What the chicken eats will be what you eat later! So it is important to think carefully about what you offer to your chickens.
You shouldn’t provide any food without care. Your chicken feed should be carefully prepared to provide various nutrients. This can enhance chicken production and will lead to meat and eggs of high nutritional value.
That’s why we think it’s crucial to ensure chickens get a variety of nutrients.
In this blog post, we’re going to talk about one of the famous types of vegetables which is Kohlrabi.
We will learn about it and know how suitable it is to be served as food for your chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Kohlrabi?
Yes, chickens can eat kohlrabi. They can eat kohlrabi leaves, greens, peels and seeds. Chicken loves everything that is a plant and is always eager to eat herbs and plants of all kinds.
kohlrabi is also referred to as German turnip. However, it is a cruciferous plant that is not a root plant and does not belong to the turnip family.
Rather, it belongs to the Brassica or mustard family. It is also related to cabbage vegetables, cauliflower, and broccoli. It is a vegetable that is widely used in salads and soups.
It is also used in preparing a variety of dishes if it can be roasted, sautéed, or cooked similar to collard greens. Cabbage has long, leafy stems that chickens enjoy eating. It has a round onion (which can be purple, white, or pale green) that chickens also enjoy scratching and nibbling on.
It has a sweet taste similar to broccoli and cabbage with a hint of pepper. Kohlrabi usually makes a great herbal snack for chicken in the winter. It is a cool-weather crop that is abundant during the fall-winter season.
Here is a short video that shows a group of chicken eating kohlrabi:
Nutritional Benefits For Chickens
Kohlrabi provides many vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. These nutrients improve the health and production of chicken. Each cup of raw cabbage contains 36 calories, 2 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, 8 grams of sugar, 5 g of fiber, and 4 grams of sugar. Kohlrabi has many health benefits for chickens including:
- Encouraging egg production and strengthening bones.
- Cabbage is a rich source of calcium and magnesium. That is needed for bones and egg production.
- So, feeding chicken with kohlrabi contributes to strengthening bones. It also increases egg production.[1]
1. Improve Chicken General Health
It is among the cruciferous plants that contain sulfur and the antioxidant phytosterols. It has antioxidant properties as it is rich in carotenoids and other antioxidants such as isothiocyanates, glucosinolates, and anthocyanins. They protect body tissues from free radical damage that can cause disease risk.
It is also rich in vitamin C, which fights infection and helps reduce inflammation.
2. Improve Metabolism
Kohlrabi is a low-glycemic index food. It controls blood sugar and improve metabolism.
3. Supports Digestive Health
Kohlrabi is a rich source of soluble and insoluble fiber in water. The inclusion of fiber at a moderate level in chicken meals helps improve gut health. It stimulates beneficial microbes in the large intestine leading to enhanced immune function.
Risks And Precautions To Consider
So, are there any precautions you need to take when feeding your chicken Kohlrabi? Let’s find out:
Digestive Issues
Eating a lot of kohlrabies forms irritating gasses, just like any cruciferous plant. This makes the stomach upset and causes discomfort.
Pesticides And Other Contaminants
Sometimes. kohlrabi are sprayed with chemical pesticides. If you cut it and served to the chickens without washing it, then it will be a source of great danger to them. The pesticides are made up of harmful chemical compounds. It harms the chickens and may poison them.
Risk Of Choking Or Crop Impaction
Kohlrabi is a large plant with crunchy leaves and a thick onion. There is a possibility of swallowing a large part, causing choking or crop impaction.
How To Feed Kohlrabi To Chickens?
First, let’s talk about the serving size and frequency. Certainly, kohlrabi should be fed in moderation even though it is a vegetable. Not everything that is natural is 100% safe and free of side effects.
Chickens should not be overfed with kohlrabi. They should be fed once to twice a week in addition to the chicken’s basic meals.
You have to cut it into small pieces to avoid swallowing large pieces and causing congestion.
Preparing Kohlrabi For Chickens
You must make sure that the kohlrabi is free of pesticides. It is no problem containing insects or larvae, as it is a delicious meal that the chickens are pleased with. The important thing is that it is not freshly sprayed with pesticides.
If you are not sure about that, you can wash the kohlrabi with water to remove any pesticide residue entomological.
Serving Methods
You can serve it in any way. you do not need to think about specific recipes, as it is in its fresh, raw form a delicious meal for chicken. The important thing is not to leave it in large parts, but rather cut it into small pieces.
Mixing With Other Foods
It is also preferable to mix cabbage with the main chicken feed so that the chickens get a balanced meal, and avoid eating large amounts of Kohlrabi at once, which may harm the chickens.
What Are The Signs Of Overfeeding Of Kohlrabi?
There is no confirmed information about overfeeding in kohlrabi, as it is not common and does not occur when eating the usual quantities. But in general, if there is overfeeding with kohlrabi, the chicken will appear lifeless and not willing to eat with the same gluttony as usual.
It is not usually fatal unless the cabbage has a large number of pesticides on it.
