Broccoli is one of the better vegetable treats you can offer a backyard flock. It is nutritious, chickens generally take to it well, and a whole head strung up in the run gives them something to peck at all afternoon. There is just one thing to keep in mind about how often to serve it, which we will come to.
Can chickens eat broccoli?
Yes, broccoli is a healthy treat for chickens, and you can serve it raw or cooked. The florets and the stem are both fine, so nothing needs to go to waste; just chop the tougher lower stem into manageable pieces so it is easier to eat. Broccoli brings useful vitamins and fibre, and most hens are perfectly happy to tuck in once they realise it is on offer.
As with all treats, broccoli should top up a good diet rather than take it over. The bulk of what your flock eats should be a complete layer feed, with vegetables like this making up the fun extras around the edges. See what chickens should eat for how it all fits together, and browse our backyard chicken guides for more ideas on treats.
A brassica, so keep it in moderation
Broccoli belongs to the brassica family, along with cabbage, cauliflower and kale. These are all perfectly good for chickens, but they are best fed in moderation rather than in great quantities every single day. There is nothing sinister about them; it is simply that variety keeps a diet balanced, so it is better to rotate broccoli with other greens than to lean on any one vegetable.
Cooked broccoli is softer and easier to eat, which can suit older hens, while raw broccoli lasts longer in the run and gives the flock more to work at. Both are good, so it comes down to what you have to hand. Either way, gather up any leftovers at the end of the day so they do not sit around and turn slimy in the run.
Turn broccoli into entertainment
One of the nicest things about broccoli is that a whole head makes a brilliant boredom-buster. Hang it from a length of string in the run at about head height, and your hens will happily peck and jump up at it for ages. That kind of activity keeps them busy and moving, which helps head off the bickering and feather-pecking that can creep in when a flock is bored, particularly if they are shut in during a spell of bad weather.
It is a simple trick, but a genuinely useful one. A dangling cabbage or broccoli head is sometimes called a chicken tetherball for good reason, and it costs you nothing beyond a bit of veg and a piece of string.
Feeding broccoli sensibly
To sum up, broccoli is a wholesome treat that earns its place, provided you do not overdo it or let it replace proper feed.
- Offer florets and chopped stem, raw or cooked.
- Hang a whole head up to keep a bored flock entertained.
- Feed in moderation as one of several greens, not the only one.
- Provide grit so hens can grind the tougher pieces, and clear away leftovers.