Chickens generally love to eat kitchen scraps and leftovers more than their staple food. The kitchen scraps might fill their tummy, but their nutritional value is very less. This is why they need proper nutrition from other sources to maintain their nutritional balance. Including a natural nutritional supplement to their daily diet can solve the problem. Here comes the importance of feeding them Asparagus.
So, can chicken eat asparagus? Yes, chicken can eat Asparagus. In fact, the health benefits of Asparagus are numerous. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutritions that boost the overall health of a chicken. Being a great source of nutrition, it is considered a nutritional supplement for chickens.
Asparagus, a healthy source of nutrition
Asparagus, derived from the Greek word means sprout or shoot, is native to the Mediterranean region. Nowadays, this plant is cultivated in different parts of the world. They can grow up to 10 inches within 24 hours under ideal conditions.
You can find Asparagus in different colors and varieties. They are available in three different colors – green, purple, and white. Though every type has some unique characteristics, they all give a tasty treat to your chickens. While the purple Asparagus is relatively smaller and fruitier, the white ones need to handle with extra care.
This highly nutritionally balanced vegetable is quite popular in many households to feed their pet birds or chickens. The most important reason behind this vegetable’s popularity is that this highly nutritious vegetable needs minimal preparation to feed your chickens. Your chickens also like the raw veggie.
Half a cup (90 grams) of Asparagus contains the following nutrients:
Calories – 20
Protein – 2.1 grams
Fat – 0.2 grams
Phosphorus – 4% of the Reference Daily Intake or RDI
Fiber – 1.8 grams
Vitamin A – 18 % of the RDI
Vitamin C – 12% of the RDI
Vitamin K – 56% of the RDI
Potassium – 5% of the RDI
Folate – 36 % of the RDI
Vitamin E – 8 % of the RDI
Apart from this, this vegetable also contains micronutrients, like zinc, riboflavin, and iron.
Why should you feed Asparagus to your chickens?
Your chickens need as many vitamins and nutrients as you do to maintain good health. But they mostly prefer scraps and leftovers that don’t have any health benefits. Therefore, it is crucial to feed them essential nutrients for their well-being.
Asparagus is a rich source of antioxidants
Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and minimize the risk of chronic inflammation and many diseases. Since chickens tend to feel sick frequently, Asparagus should be in their diet chart.
Asparagus is rich in antioxidants. It contains Vitamin K, Vitamin C, glutathione, flavonoids, and polyphenols. These compounds reduce their blood pressure and minimize the anti-inflammatory substances.
The purple color asparagus includes pigments like anthocyanins. It acts as a great antioxidant agent in the body. By keeping Asparagus in their daily diet, you can promote your chicken’s health.
It boosts your digestive health
The dietary fiber ingredients in Asparagus boost the digestive health of your chickens. It contains a small percentage of soluble fiber that dissolves in water and make a gel-like substance.
This substance promotes good bacteria in the chicken’s gut. The good bacteria strengthen the immune system of your chickens.
They also produce essential nutrients like Vitamin K2 and Vitamin B12. Asparagus meets all the dietary fiber needs of your chicken’s digestive health.
It promotes bone health
Just like Asparagus helps in promoting the bone health of your chickens. Minerals, like potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc, strengthen the bones.
All these minerals are present in Asparagus. So, if you include 1 cup of Asparagus in your chicken’s daily diet, it will fulfill 10% of your chicken’s daily need for those minerals.
How to feed Asparagus to your chicken?
You don’t need to think a lot to feed your chicken asparagus. Just put some raw asparagus in their coop, and find it just vanished within an hour. Chickens love veggies and herbs, so they would be happy to eat this tasty vegetable in no time.
When you give Asparagus for the first time to your chicken, they might take some time to eat since they have never encountered Asparagus before. However, they usually start pecking in some time, and if they don’t, you can put a bit of it in their coop.
You should serve Asparagus to your chicken just a few times a week. The quantity should be as much as a salad in their food.
Should you limit Asparagus? The precautions you might need to take
Chickens eat Asparagus, and it only offers health benefits. Your chickens will also love it with times. So, why should you limit Asparagus? The only reason you might limit Asparagus is that overeating this vegetable can change the flavor of their eggs.
People often get confused if there is any risk of feeding Asparagus to your chicken. The shortest and most simple answer is “No”. It is one of the safest food that you can give to your flock of chickens.
Another query that you might face as a chicken owner is if it changes the eggs’ taste. Asparagus is treated as a nutrition supplement for your chickens. It is loaded with several nutrients like vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that are essential for your chickens.
When your chickens get overindulged with this food, the loaded nutritions change the flavor of their eggs. Most chicken owners limit the amount of Asparagus because they don’t like the taste of the eggs.
However, the health benefits of eggs remain the same. So, it is up to you whether you want to feed them the right amount to get the normal eggs or let them be overindulged.
There are no such precautions you need to take. Just make sure you serve Asparagus to your chickens in a clean and dry place. If you put this vegetable in the coop, make sure the coop is clean and dry.
The Asparagus starts to rot faster if the coop is not properly cleaned. When rotten, it not only smells bad but also becomes the breeding ground for pests and germs. And this is definitely not a good thing.
How to keep your Asparagus fresh for long?
Asparagus is really delicate, and it becomes a little vulnerable when cut from the plant. You can extend the life expectancy of this delicate vegetable if you want. To improve the longevity of Asparagus and keep them crisp and delicious, you can follow the tips –
- Wrap the roots of freshly cut Asparagus with a wet towel and place it in a plastic bag, and then keep them in your refrigerator.
- Take a container with 1 cm of water and soak the roots of the Asparagus in it. Then cover it and keep it in the fridge.
Your chickens love fresh and crisp Asparagus. So, treat their taste with some freshly cut asparagus.
Conclusion: Can Chickens Eat Asparagus?
Yes, chickens can eat Asparagus and they love it. We can say Asparagus is the powerhouse of nutrition, including vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. When you give it for the first time, your chicken might not eat it, but they start pecking within a few minutes.
Since Asparagus only benefit your chickens, you don’t need to take any precaution. However, since it slightly changes the flavor of the eggs, you can limit the amount of Asparagus and provide them with the right nutrition.
As chickens are omnivorous, you can try cooked Asparagus too. It does not matter how they eat it, all they receive is full of nutrition.