Can Chickens Eat Brussels Sprouts? Just the Facts

Does your garden produce too many Brussels sprouts for your family to eat? If so, you can feed them to your backyard chickens!

Chickens love to eat sprouts, and you probably have other fruits or vegetables that they will enjoy as well.

The green leaves of a Brussel sprout contain antioxidants that help eliminate harmful free radicals in your chicken’s bodies. This makes them one of the best greens for chickens.

As with other vegetables fed to chickens, Brussels sprouts should be fresh out of the garden or purchased from a reputable farmers market.

Can chickens eat Brussels sprouts? Yes, chickens can eat Brussels sprouts, stalks, and leaves. Brussels sprouts are a part of the family Brassicaceae. They are a rich source of vitamins and minerals. You can feed your chickens raw or cooked Brussels sprouts.

Nutritional Content of Brussels Sprouts

A cup of cooked Brussels sprouts has 56.2 calories with 0.78 grams of fat and 11.08 grams of carbohydrates per serving.

These little green vegetables are very nutrient-dense. They not only provide an impressive amount of antioxidants but also other health benefits.

Brussels sprouts contain kaempferol, which has many healthy properties and can reduce inflammation and promote heart health. Kaempferol is also linked to a reduction in cancer growth.

Brussels sprouts are a great way to supply antioxidants to chickens. This will help promote good health in their cells and body.

Brussels sprouts have antioxidants that help prevent free radicals from destroying cells in the body. These free radicals that can come from a variety of sources, including foods your chickens eat.

Vitamin K

The importance of vitamin K in the diet of chickens is not just for their bones. Having enough vitamin K can ensure that a chicken’s blood will clot properly should an injury occur.

Without it, a chicken would not stop bleeding from even the slightest scratch or cut.

Vitamin A

Chicks have a tough time producing mucus without a diet rich in vitamin A. They need vitamin A for the mucous producing glands including the nose, esophagus, and inner eyelid.

Folate

For a chicken’s diet to be complete, it needs folate. Without this nutrient, chickens may not eat as much, experience poor feather growth, not eat as well, or develop anemia.

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.

Manganese is an important part of the eggshell formation.

Fiber

Chickens need at least 10% fiber content in their overall diet to maintain good health- including sources like fruits and vegetables. 

Studies show that with the proper amount of fiber in their diet, a chicken’s feed intake increases. Feather pecking also decreases so your coop stays peaceful!

Brussels sprouts not only promote a healthy digestive system, but they also help reduce the risk of heart disease and improve blood sugar control.

Protein

Young chickens are full of energy and a playful personality, but sometimes they need more protein to keep up their growth. Introducing Brussels sprouts may be just the way to give them that extra boost in protein.

One cup of Brussels sprouts contains 3 grams of protein. You could give them Brussels sprouts as a high-protein snack to help with their development.

Can Chickens Eat Brussels Sprouts Raw?

Raw Brussels sprouts are fine for chickens to eat, but they are a bit tough. Raw sprouts are a very nutrient-dense vegetable. However, some of that nutrient goodness gets lost when you cook them.

So, how can chickens eat raw Brussels sprouts if you want to give them the maximum nutrient punch? Chop them up into smaller bit size pieces and watch them enjoy this healthy treat.

The video below is of my daughter feeding our chickens raw brussels sprouts.

Can Chickens Eat Cooked Brussels Sprouts?

Your Chickens can eat your leftover cooked Brussels sprouts. Just make sure there isn’t a lot of salt on them and you should have no problem.

Cook the Brussels Sprouts until they are tender and toss a little olive oil on them for added flavor. Your chickens will gobble up any leftovers that you haven’t eaten.

Can Chickens Eat Frozen Brussels Sprouts?

Yes, chickens can eat frozen Brussels sprouts. These frozen sprouts make a fun treat for your chickens to peck at during the hot summers. Just make sure the frozen sprouts have already been chopped up into bite-size pieces.

Can Chickens Eat Brussel Sprout Stalks?

Brussels sprouts stalks can be eaten, but require more cooking time, so they taste better. The stalk provides a source of post-harvest nutrients for the sprouts which lets them last longer. 

Can Chickens Eat Brussels Sprouts Leaves? 

Chickens can eat Brussels sprout leaves. Brussels sprout leaves can be a healthy snack for chickens, and they full of rich nutrients.

Brussels sprouts belong to the same family as broccoli, cabbage, and kale. You can either cut them up or cook them before feeding them to chickens. Cooking them makes them softer and easier to eat. 

How Many Brussels Sprouts Can Chickens Eat?

Brussels sprouts don’t have a lot of calories, but they should only be fed you your flock as a treat. There is no harm in them eating several of them per chicken.

What is the Best Way To Feed Brussels Sprouts To Chickens?

They can be cooked and eaten in many ways: boiled, roasted, stir-fried, sautéed, braised – you name it.

You can feed them cooked leftover Brussels sprouts these will be tender and easier for them to eat. Where you feed them to them cooked after boiling them or Raw they should be chopped up. This will make them easier for your chickens to consume.

You could also cut them in half and string them up in your chicken run. This good for some entertainment to watch while your chickens peck at them.

To Sum It Up

Brussels sprouts are a tasty nutrient-dense snack that is healthy for your chickens. Just as with any treat they should be fed to your chickens in moderation. They have many good nutrients but can’t replace a good layer feed.

Your flock might love them or like many chicken keepers out there they may want nothing to do with them. Next time you have some leftovers let your chickens give them a try.