{"id":5752,"date":"2021-10-13T00:40:19","date_gmt":"2021-10-13T00:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/backyardfarmlife.com\/?p=5752"},"modified":"2022-09-09T03:35:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-09T03:35:31","slug":"can-chickens-eat-flax-seeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/backyardfarmlife.com\/can-chickens-eat-flax-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Chickens Eat Flax Seeds?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

A few decades ago, flax seeds became all the rage in health food fads. That\u2019s because they\u2019re a good source of omega-3, they contain admirable amounts of protein, plus a bunch of other high-quality nutrients. Not to mention that they can be fairly easy to source!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s not surprising then that many poultry breeders or chicken enthusiasts are asking the question: can chickens eat flax seeds? The answer is absolutely YES, but it’s important to know how much you can feed them and what to look out for. Let’s look at whether chickens can eat flax seeds, what nutritional benefits it has for their wellbeing, and any concerns.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Can Chickens Eat Flax Seeds?<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Flax seeds are among the healthy food choices for chickens. In fact, many breeders encourage the practice of adding it to the feeds as frequently as possible. Some commercial chicken feed does also come with raw flax seed in the mix. The usual amount is up to 10% of the feed, as anything more than 15% or so tends to change the taste of eggs and the flax seed taste comes out in the meat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are many ways that flax seeds can be incorporated into the chickens\u2019 feeds. It can be added in its raw form, cooked with other ingredients, or crushed into ground flax and baked into treats, all have their various benefits and it’s completely up to you — your chickens won’t be complaining about what form it comes in!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The same can be said for other grains too. Chickens can eat whole wheat and wheat berries,<\/strong><\/a> alfalfa, and even hay.<\/p>\r\n

Can Chickens Digest Whole Flax Seeds?<\/h3>\r\n

Chickens are known to be able to eat most anything and will try to eat everything! When it comes to flax seed it’s no different either.<\/p>\r\n

If you’re feeding your chickens whole flax seeds don’t worry. Once the seeds move from the crop to the gizzards they will easily break down and release their nutrients for the chickens to absorb.<\/p>\r\n

It’s actually more nutritional to feed your chickens whole flax seeds over ground or crushed flaxseed or flaxseed oil. This is because as soon as you break the seeds the nutrients are released. If you are grinding or breaking down your own flax seeds for your chickens try to keep them as fresh as possible.<\/p>\r\n

The Nutritional Benefit of Flax Seeds for Chickens<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

Flax seeds<\/a><\/strong> contain various nutrients that are mostly good for general health, they\u2019re believed to provide protection from free radicals, and they were observed to improve circulation. Flax seeds aren’t known to be unhealthy for chickens at all and won’t impact egg production at normal levels. But, if they consume too much it can change the flavor of the eggs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A tablespoon of flax seeds contains the following healthy substances: <\/span><\/p>\r\n