If you’re anything like me, you love throwing your scraps out for your chickens to eat. You shouldn’t feed them anything for the first time without being sure it’s safe, however.
Which brings me to the question - can chickens eat radishes? And, are radishes a good source of nutritional content for them?
Here’s everything you need to know:
Can chickens eat radishes? Yes! Chickens love radishes and radish leaves. In my experience, they go crazy for some radish. There’s the added benefit that it’ll help hydrate them too as radishes are high in water content.
Jump to:
Can Chickens Eat Radish Leaves Too?
Yes, chickens can and will also eat the leaves from the top of the radishes.
We commonly discard the leaves because they’re corse and have a bitter taste. They don’t exactly compliment a salad, have you ever tried them?
Radish greens are packed with good nutrition, however. According to WellAndGood, they’re rich in vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as containing iron, calcium, magnesium and a whole host of other goodness.
Hopefully, I haven’t oversold Radish greens and deprived your chickens of this delicious snack next time you’re cutting the tops off!
Are Radishes Healthy for Chickens?
Let’s be honest, radishes are one of those vegetables that most people pass on. They have an odd taste, kind of spicy without tasting like peppers or anything like that. As well as a bit zesty and crispy, they’re a unique veggie.
We usually cook them before eating them. This takes a lot of the edge off of the spicy flavor and makes them a lot more palatable for most people.
There’s no denying however that radishes are one of the more healthy vegetables, and they’re super good for chickens to munch on.
They are packed with a long list of healthy nutrients. Such as vitamins, potassium, riboflavin, vitamins, and zinc to name just a few.
On top of this, they contain a lot of water. I’ve read some articles stating they are as high as 95% water content. Making them one of the best vegetables to throw out during a hot summer for your chooks.
As root vegetables, radishes are part of the Brassica family. Along with:
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Turnips
- Kale
- Cabbage
All of these veggies are awesome for chickens too.
How to Feed Radishes to Your Chickens
As anyone who has chickens will know all too well, it’s not difficult preparing food for those hungry chicks to munch up.
In the case of radishes, I suggest:
- Chopping up, slicing or grating the radish first to make it easier for them to gobble up
- Chopping up the leaves known as the greens too and feeding those to your chicks
- I’ve read that some radishes are a little too zingy raw. If your chickens don’t take to them try giving them some cooked radish
- In the summer months soak a radish first to provide even more hydration
- Feeding them to your chickens is pretty straightforward. Chop up and throw in the pieces at feeding time.
If you’re giving them radish for the first time, it’s sensible to give them a little and see how well they take to them. Keep an eye out for any ill effects, although it’s incredibly unlikely as radish is fine for chickens to eat.
The added benefit is that you get to use the leaves that you would have otherwise thrown away if you’re eating the radish bulbs yourself.
In Summary
If you’re looking to add some variation to your chicken’s diet - radishes and radish greens are a perfect choice.
They’re packed with good nutritional content and have high water content. Making them a perfect addition to their diet, and good choice during the summer months.
If you consume or grow radishes yourself, next time spare some for your chooks. Or, at the very least you now have somewhere better than the bin for the greens.
