula their favorite green snack? Probably not, I would say Kale takes the crown, but they will eat arugula as well.
My chickens aren’t that picky for the most part.
Can chickens eat Arugula? Yes, Arugula is part of the mustard family (Brassicaceae). Arugula is a herb that has a spicy somewhat bitter taste. Your chickens may or may not like it but it is safe to eat. Arugula is popular in salad mixes you buy at the grocery store.
Arugula Nutritional Value For Chickens
A cup of arugula contains, 0.516 g of protein, 0.132 g of fat, and 5 calories. Vitamins and minerals found in arugula include calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium, and magnesium.
Arugula is also full of antioxidants which are healthy for your chickens. Antioxidants help fight against oxidative stress. Antioxidants are also important for nutrition, growth, and reproduction in chickens.
In the wintertime there is not much green foliage for my chickens to munch on. This is why I often give them different treats as a compliment to their layer feed during this time of year.
If you throw any green foliage in the run during winter and my hens will chomp down on it.
Check out my article on the best greens for chickens for more tasty ideas and treats to feed your flock.
Vitamin K
Arugula is an excellent source of vitamin K. When you feed your chickens large amounts of vitamin K they will produce vitamin K rich eggs.
Vitamin K also helps protect against coccidiosis. Chickens that lack vitamin K also have trouble with blood clotting when they are injured.
Don’t worry though as long as you are feeding your chickens a good layer feed they should get all the vitamin K they need. However, a little extra never hurts.
Calcium
Calcium is important in producing strong eggshells for your laying hens. They need 4-5 grams of calcium a day. Arugula contains 32 milligrams of calcium per cup which is not a lot but every bit helps.
Protein
Arugula contains .26 grams of protein, not a lot but chickens can use a protein when they are molting to help with feather regrowth.
Iron
Arugula contains .015 milligrams of iron. Such a small amount hardly worth mentioning. Iron however is crucial to your chicken’s overall diet. A complete lack of iron can cause anemia.
Your layer feed will contain all the iron your flock needs.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays an essential role in the health of your chicken’s reproductive, respiratory, and digestive tracts. It also helps keep your chicken’s skin healthy.
A lack of vitamin A can cause inflammation of eyelids and even worse problems.
Folate
1 cup (0.24 l) of arugula contains a tiny 9.7 micrograms of folate. Folate is important for egg hatchability. Without folate, your hens will have trouble forming albumen (NRC, 1994).
Magnesium
This is a vital nutrient in the egg formation of your laying hens. It also helps protect against protein oxidation in liver and plasma.
Potassium
Are your chickens enduring a hot summer and seem stressed out? Give them a treat that is rich in potassium. There are 36.9 milligrams of potassium in 1 cup (0.24 l) of arugula.
Potassium will help with water intake for your chickens during the hot summer months.
Will Chickens Eat Arugula?
That may depend on how old the arugula is. As arugula ages, it becomes more bitter and its strong smell is apparent.
My hens like to eat arugula especially if there is no other green foliage around to munch and peck.
Below is a video of my chickens eating arugula.
How to Feed Your Chickens Arugula
Arugula grows in fairly small pieces, to begin with. I will often just toss the leftover arugula out in the yard for our flock to eat.
If you want them to have smaller pieces then just chop up the arugula and toss it in the chicken run.
Can Chickens Eat Cooked Arugula?
Cooking arugula gets rid of the strong bitter taste of fresh arugula. Cooked arugula is safe for your backyard chickens to eat. It is not necessary to cook it for them though as they can eat it raw.
Can I feed chickens Rotten Arugula?
Don’t feed your backyard chickens rotten arugula. Rotten food of any kind should never be fed to your flock. Throw it in the compost pile if it’s gone bad and use it in your garden later.
In fact, there are many foods you can put into your compost pile. If you’ve never composted before read my article on how to compost at home. This article will give you many ideas on what works and what doesn’t.
Does Arugula Contain Oxalates or Oxalic Acid?
Arugula does not contain any oxalates. It will not inhibit nutrient absorption in your chicken’s overall diet.
To Sum It Up
Arugula is a healthy treat for your chickens. Just as with any herb or vegetable feed it to your flock in moderation.
I like to personally give my chickens extra greens during the winter. This is because there is a severe lack of foliage in my backyard during this time of year.
There also aren’t any bugs which is fine for me but I know my chickens don’t feel that way.