Yes, chickens can eat celery, but the stalks should be cut into smaller pieces. If you give them large pieces of stalks, they might just peck on them and leave.
All parts of celery can be consumed by chickens. But their bodies cannot digest large pieces of fibrous celery.
But, as this vegetable is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber, you should give them smaller pieces of celery stalks. Here is the A to Z of feeding chickens celery.
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Is Celery Good for Chickens?
If you want to feed chickens celery, you need to keep a few factors in mind. This nutritious vegetable is very beneficial for chickens as it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
Different parts of this plant have different nutrients. The parts of the plant that can be given to chickens are:
Celery Leaves
These are the most nutrient-dense parts of the plant. The leaves are enriched with calcium, magnesium, manganese, etc. They are also quite juicy, and most chickens love eating the leaves.
Celery Stalks
Fresh celery and its stalks can be given to chickens. However, the stalks should be cut into smaller pieces if you want your flock to eat them.
Celery Root
Also known as celeriac, the roots of this plant are safe for chickens. You can give them these roots to peck up, but ensure that they do not have any unbecoming growth on them.
Health Benefits of Celery
Celery provides ample vitamin C, A, K, and more to chickens. These are power-packed with riboflavin which is a great source of the vitamin B complex. Celery is also a good source of calcium. Here are the benefits of this vegetable:
Reduces Cholesterol
Celery is a very low-calorie vegetable with high fiber content. It aids in reducing the low-density lipoprotein in the blood. Optimum amounts of celery fed regularly to chickens help in reducing bad cholesterol and protecting them from fatty liver damage.
Strengthens Immune System
Celery is enriched with various minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, etc., that help to boost the immune system. It aids in fighting against colds and flu. It also helps fight free radical damage.
Protects the Liver
Celery protects the liver by reducing the fat content. It also helps to remove the toxins from the liver.
Strengthens the Gut
Celery has anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural diuretic. It aids in the digestion of food and cleanses the gut. When added to chicken feed regularly, it prevents constipation and water retention.
Protects against Bacteria
Celery has strong antibacterial properties. It kills harmful bacteria and encourages the growth of good bacteria in the body. Harmful bacteria can prove fatal to chickens’ health.
Provides Hydration
Celery has good moisture content and makes for a good source of hydration for your birds. Dehydration can lead to kidney stones, constipation, and even the death of your flock.
100gm Celery Nutrition
| Phosphorous | 24mg |
| Iron | 0.2mg |
| Magnesium | 11mg |
| Manganese | 0.103mg |
| Sugars | 1.34gm |
| Fiber | 1.6gm |
| Vitamin K | 29.3ug |
| Vitamin C | 3.1mg |
| Energy | 14kcal |
| Protein | 0.69gm |
| Fat | 0.17gm |
| Carbohydrate | 2.97gm |
Above is a detailed chart showing the nutrients in 100g of celery. All these benefits make celery a healthy food for your birds.
How to Feed Celery to Chickens?
Celery stalks should be chopped into smaller pieces and added to their diet twice or thrice a week. You can also throw chopped celery stalks to your foraging birds to peck upon.
A celery root can be hung upside down in their cages for them to eat. But ensure that the root does not have any moldy growth on it.
A bunch of fresh and crisp celery leaves can be chopped up and fed to them as a treat. Although celery is high in nutrition, it should be fed in moderation as it does not contain many calories and carbohydrates required for the healthy growth of your flock.
It is ideal to serve fresh or cooked celery to your birds twice a week, mixed with their main meals or fed between meals.
Conclusion
Celery can be fed to chickens as tasty treats along with other vegetables. Due to their high nutritional content, they make a well balanced diet when given along with other chicken foods.
They can have raw as well as fresh celery plants. Most chickens won’t refuse a diet of chopped celery mixed with carrots, cabbage, berries, and other foods rich in fiber.
