Beet It or Eat It? Can Chickens Eat Beets Safely? Find Out!

Article Summary

• Chickens can eat beets, including both the beetroot and beet greens, in moderation.
• Beets are packed with nutrients, including vitamin C, folate, manganese, potassium, and fiber, making them a nutritious treat for chickens.
• Feeding beets to chickens can support egg production, encourage foraging behavior, boost immunity, improve digestion, strengthen bones, and enhance the color of egg yolks.

Have you ever wondered if you can share those freshly harvested beets from your garden with your feathered friends? Beets are packed with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can provide health benefits to chickens. However, there are some important things to consider before adding beets to your chickens’ diet.

Can You Feed Chickens Beets?

The short answer is yes, chickens can eat beets in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Both the beetroot and beet greens provide valuable vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that offer nutritional benefits.

Beets are loaded with:

• Vitamin C – Boosts immunity and supports bone health.
• Folate – Important for cell function and production.
• Manganese – Aids in bone, tissue, and egg shell formation.
• Potassium – Needed for muscle growth, nerve transmission, and waste elimination.
• Fiber – Promotes digestion and gut health.

The vibrant pigments in beets called betalains also act as antioxidants to protect cells against damage.

So in small amounts, beets can be a nutritious supplemental treat for backyard chickens, just like other vegetables for chickens.

Is Beets Safe for Chickens?

Beets are considered safe for chickens to eat. However, there are some precautions to take when feeding beets to avoid potential health risks:

• Feed beets in moderation – Too much can cause loose stools or diarrhea.
• Introduce slowly – Start with just a few bites to avoid upset stomach.
• Chop well – Whole or large pieces may cause choking.
• Avoid spoiled beets – Fresh beets are less likely to contain oxalates.
• Don’t overfeed beet greens – High in oxalic acid.
• Remove leaves of young beets – Greens of baby beets contain more oxalates than mature beets.

Following these guidelines when serving beets will help minimize any potential digestive issues or other health problems in your flock. Monitoring your chickens after introducing any new food is also recommended.

What Are the Benefits of Feeding Beets to Chickens?

In moderation, beets offer a variety of health benefits for chickens:

• Support egg production – Beets are rich in vitamin B2, B6, and B12 – all nutrients essential for good egg production. The folate in beets also aids in cell division and replication, important for egg and shell formation.
• Encourage foraging – Bury small pieces of chopped beets in their run to motivate natural foraging behaviors. This provides mental stimulation.
• Boost immunity – The vitamin C content in beets serves as an antioxidant to strengthen immune response.
• Improve digestion – Beets act as a natural laxative due to their fiber content. This promotes regularity and gut health.
• Strengthen bones – Manganese in beets contributes to better bone density and development.
• Vibrant egg yolks – The carotenoids in beets may lead to richer, more colorful egg yolks.

By incorporating beets as a supplemental feed a few times a week, you can help support your chickens’ health in a variety of ways. Just be mindful of serving sizes.

Can Chickens Eat Cooked Beets?

Yes, chickens can safely eat cooked beets. Cooking beets breaks down the fibers and softens their texture, making them easier for chickens to digest.

Lightly cooking or steaming whole beet roots, then chopping them into bite-size pieces is an easy way to serve beets. Avoid overcooking them into a mush.

You can also roast beet wedges or cubes until just fork-tender. Roasting helps bring out the natural sweetness, which chickens love. Just allow them to cool before feeding.

Boiling diced beets for a few minutes is another simple preparation method. The beet-infused water can add moisture too.

NOTE

No matter how you cook them, cooked beets are usually better tolerated than raw by chickens. Introduce them slowly and in moderation at first.

Can Chickens Eat Raw Beets?

Chickens can eat raw beets, but they may be more difficult for chickens to digest. The fibrous texture can also pose a choking risk if not chopped finely.

When feeding raw beets, grate or finely mince them to make them safer and easier to consume. Introduce grated raw beets gradually mixed with other feed to observe your chickens’ tolerance.

Limit raw beet greens which are very high in oxalic acid. Quickly blanching leaves can help reduce oxalate levels.

Raw baby beets with their greens removed are the best option for feeding chickens beets in their whole raw form. Just scrub the baby beets clean.

Overall, cooking beets makes them more palatable and digestible for chickens. But small amounts of grated raw beets can also be fed safely.

What Are the Benefits of Beets to Chickens?

Here are some of the top benefits chickens can gain from eating beets:

• Rich source of vitamin C – An antioxidant that boosts immunity and combats disease.
• High in folate – Essential for cell function and replication needed for egg production.
• Good source of manganese – Supports bone health and egg shell quality.
• Contains potassium – Key mineral for muscle, nerve and metabolic function.
• Loaded with fiber – Promotes digestion and gut health for optimal nutrient absorption.
• Powerful antioxidants – Betalains protect cells from free radical damage caused by stress.
• Anti-inflammatory – May help reduce inflammation and strengthen immunity.

By providing an array of key vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, beets offer a nutritious boost to a balanced chicken diet when fed in moderation.

Can Beets Cause Indigestion in Chickens?

Beets do have the potential to cause indigestion in chickens if not fed properly. Some reasons beets may lead to upset stomachs include:

• High fiber content – Too much raw fiber from beet greens or roots can irritate the digestive tract.
• Natural laxative effect – Excessive beet consumption can cause loose stools or diarrhea.
• High sugar content – The natural sugars may ferment and cause gas or bloating.
• Oxalic acid – Found in high amounts in beet leaves which can inhibit nutrient absorption.
• Spoiled beets – Contain higher levels of oxalates that can irritate the gut.

TIP

To prevent indigestion, introduce beets slowly, limit portions, remove tops of baby beets, and avoid feeding spoiled beets. Cooked beets are easier to digest than raw. Monitoring your flock after feeding is also recommended.

Can Beets Affect Chicken’s Stool Color?

Yes, the pigments that give beets their rich color can lead to red or reddish-colored droppings in chickens. Both betalains and anthocyanins – antioxidants present in beetroots – can change the color of chicken poop.

This discoloration is temporary and harmless. Within 24-48 hours of removing beets from their diet, the stool color should return to normal.

Do not be alarmed by reddish droppings after feeding beets. It is simply the excretion of the colorful plant compounds and not blood. Monitor for any other signs of illness just to be safe.

Feeding smaller portions less often can help minimize the intensity of color change. But temporary red stool is no cause for health concern and will resolve on its own once beets are discontinued.

Can Chickens Eat Pickled Beets?

Chickens can eat pickled beets in moderation as an occasional treat. Choose natural pickled beets without added sugar or preservatives whenever possible.

Rinsing pickled beets first will help reduce excess sodium from the brine. Chop the pickled beets into bite-size pieces before feeding to your flock.

Introduce them slowly at first to watch for any signs of digestive upset. Too much sodium and acidity from pickling can potentially cause diarrhea if overfed.

In small, infrequent portions pickled beets can add beneficial probiotics to support gut health. Just be sure to chop finely and mix with their feed to limit sodium exposure.

Can Chickens Eat Canned Beets?

Plain canned beets without added sugars or salts are fine for chickens in moderation. Rinse canned beets well to remove excess sodium from the canning process.

Chop canned beets into smaller pieces before feeding to reduce choking risk. Introduce them gradually mixed into their feed to observe any adverse reactions.

Limit feeding to only occasional, small treats. The tender texture of canned beets makes them easy to overfeed. Too much can lead to loose stools.

For a healthier option, choose canned beets packed in water over syrup. And as always, demonstrate portion control to prevent digestive upset.

Can Chickens Eat Beet Stalks?

Chickens should not eat large pieces of beet stalks. The stringy texture can pose a choking hazard or get stuck in chickens’ crops.

However, finely chopped beet stalks can be fed safely in small amounts. Breaking them down into tiny pieces allows chickens to digest them properly.

Try grating clean beet stalks or chopping them into half inch pieces. Introduce them slowly mixed into feed to observe your flock’s tolerance.

Limit beet stalks to occasional treats. They lack nutritional value compared to the beet roots and greens. Still, small shredded bits provide fiber.

Can Chickens Eat Beet Greens?

Chickens can eat beet greens in moderation. The leaves provide nutrients like vitamin C, beta-carotene, folate, zinc and calcium.

However, beet greens also contain high levels of oxalic acid which can prevent nutrient absorption. Too much can cause health issues.

To make beet greens safe:

• Limit portion size
• Chop finely to prevent choking
• Introduce slowly mixed into their feed
• Blanching helps reduce oxalic acid content
• Remove tops of baby beets before feeding

Feeding occasional handfuls of chopped beet greens provides beneficial nutrients without risking oxalate toxicity.

Can Chickens Eat Beet Leaves and Tops?

Yes, chickens can eat beet leaves and tops in moderation. Beet leaves attached to the root and beet tops bundled together both offer nutritional value, especially:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A
• Calcium
• Iron
• Potassium

However, the oxalic acid content is highest in the leaves. Remove leaves from baby beets and chop large leaves before feeding.

Introduce them slowly a few small pieces at a time. Blanching can help reduce oxalates. Limit portions to avoid excess oxalic acid intake.

In small amounts, beet leaves and tops make a beneficial supplement without posing too much risk of toxicity. Maintain variety in their diet.

Can Chickens Eat Beet Roots?

Yes, chickens can safely eat beet roots. The roots of the beet provide a good balance of key nutrients without excess oxalic acid found in leaves.

Chop roots into quarter inch cubes or shred them before feeding to prevent choking. Cooked beet cubes or grated raw beets are easiest to digest.

Offer beet roots in moderation as an occasional treat 2-3 times per week at most. Too much can cause loose stool or diarrhea.

For baby chickens, scrub clean small whole baby beets before feeding. Larger beets should always be chopped for safety, regardless of a chicken’s age.

Can Chickens Eat Beet Stems?

Chickens can eat beet stems in very limited quantities as an occasional treat. The stems provide minimal nutritional value. They mainly just offer fiber.

Chop stems finely or shred into tiny strips to prevent choking. Introduce just a few small pieces at a time mixed into their feed.

Excessive beet stems are difficult for chickens to digest and may cause diarrhea or laxative effects if overfed. Limit intake to prevent gastrointestinal issues.

Overall, beet stems provide minimal benefits and can pose a choking risk. Beet roots and greens are more beneficial to feed chickens in moderation.

How to Feed Beets to Chickens?

Here are some tips for safely feeding beets to chickens:

• Wash beets well and remove greens from baby beets
• Peel and chop larger beets into quarter inch cubes
• Cook diced beets by roasting, steaming or boiling until tender
• Shred raw beets on the largest hole of a box grater
• Introduce cooked or grated beets gradually mixed into their feed
• Limit portion to a few cubes or tablespoons per chicken
• Feed 2-3 times per week at most for a nutritional boost
• For whole raw beets, scrub baby beets and feed intact
• Always monitor your flock’s droppings and behavior after introducing new foods

Following these best practices when serving beets will minimize risk and provide nutritional variety.

How Much Beets to Feed Chickens?

When feeding beets, moderation is key. Recommended serving sizes:

• Layer hens: 1-2 cubes or 2-3 tbsp grated per hen, 2-3 times per week
• Broiler chickens: 2-3 cubes or 3-4 tbsp grated per bird, 1-2 times per week
• Baby chicks: Few thin strips of peeled beet, once per week

Exceeding these suggested amounts can risk loose stool, diarrhea, or other digestive upset.

Start with even smaller amounts when first introducing beets. Gradually work up to these serving sizes if chickens tolerate beets well.

Always mix beet pieces or shreds thoroughly into feed and avoid overfeeding beet tops which are high in oxalates. Following these beet feeding guidelines will benefit chickens while minimizing risk.

In summary, beets can be a beneficial addition to a balanced diet when fed appropriately. Follow serving guidelines, introduce new foods gradually, and observe your flock’s health. Use caution with beet greens to avoid excess oxalates. Moderation and variety are key for happy, healthy chickens!

Frequently Asked Questions