In my backyard, we have eight large blueberry bushes that give us tasty fruit to eat each growing season. I let my chicken’s free-range during the day so it was important to find out if my flock could eat these tasty berries that my daughter loves to munch on during the summer months.
Through my experience and research, I found out the following.
Can chickens eat blueberries? Yes, chickens can eat blueberries. Blueberries are a part of the Vaccinium family of perennial flowering plants. Blueberries contain large amounts of antioxidants which are beneficial to chickens. As with any treat feed them to your chickens in moderation.
My backyard chickens love blueberries they constantly hang out under our blueberry bushes checking for blueberries that have fallen to the ground and if there are no blueberries on the ground then some of my hens will fly up and perch on our blueberry bushes helping themselves to the blue tasty fruit.
While one hen is doing this the others will circle below her hoping that she will knock some additional blueberries to the ground. My flock’s favorite fruit is blueberries and no other fruit even comes close. You can see one of my hens up in a blueberry bush in the picture below.
Nutritional benefits of blueberries for chickens
A cup of blueberries has 84 calories and 15 grams of carbohydrates and is also about 85% water. A couple of blueberries also contains 4 grams of soluble fiber. Blueberries also contain anti-inflammatory properties.
One cup of blueberries contains 15 grams of sugar so only feed them to your flock in moderation.
Blueberries contain Vitamin K
Chickens will produce vitamin K-rich eggs if you give them large amounts of vitamin K.
Coccidiosis can be protected against with the help of Vitamin K. Chickens that don’t have enough vitamin K in their system have trouble with blood clotting should they be injured.
Providing your chickens with good layer feed will give them the vitamins and nutrients they need. It never hurts to add a little extra vitamin K.
Blueberries are a good source of Vitamin B-6
Poor growth, nervous behavior, and lack of appetite are some of the characteristics of a baby chick that has been fed a diet deficient of vitamin B-6. Blueberries are a good treat to feed your flock.
Blueberries are rich in antioxidants
It is believed that blueberries have the highest level of antioxidants of any fruit or vegetable. Flavonoids are a family of polyphenol antioxidants that makes up the main anti-oxidants in blueberries. Anthocyanins are thought to be responsible for much of the health benefits of the berry.
It is safer and cheaper to use natural antioxidants in poultry farming as they prevent oxidation during storage, do not cause metabolic diseases in animals, and do not contain toxic chemicals.
In poultry nutrition, antioxidants are essential. Chicken-producing farms use antioxidant-rich foods to keep fertility high.
Blueberries contain potassium
Studies have shown that potassium can help keep your hens producing eggs. A chicken needs 150 mg of potassium every day, according to the National Research Council (1994).
The potassium in some foods or supplements may help your hens in cases of heat stress caused by hot weather. They will drink more water as a result.
Blueberries are rich in fiber
Chickens need a diet with at least 10% fiber in order to maintain good health- including fruits and vegetables.
A chicken’s feed intake increases when it consumes the correct amount of fiber in its diet. Feather pecking also decreases so your coop stays peaceful!
Blueberries contain manganese
Chickens who lack manganese can experience problems such as perosis and chondrodystrophy. Without the proper amount of manganese, chickens may have thin-shelled eggs or a harder time developing properly.
It is important for the formation of eggshells that manganese is present. Without manganese your chicken’s eggshells will be thin and of poor quality.
Blueberries are a source of protein
Regardless of the class of animal, protein is essential for the health of poultry. Protein is an important constituent of amino acids that is responsible for many biological functions, including growth, development, egg production, immunity, adaptation to the environment, and many others.
How many blueberries can a chicken eat?
There is no set amount of blueberries that you can feed your chickens. Blueberries, however, should only be given as a treat to your birds and not used as a primary dietary item. Consequently, you should only give them small amounts of food occasionally.
When your chickens eat a lot of blueberries you may see their poop turn a blueish color temporarily.
Can chickens have blueberries every day?
While letting your chickens eat a few blueberries each day is not detrimental. They should have a balanced diet that includes a layered feed with the right amounts of vitamins and minerals.
I would not advise buying and feeding blueberries to your flock each day. However, if your chickens eat blueberries during the summer season it is not a big deal in my opinion.
Can chickens eat blueberries whole?
Chickens can eat blueberries whole. My chickens like to eat the fruit in one big gulp. You can see my flock eating some in the video below after I have harvested some from our bushes. They love this healthy snack.
If you are trying to feed chicks blueberries it’s a good idea to cut them up into smaller bit size pieces.
You can see in the video below that my chickens eat whole blueberries with no issues.
Can chickens eat the leaves of a blueberry bush?
One study by scientists fed rats ground up blueberry leaves and there were no ill effects found. Chickens can eat the leaves of a blueberry bush but my flock has never been interested in eating them.
If you have some blueberry bushes around your backyard you can rest assured they will cause no harm to your backyard chickens.
Can chickens have frozen blueberries?
Chickens can eat frozen blueberries. This is a tasty treat during the hot summer that my chickens love. After picking some berries we freeze a little extra for this reason.
Can Chickens Eat Blueberry Muffins?
Blueberry muffins are not a great treat to give your chicken as they contain high amounts of sugars and processed food ingredients. However, tossing one or two into the chicken coop probably won’t hurt them.
As with many table scraps do feed them to your flock regularly.
What Are the Dangers of Blueberry Plants?
The blueberry plant poses no danger to your flock. My research found that the leaves do not contain any harmful toxic compounds and the berry fruit itself is a healthy treat for chickens.
Is too much fruit bad for chickens?
Eating a lot of fruit is not bad for your flock. However, as with any food you should feed it to them in moderation. Fruit contains a large number of sugars which when eaten excessively can lead to negative metabolic effects. A good chicken feed is their best source of food.
Conclusion
My chickens love blueberries and I bet your flock will love them too. As with any treat feed them to your flock in moderation. Fruits and veggies are not a substitute for a good layer feed.
Other fruits chickens like: