Can Chickens Eat Cabbage? All You Need To Know

The cabbage is a common vegetable that you can easily find in any store. Maybe you’re even growing your own. Because of how common it is, you might be thinking if you can give them to your chickens. However, you might be worried if it’s safe for them. Chickens love eating, but they cannot safely eat everything.

If you look at the nutritional value of the cabbage, you will see that it doesn’t contain anything poisonous for chicken. Sure, it has sugar and salt. However, it’s not high enough to be worried about. Other chicken treats contain much more sugar or salt.

The cabbage has a few parts. However, you don’t have to worry about that. You can give them every portion. The rib and the core might be a little tough, but your chickens can eat them.

Is Cabbage Good for Chickens?​

Like with us humans, not everything that your chickens could eat would be healthy for them. Let’s see how good the cabbage is for your chickens.

The cabbage contains many different nutrients. It contains all kinds of minerals and vitamins that could be beneficial to your chickens. However, it doesn’t have all the things that your chickens need. For example, it has protein, but only a tiny amount of it.

As long as it is consumed in moderation, cabbage is healthy. However, it could not be a staple in your chickens’ diet. On the other hand, it would be a good chicken treat.

Unexpected Summer Treat​

This vegetable can be fed to chickens at any time of year. However, its nutritional value is best maximized in the summer months.

The cabbage has a large amount of Vitamin C. Chickens don’t usually need this vitamin. They could produce this vitamin under normal circumstances.

Under stress, chickens, on the other hand, have some difficulty making it. Heat stress is one example of stress that chickens could face. This type of stress occurs primarily in the summer months. If you want to help them with this, you can give them a little more cabbage than usual when summer comes.

Furthermore, the cabbage is mostly water. While this substance is always needed, it is especially essential in the summer.

These two things make the cabbage an unexpectedly great summer treat!

Here are some of the vitamins & nutrients contained in the cabbage:

• Protein
• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Manganese
• Iron
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Zinc
• Folate

Do Chickens Like Cabbage?​

Now we know that your chickens can eat cabbage. And we also know it may be beneficial for them. Nonetheless, let's find out if they enjoy them.

Remember that chickens have their preferences as well. Some chickens might love cabbage, while others might loathe it.

You can try feeding your chickens a few bits to see if they like them. They probably don't like it if they take a peck and move on. It would be safe to assume they like it, however, if they demolish it and fight each other over it.

Serving Cabbage to Chickens​

This vegetable can be served to your little ones in a number of fun ways.

Cooked​

Your chickens can eat both cooked and uncooked cabbage. Don't serve them leftovers, however. It has already been mentioned that chickens don't require a lot of sugar or salt. In most cases, leftovers are seasoned.

Uncooked: Refrigerated​

Cabbage would make an excellent summer treat. You can refrigerate it to maximize its benefits. This will make it more refreshing and help combat the heat.

Uncooked: Dangling​

You can feed your flock the whole cabbage. You can throw it to your chickens. But you can also hang it. They like picking food that's dangling.

Another chicken problem might also be solved with this method. Chickens can become bored. Boredom can lead chickens to become stressed, which can lead to all sorts of mischief. Try dangling a cabbage in front of your chickens to keep them busy.

Can Chicks Eat Cabbage?​

Chicks generally eat the same stuff as chickens.

You must, however, take their digestive system into consideration. Their digestive system has not developed as much as an adult's. It is necessary to take extra care when introducing treats to chicks.

It is a very easy vegetable to eat. You can, however, cook it to make it softer if you want to be extra careful. In addition, you can chop it to ensure it does not pose a choking hazard. Be sure to limit their intake to a few bites.

In order for chickens to grow up healthy, they should mostly be fed starter feed. Starter feed should be fed until the 6th week. Thereafter, it's okay to start giving treats more generously.

Cabbage and Chickens: Things to Remember​

Moldy Cabbage​

Some chicken keepers like to feed their chickens food that is about to rot. Mold, however, can negatively affect chicken health. The rule of thumb is, if it has mold, it has to go.

Store-bought Cabbage​

Your store-bought cabbage is likely coated with chemicals. Those chemicals are harmful to your chickens, not the cabbage. Wash the cabbage thoroughly to ensure all contaminants are removed. If you grow cabbages at home and use pesticides, the same applies.

Summary​

Definitely! It does not contain any toxic substances. Additionally, it contains a lot of good things for chickens. Furthermore, it contains Vitamin C and water, making it a great summer treat.

Introducing new treats to our chickens can be challenging. We can't just feed chickens anything. They might love food, but they can't eat everything. Some treats aren't good for them. Surely you won't make that mistake.