Can Chickens Eat Carrots? [Nutrition & Concerns]

Step aside, rabbits. There is another backyard creature that loves feasting on carrots — chickens! Yes, chickens love a diversified diet that is rich in grains, fruits, and vegetables. In fact, you should be supplementing your chicken’s diet with a number of treats throughout the week. Carrots are a perfectly safe and nutritious snack for your birds that they will delightedly gobble up.

Curious to learn about the health benefits of carrots for chickens, as well as how to serve them up? Then keep on reading.

Can Chickens Eat Carrots?

Carrots are indeed healthy for chickens. Loved for their flavor and nutritional value, carrots are one of the best snacks you could give your flock. Carrots are cost-effective and easy to grow. They contain a large amount of fiber, as well as beta-carotene. This vegetable is also about 88% water, which is another bonus when it comes to keeping your chickens hydrated throughout the day. Carrots are a safe choice, since there is nothing in them that is outwardly toxic.

Can I Give Raw Carrots to Chickens?

Don’t feel like cooking up carrots before giving them to your chickens. No worries. Chickens would rather dig up the carrots fresh from the earth, anyway. Although uncooked carrots are not as soft as cooked ones, that doesn’t stop chickens. They will peck and scratch at the carrots until there is nothing left.

Keep in mind, however, that cooked carrots are easier for your chickens to digest. Since the heat helps soften the carrots, their nutrients are also readily available to the body. If you want your chickens to get the most benefit from their crunchy, orange snack, it is recommended that you steam the carrots a little and let them cool.

Can Chickens Eat Carrot Peels?

Provided that the carrot peel has not been treated with any herbicides or pesticides, then yes, it is safe for your chickens to eat. The carrot peel is often thinner and easier for chickens to peck at and eat then thicker chunks. Like all fruits and vegetables, carrot peels should be treated as a snack for your chickens and should never be more than 10% of their nutrition. Also, keep in mind that carrot peels rot quickly and should be picked up after your chickens are done.

Will Chickens Eat Carrot Tops?

Yes, chickens will eat carrot tops. Because of that, you can buy whole carrots or grow your own and not worry about wasting any piece. Carrot tops also contain quite a bit of nutritional content that chickens can get by picking at them.

Just make sure that if you are growing carrots in your yard that your chickens aren’t allowed close. They will ravage the carrot patch, including the tops and the orange roots of the plant. Net or fence off the garden to keep the carrots and carrot tops safe from your chickens.

What About Canned Carrots? Are They Safe?

While chickens could eat canned carrots, it’s not the safest option. Canned foods often contain a large amount of sodium as a preservative. Since chickens get their daily requirements of salt from their chicken feed, any more salt could dehydrate them or cause health issues. For the safety of your chickens, it is recommended that you only use fresh carrots, not canned.

What’s In a Carrot?

Wondering why carrots are a great snack choice for your feathered friends? Well, they are jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Here is the nutritional breakdown in 100 grams of uncooked carrots:

• Calories: 41
• Water: 86-88%
• Carbs: 9.6 g
• Fat: 0.2 g
• Protein: 0.9 g
• Sugar: 4.9 g
• Fiber: 2.8 g

Carrots also contain 184% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A for humans. However, chickens require vitamin A, too. Without an adequate source of vitamin A, chickens become malnourished and sick. On the flip side, this large amount of vitamin A is also the reason you don’t want to overfeed your chickens with carrots. Too much vitamin A could harm liver function and dampen a hen’s immune response.

Here are some other vitamins and minerals present in carrots:

• Vitamin K: Plays a role in blood coagulation and bone health.
• Vitamin B6: Helps with food metabolism and internal clock regulation, so your birds can stay active throughout the day and get a good night of sleep.
• Potassium: Assists with blood pressure regulation.
• Glutathione: An antioxidant that protects the liver from damage.
• Biotin: Assists with bone, skin, and feather health, as well as fat and protein metabolism.

Health Benefits of Feeding Carrots to Chickens

Now that you know which minerals and vitamins are present in carrots, let’s talk about how these things benefit your flock.

First off, carrots contain fiber. For chickens, fiber is essential. Carrots contain several forms of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. One kind is called pectin, which lowers blood sugar levels by slowing down the absorption of sugars. The gut’s microbiome also loves pectin. In turn, your chickens will have improved digestive health, as well as a bolstered immune system.

Insoluble fibers, such as lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose are in carrots. Since insoluble fiber is indigestible, it helps keep bowel movements moving. Chickens do not like constipation, either.

Any Risks Involved With Chickens Eating Carrots?

Carrots are not like apples or tomatoes or even green bell peppers. All of those fruits and vegetables have toxins present that could hurt your chickens. For example, chickens should not be given apple seeds, due to the cyanide in them. Green bell peppers are unripe, and that means they could contain trace amounts of solanine, another chemical that poisons birds.

Carrots, however, are safe. There are no health risks involved with chickens consuming carrots. It would take a lot of excess consumption for your chickens to get too much vitamin A. Plus, cooked carrots are easy for them to eat and swallow, so there is no risk of choking.

The only risk involved with chickens eating carrots is their preferences. Should carrots become a staple in their diet, your chickens will become too fond of the vegetable. They may even turn their beaks up at their chicken feed. Keep your chickens from becoming picky eaters by limiting the amount of carrots they receive.

Ways to Prepare Carrots For Your Chickens

Now that you have learned all that there is to learn about giving chickens a few slices of carrot, you may want some ideas for meal preparation. Carrots can be cooked a dozen ways, though there are some dishes that are not meant for the birds. Keep in mind that chickens should never ingest avocado skins and pits, chocolate, candy, dried beans, green potato skins, and moldy bread. If your carrots came into contact with any of those items, do not give them to your chickens.

 With that in mind, here are some ways to prepare carrots for your flock:

Steamed Carrots

You can buy a bag of baby carrots and steam them up in the microwave. Wait for the carrots to cool before giving them to your chickens whole. You can also toss your steamed carrots with a little basil or parsley, since chickens enjoy those herbs, as well. Do not give chickens any steamed carrots that have butter or oil on them.

Sliced or Shredded Carrots

Whether done by hand or store-bought, you may have sliced or shredded carrots in your fridge. Either of these can be served straight from the bag and slightly cold. Chickens will happily eat shreds and slices off the ground or out of your hands or a bowl. Smaller pieces of carrot are going to be safer for your chickens to eat, as too big a chunk could get lodged in their throat.

Frozen Carrot Smoothie

Take carrots, blueberries or blackberries, banana, and leafy greens. Place them in a blender and blend until smooth. Add some water to thin out the consistency, if needed. You can then pour the smoothie into an ice cube tray, making little bars of frozen carrot smoothie. Once those have frozen thoroughly, place the ice cubes into a pan for your chickens to peck and chase around. The cool ice and mixture of hydrating foods will keep them more comfortable during the summertime.

Carrot Medley

Grab some cooked carrots, peas, broccoli, and any other vegetables that you have available. Mix your vegetables into steamed brown or wild rice or cereal grains or with small cubes of bread. This medley will be nutritious and fun for your chickens to consume throughout the day. You can customize the medley as needed. In the winter, you may consider making a warm porridge for your chickens that is complete with cooked carrots, peas, and cracked corn.

Strung Up Carrots

Since carrots and their greens can be consumed raw by chickens, you don’t have to bother going through a preparation process at all. Instead, take your raw carrots and clean them as best you can to remove dirt. Then carve a small hole through the center of the vegetable. Do this with several carrots.

You can either strung up the carrots together like a garland or add a string to each one. Hang the carrots up with the greens hanging downward around the yard. Curiosity will get the better of your chickens, and they may play and eat the greens while working to get at the orange root.

This is a great method for keeping your feathered friends entertained. Try stringing up other vegetables, too, such as broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, and Swiss chard.

Final Thoughts on Carrots For Chickens

Can chickens eat carrots? Definitely! Carrots are a super healthy snack for chickens. Not only low in calories, carrots also contain a mix of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Your chickens will have no problem digesting cooked carrots, though raw is fine as well. Just remember that all treats are just that — treats. Chickens should only be given carrots in moderation.