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Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon? — Everything You Need to Know

Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon

Chickens can eat spicy foods but how about spices? Can chickens eat cinnamon?

If you’re specifically searching for the answer to that question, you came to the right place, and the answer is yes, they can.

But there are several things to consider before feeding them to your chickens.

So, in this article, we’ll dig deep and answer if chickens can eat:

  • cinnamon sticks
  • cinnamon rolls
  • and cinnamon powder

We’ll also show you how your chickens can benefit from cinnamon and how to feed them to your flock.

So, without further ado, let’s get right into it!

Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is a spice that comes from the bark of a Cinnamomum tree. This spice is commonly linked to a holiday and autumn season.

It’s usually used to give deep flavor to a drink or dessert. That’s why humans loved it. But the question is: can chickens have cinnamon? 

Before we answer that question, let us know more about cinnamon and how and when it was first used.

What is Cinnamon?

The Cinnamomum tree, which the cinnamon spice comes from, is native to Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and South America.

Cinnamon was first used in Ancient Egypt in 2000 BC. And in the middle ages, it was utilized to treat some medical conditions like coughing, sore throats, and arthritis. Now, it is a widespread spice in Europe and the United States.

Cinnamon is reddish-brown, and it has a sharp but sweet fragrance. That is why bakers and pastry owners love to use it in making bread, pastries, and pies.

It was also a great addition to your coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, which gives an aromatic scent. You can purchase it as a powder or quills, or curled sticks.

Cinnamon is more than just a spice. Behind its aromatic scent is hidden health benefits not only for human but also for poultries.

So meaning it’s safe for your flocks. What are its benefits? 

Keep reading to dig more!

Can chickens eat cinnamon sticks

Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon Sticks?

A cinnamon stick is a dried cinnamon rolled to form a stick. It is also known as quilled cinnamon and usually measures 7 to 10 meters. Because it’s cinnamon, your flocks can have it.

Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon Bread?

Cinnamon bread is a pastry seasoned with cinnamon and sometimes associated with raisins. Yes, the cinnamon itself is safe for your flocks. 

However, if it was mixed with bread or other pastry products, it might be dangerous to them. Why? Because of its high sugar content. 

Sugar is safe, but too much can lead to some complications. So, if you buy cinnamon bread, enjoy it with your family, not your flock.

Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon Rolls?

Cinnamon rolls are also a kind of bread made of dough, sugar, and other baking ingredients. It looks like a roll with a cinnamon fragrance.

Because it has a sweet flavor, it has high sugar content. So, do not try to share it with your flocks.

Though it won’t harm if they will take a bite, it’s still unhealthy for them.

Can Chickens Eat Powdered Cinnamon?

Though cinnamon is safe for chickens, it’s not a good idea to directly give the powder to them. It’s still harmful if given too much. Besides, they won’t enjoy its flavor.

So, if you want your flocks to enjoy the aromatic scent of cinnamon, you can mix it into their food. The food with cinnamon can be served as cooked or uncooked. 

Can Chickens Eat Dried Cinnamon?

Dry cinnamon is a solid structure cinnamon. It can be a form of a stick or what usually call a quilled and a powder. It can also be liquid in the form of extract. 

Feeding food with cinnamon to your little critters is safe if it’s not too much. That’s mixing it into their food is a good way.

Is it Safe for Chickens to Eat a Bark of a Cinnamon Tree?

Cinnamon is from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum tree. So, if you have that tree in your backyard, you might get a husk on it. 

Is the bark safe for your chickens? Definitely, yes. However, make sure that there are no sharp edges to prevent choking.

It’s better to grind and mix it into the feed so your flocks will enjoy every single one.

Is Cinnamon Good for Chickens?

Based on the study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, cinnamon not only gives off an aromatic scent but also provides several health benefits.

It was observed that cinnamon could be a natural feed additive for the poultry industry.

Let’s dig in to learn more about its nutritional and health benefits.

Nutritional Benefits of Cinnamon to Chickens

According to the Department of Agriculture in the US, a teaspoon of powdered cinnamon can give a lot of nutrients, including:

  • 6.42 calories of energy
  • 2 grams of Carbohydrates
  • 26 milligrams of Calcium
  • 0.2 milligrams of Iron
  • 1.56 milligrams of Magnesium
  • 1.66 milligrams of Phosphorus
  • 11.2 milligrams of Potassium
  • 0.39 micrograms of Vitamin A

Cinnamon also contains traces of Vitamin K and B and antioxidants choline, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, and zeaxanthin.

Health Benefits of Cinnamon for Chickens

From the nutritional content of cinnamon, here are the health benefits it can give your flocks. 

1. Prevent Respiratory Infections

Chickens are more susceptible to respiratory infections during the winter season. Because of the cold weather, they can easily acquire bacteria, especially when they’re foraging.

And cinnamon plays a big role in preventing diseases and breathing issues like coughing and nasal congestion. That’s why it’s a better addition to their diet.

2. Good Blood-Thinning Agent

Cinnamon is also a good blood regulator. It helps to thin the chicken’s blood to improve and maintain good circulation up to the wattle, comb, and feet. It also prevents frostbite.

3. Powerful Antioxidant

An antioxidant is an element that helps fight free radicals, and cinnamon is a good source of that. It helps improves chicken’s health to avoid sickness and diseases.

4. Has Anti-inflammatory Substances

This anti-inflammatory compound found in cinnamon promotes overall health and reduces swelling in your chicken’s body. It also helps prevent neurological disorders.

5. Has Antifungal and Antibacterial Properties

Bacteria like E.coli, salmonella, listeria, and streptococcus can cause diseases in poultry flocks.

But with the help of cinnamon’s antifungal and antibacterial properties, the growth of bacteria and fungi can be slowed down and stopped.

6. Improves Gastrointestinal Functions

Because chickens love foraging, indigestion from the food they eat happens very often.

That’s why it’s better to supplement their food with cinnamon to improve the gastrointestinal process. It can also help promote immunity and enhance activity by utilizing the stomach.

7. Help Kills Red Poultry Mites

Red poultry mites are parasitic organisms that irritate flocks. It can also cause death, especially in newborn chicks.

Cinnamon oil can be the best repellant. It’s not toxic to chickens but can kill red poultry mites. Mix it with water, put it in a spray bottle, and apply it to the affected area.

How to Feed Chickens Cinnamon

There are two ways to feed your flock with cinnamon. First is the easiest way. You can directly mix the cinnamon on their uncooked food, like vegetables and fruits.

Then the second way is to cook it together with their food.

Others might want it to mix with the bread but have less sugar. It might take longer to prepare it, but it’s worth it for your flocks.

How Much Cinnamon Can Chickens Eat

Even though cinnamon is safe for your flocks, it must be served in moderation because too much can be harmful.

Enough serving of every meal is one teaspoon for every two pounds of chicken weight. It should be given in moderation two times per week.

With that serving, chickens can highly benefit from the nutrients from the cinnamon without overlapping its limitation.

The Risks of Giving Too Much Cinnamon to Chickens

When feeding cinnamon to your flocks, you should consider the possible threat if they take too much.

If they get more than enough cinnamon, they might have digestive problems. 

Cinnamon may be beneficial to humans, but it may not be advantageous to chickens. 

This is due to the presence of coumarin, a substance in cinnamon that, in excessive doses, is toxic to hens. 

Being cautious while giving cinnamon to hens is vital since coumarin can harm their livers and even kill them.

If you choose to give your chickens cinnamon, make sure to use it sparingly. 

When giving chickens cinnamon, do it in moderation and watch for any disease symptoms closely. 

If there are any unusual behavior or physical changes, stop giving your chickens cinnamon immediately, and contact a veterinarian.

When Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon 

Anytime around, you can feed your chickens with cinnamon. However, as mentioned earlier, there should be a limit.

So, if you humbly follow that advice, you can’t face unwanted circumstances.

Other Spices and Herbs That Are Good for Chickens

Aside from cinnamon, here are other herbs and spices chicken keepers give their chickens:

Black Pepper

When we sprinkle black pepper on our cuisine, do we typically consider its health advantages? Nevertheless, pepper has a wealth of minerals and vitamins and has several positive health effects.

Significantly, black pepper relieves the signs of coughs, colds, and other respiratory conditions while assisting with digestion. A few items that chickens may find useful.

Ginger

Widely recognized as one of the healthiest spices on the earth, if you want to start to supplement herbs on your chicken’s diet, ginger is as excellent as it gets.

According to studies, including a small amount of ginger in their feed improves egg-laying efficiency and the antioxidant qualities of yolks.

Ginger can also be good in improving the respiratory health of your chickens. It is significant because backyard flocks can get respiratory conditions.

Garlic

Garlic is a potent herb (or vegetable or spice—technically a vegetable from a botanical perspective).

It’s one of the best natural treatments for parasites and lice in chickens. Moreover, it strengthens the immune system, aids in respiratory health, and acts as a natural dewormer.

Parsley

It’s widely used in the culinary world due to its flavor and aroma, and it’s sometimes called a “strong disease-fighting plant.”

It’s an excellent diet for boosting the immune system because it contains antioxidants. Due to its inherent antibacterial characteristics, parsley serves as a second line of defense against parasites.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chickens Eating Cinnamon

Can I sprinkle cinnamon in my chicken coop?

Although cinnamon has an aromatic scent and is safe for chickens, sprinkling it in their coop is not good. If you scatter it for them to eat, they probably ignore it.

It would be better to mix it with their food. But if you want to use it to repel parasites, like red poultry mites, it’s better to use cinnamon oil rather than powder.

Can chickens eat sugar or cinnamon?

Cinnamon and sugar are safe for your flocks. However, it should be moderated because even if it brings health benefits, too much consumption can lead to serious problems.

So, if you want to give treats to your little critters, make sure it has low sugar and cinnamon content.

What spices can chickens eat?

Other than cinnamon, many spices are also good for your flocks. It includes garlic, Cayenne pepper, ginger, Red pepper flakes, Thyme, Black pepper, Lavender, and Parsley.

Like cinnamon, these spices also bring lots of health benefits to chickens. 

Can chickens eat oatmeal with cinnamon?

Since cinnamon contains many beneficial nutrients to your flock’s health, it can be a great addition to their diet.

It can be a good treat for them if you want to serve them oatmeal with a pinch of cinnamon. 

Final Recap: Can Chickens Eat Cinnamon?

To sum it up, chickens can eat cinnamon in moderation, and they’re better mixed with food, whether cooked or uncooked, instead of directly serving them to your chooks.

However, it’s worth noting that cinnamon bread and rolls with high sugar content can be dangerous for clocks, so it’s best to avoid them.

Have you ever tried feeding cinnamon to your flock? Were they fond of it, or did they experience adverse reactions instead? Let us know in the comment section below.

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