Chickens can eat a wide variety of plants and fruits like limes and herbs like opinions, but can chickens eat cilantro?
This fragrant herb with a citrusy flavor is among our favorite herbs for traditional cooking due to its refreshing taste and aroma.
And the good news is it’s safe for chickens to eat!
Yes, you read it right, chickens can eat cilantro. But which part of this plant is edible for chickens?
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- if chickens can have cilantro seeds, stems, and leaves
- what are the benefits of feeding cilantro to your chooks
- and other herbs that are beneficial for your flock
So, if you’re not sure whether cilantro is safe for your chickens or not, you came to the right place.
Without further ado, let’s get right into it.
So, Can Chickens Eat Cilantro Plants?
Yes, chickens can eat cilantro plants.
Cilantro is a Spanish name that refers to coriander leaves. These leaves are popular in many restaurants and even for those who love cooking.
But the term coriander refers to the dried seed of the Coriandrum sativum plant.
Why is it popular? It is because cilantro is an edible herb of the parsley family, which is used as a spice for different dishes.
All parts of the cilantro plant are edible, the leaves, roots, and seeds. However, the seeds have a different flavor.
Fresh cilantro tastes like pepper with a lemony, bright, and pungent flavor. That’s why it is a perfect spice in your recipe.
But what about your chickens? Can chickens eat cilantro? Will they pick on it or avoid it?
Like black peppers, cilantro plants are safe for chickens in all stages.
But will chickens like it? And what parts of the plants can chickens eat? Will dig deeper into that later.
Do Chickens Like Cilantro?
Every chicken has different preferences from other animals and humans.
So, the foods or even spices we love might not taste or smell appealing to them.
Not all chickens like the scent and taste of cilantro. But they might peck at it out of curiosity when you feed it to them or find it in your garden while foraging.
Can Chickens Eat Fresh Cilantro?
Yes, your chickens can. In fact, fresh ones are more nutritious and taste better than old or refrigerated ones.
And if unfresh cilantro is left uneaten, the pest will attack them.
You might prefer to use fresh cilantro in your dish. The same goes for your chickens. They might ignore it if it’s about to rot.
Can Chickens Eat Cilantro Stems?
As mentioned above, all parts of cilantro plants are edible, even its stem. So, is it safe for chickens? Absolutely, yes.
No matter what part of the cilantro plant, chickens can eat it.
So, you don’t have to worry if your chickens will pick your planted cilantro in your backyard.
Can Chickens Eat Cilantro Seeds?
The seeds of cilantro are also called coriander seeds. These seeds can be found in the flower of a cilantro plant.
Is it safe for your chickens? Definitely, yes.
In fact, cilantro or coriander seeds are also packed with many nutrients that your chickens need for their growth.
As you continue reading, you’ll find out what those benefits are.
Can Chickens Eat Cilantro Leaves?
Like the stems and seeds of cilantro, its leaves are also edible and safe for your chickens.
You can slice them into small pieces and add them to their daily feed.
In fact, the leaves contain the most nutrients of a cilantro plant and chlorophyll, which helps to gain weight and keep a healthy body.
Can Baby Chickens Eat Cilantro?
If cilantro is safe for hens and roasters, it is also safe for the young ones.
It doesn’t have any side effects on them as long as the amount is not too much and you make sure they won’t get choked.
Is Cilantro Good for Chickens?
Some chickens do enjoy gorging on cilantro seeds and some parts of the plants. Aside from being a fragrant herb, cilantro offers lots of health benefits to your flocks that improve their general well-being.
Herbs like cilantro typically provide high nutritional value for chicken flocks. Here are some wonderful benefits cilantro provides for your hens.
Due to its low-calorie content and high antioxidant content, cilantro is well known for being used in poultry farms as a supplemental feed.
In fact, research conducted in 2014 revealed that the addition of cilantro to broiler chicks’ diet improved their performance indices and positive immune system response.
The seeds may also help in parasite elimination.
Cilantro is a fantastic digestive aid for chickens, thus improving their intestinal health and overall well-being.
It also contains vital elements like potassium, zinc, and vitamins A and C in large quantities.
To see all the nutritional contents of cilantro and the amount your chickens can get every 100 grams of serving, refer to the table below.
|
Nutrients |
Amount per serving |
| Protein | 21.94 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15.38 g |
| Water | 7.31 g |
| Dietary fibers | 10.41 g |
| Fats | 0.116 g |
| Vitamin A | More than 1.5 mg or 5,851 IU |
| Vitamin C | 556.6 mg |
| Vitamin K | 22.6 mg |
| Potassium | 4467 mg |
| Calcium | 1245 mg |
| Magnesium | 695 mg |
| Phosphorus | 482 mg |
| Sodium | 212 mg |
| Iron | 42.45 mg |
| Niacin | 10.708 mg |
| Zinc | 4.6 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.5 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.251 mg |
| Energy | 279 kcal |
Nutritional Benefits of Feeding Cilantro to Chickens
In this section, let’s dig deeper into how your birds can benefit from eating cilantro seeds, stems, and leaves.
Vitamin A
This compound is not just a vitamin.
It helps boost immunity and regenerates and maintains the cells of chickens, like the Epithelial cells found in skin, respiratory, digestive, and reproductive tracts.
Vitamin A also helps develop bones, moisturize the throat, eyelids, and nostrils, and helps withstand cold weather and even molting.
And lastly, it can prevent blood spots in eggs.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is essential to help your chickens fight free radicals by boosting their immunity.
It also helps regulates stress in different weather and improves the oxidation process in their body.
Vitamin K
The clotting mechanisms in chickens are influenced by vitamin K.
As a result, this vitamin aids in their battle against coccidiosis.
Vitamin K aids your chicken in reducing or completely eradicating blood stains in their eggs, eliminating hemorrhages brought on by ineffective blood clotting, or in the worst-case situation, failing to carry out the blood clotting process altogether.
Antioxidants
Having beneficial antioxidant aids helps hens maintain good health, increase productivity, and improve breeding efficiency for breeders and layers.
Fiber
Cilantro is also a fantastic source of fiber for your chicken’s diet.
Fiber helps with digestion and encourages regular bowel movements, making it a crucial nutrient for chickens.
Additionally, it helps keep triglyceride and blood sugar levels in a healthy range.
Aside from those nutrients, cilantro also contain iron, zinc, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, which are essential for the overall growth of your chickens.
That’s why you won’t regret introducing them to cilantro.
Because cilantro is minimal in sugar and calories, it’s safe for your chickens to consume it frequently.
How to Prepare Cilantro for Chickens?
Preparing cilantro to serve your chickens is very easy.
After purchasing them from the market or harvesting them from your garden, you need to wash them properly.
This way, you can remove chemicals used, pests, and existing dirt. Then you can slice them into small pieces before serving them to your chickens.
And that’s it!
You can now bring it to your chooks and see if they like the taste as much as we do.
How to Feed Cilantro to Chickens
After preparing, you can directly spread them to your chicken’s coop or put them in your chicken feeder.
After they have had their fill, be sure to wipe up any leftover cilantro that may have fallen to the ground.
Sometimes, hanging the cilantro in your chicken’s coop will help to prevent competing with each other.
However, if it is your first time introducing cilantro to your chickens, they might ignore it.
So, mixing them with their feeds or treats may be a better option.
How Much Cilantro Can Your Chickens Eat
It’s important to remember that high-quality chicken feed should make up 90% of the bird’s total diet. Herbs must not exceed 10% of your chicken’s diet.
And to make room for more greens in their diet, you can offer your chickens cilantro twice a week.
Other Herbs Chickens Can Eat
Aside from cilantro, there are other herbs that are safe for chickens to eat and highly beneficial for them.
Wanna know more about what those herbs are?
Mint
This herb should be at the top of your list if you ever intend to grow herbs for your chickens. Mint is incredibly simple to grow and has a variety of uses.
They are essentially beneficial for your flock during the hottest months of the year because they help in lowering the body temperature.
Additionally, these herbs aid in keeping insects and rodents away from the area.
Thyme
Thyme is an excellent addition to nesting boxes of your chickens since, like other aromatic herbs, it is an insect repellant.
Including thyme in your chickens’ diet also benefits them greatly because it has antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities and promotes respiratory health.
Oregano
The oregano herb contains minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and antibacterial and antiparasitic properties.
This herb is very helpful in boosting the immune system and strengthening the respiratory system of your chickens.
Besides, this herb is very easy to grow and reproduce, so you don’t need to always repurchase them in the market.
Comfrey
It is a perennial herb plant that is an invasive weed. Although it’s not tasty and chickens don’t like it, this herb is very nutritious.
It has a high protein content, rich in vitamins B12, C, and A, calcium, potassium, sulfur, iron, selenium, phosphorus, and fiber.
Alfalfa
Another great supplementary herb is Alfalfa. This perennial cultivated forage crop herb hits differently in your chicken’s health.
It can provide vitamins like A and E, which your chickens need for growing. Alfalfa herbs also have the minerals that Comfrey offers.
Lemon Balm
This herb belongs to the mint family. It has a similar structure to oregano, but they only differ in its smell.
Unlike other herbs, lemon balm is very effective in reducing stress and promoting calmness in your chickens.
Aside from that, because of their smell, they are also good insect repellants.
At first, it may be hard to introduce these herbs to your chickens. But you won’t see its incredible effects unless you try it yourself.
Herbs That Are Bad for Chickens
As you all know, not all plants and herbs are safe for your chickens. The list of plants or herbs below should be avoided because they might harm your flock:
- Foxglove
- Lobelia
- Calendula
- Rhubarb
- Beans
- Catnip
- Borage
- Holly plant
- Chives
- Feverfew
- Lavender
But why are these plants unsafe for your chickens?
Because they have poisonous substances that cause adverse health effects to your chickens.
If you have them in your backyard, it will be better to remove them. However, some of these are flowering plants that you might love.
So if you want to keep them or plant them, it’s best to keep them away from your coop.
Then make sure your chooks can’t access them to ensure your birds’ safety.
Can Chickens Eat Cilantro: Final Recap
Yes, chickens can eat cilantro seeds, stems, and leaves, but only in moderation.
In fact, it is abundant in vitamins A, C, K, and E and rich in antioxidants.
This plant can help strengthen your bird’s immune system, provide digestive aid, and improve your bird’s overall well-being.
So if your chooks find this green plant palatable enough, they’d happily peck on it.
And you don’t have to worry if your chickens get into your garden or eat your leftovers that contain cilantro because it’s safe for them.
How about you? Have you ever tried feeding cilantro to your flock?
Share with us your experience in the comment section below.
If you’re curious about what other greens are safe for your flock or if chickens can have lettuce, check out the article below.