Can Chickens Eat Marigolds?

Yes, marigolds, including their leaves and stems, may be consumed by hens. Marigolds are a popular blooming plant that you may find in parks and around the house. These blossoms are lovely, but they also offer several health advantages. 

The marigold flowers are also high in antioxidants, as well as antifungal and antibacterial qualities and essential nutrients. Your chickens will love feeding on them.

So how to feed this delicious blossom to your hens? And what precautions should you take when feeding them? Read on to know all about adding marigold to your chicken’s diet. 

Is Marigold Good For Chickens?

Marigolds might be considered a super herb. Humans use this plant for various therapeutic and wellness objectives, some of which also apply to hens. Here are the critical advantages of feeding marigolds to hens, cultivating them, and planting them around the chicken nest:

Effective Antioxidants:

Marigolds have a lot of antioxidants in them. Antioxidants are vital for keeping chickens healthy. And this is the primary advantage of adding fresh marigold to your chicken’s diet.

Anti-Inflammatory Qualities:

The anti-inflammatory effects of pot marigold, in particular, help chickens a lot. This means it may assist hens with anything from common skin problems to muscle discomfort, itching, and bacterial infections.

Anti-Pesticide:

Gardeners often employ marigolds as a pest deterrent. The French marigold plant has the most significant pest repelling characteristics. You may use it to help keep worms, fleas, and other bothersome pests out of your hens’ coop.

Letting your hens eat marigold means your hens are getting a natural, nutritious aid and many health benefits. Chickens can eat this wonderful flower as it will help them build their immune systems, combat illnesses, and boost the quality of their eggs.

Does Marigold Make Eggs Better?

Yes, marigold petals do wonders for your chickens’ eggs. Xanthophyll pigment is found in marigolds that color numerous vegetation, blossoms, fruits, and veggies. This compound is a kind of oxygen-containing carotenoid.

Commercial layer feeds often employ xanthophyll to artificially boost and intensify the color of egg yolk. It’s acceptable for chickens to consume. It also aids hens in producing eggs with a deeper yellow yolk.

What is it about darker egg yolk that makes people crave it? A brighter yellow yolk indicates a fresher, more decadent egg. This isn’t always the case, mainly when supplements are utilized only to add color.

When you consider that consuming marigolds may lower cholesterol levels in eggs and improve hens’ health, it’s an effortless choice. Therefore, marigold makes the egg better and is full of nutrients.

Is Marigold Safe For Baby Chickens?

Newborn chicks may eat the marigold plant. However, you should not give the blossoms to them until they are around 3 weeks old. Their digestive systems have not grown enough to allow them to consume the marigolds until they are three weeks old. 

You should put them on a starting feed diet instead. The proper quantity of nourishment is included in this feed to suit the nutritional requirements of the chick. It also has a tiny enough texture for them to consume without grits.

You may allow them to eat marigolds only when they’re a few weeks old. To begin, give them a tiny portion of the blossoms. See whether they will eat the marigold if you leave it near them. It could take them a bit to finish it. Never push chicks to consume anything they don’t want to eat.

Can Chickens Eat Marigold Leaves?

Hens may eat both the leaves and stalks of marigolds. Some chickens, however, may not consume them since it causes mouth discomfort.

Drying and crushing the leaves and branches before feeding them is an excellent approach to persuade them to eat them. After that, include them in their commercial feed or other foods.

It is worth trying to feed marigold stems and leaves since they include beneficial carotene, antioxidants, lutein, and lycopene.

How To Feed Marigolds To Chickens?

There are few different ways that can ensure your chickens eat marigolds. Pick the one that is most suitable for you and your hens:

Direct Method:

Feeding your hens with fresh or dried petals of marigolds is the most appropriate way to include them in the chickens diet. Fresh flowers have the maximum nutrients in them. Wash the flowers before tossing or cutting the marigold into tiny chunks. Both of these will be easily consumed by chickens.

Letting Chickens In Your Marigold Garden:

You may just let them in and devour the flowers if you have a backyard full of marigolds. Fresh vegetables are the best source of nutrition for them.

Give the marigolds a good wash before allowing your hens into the garden. To eliminate dirt, bugs, and particles from the flowers, hose them for one minute. Allow them to explore the flowers in the garden after that.

If your garden has other flowers or fresh plants, don’t consider this method. Chickens are very opportunistic. They will consume anything if given a chance. There may be some plants in your garden that can be harmful to them. Therefore, it is best to plush fresh marigolds every day and mix them up in their feed.

Conclusion

Deeper yellow marigolds are an excellent choice for your backyard chickens. You must ensure that your hens receive enough marigolds in their meals because of the many health and wellness benefits. 

The points given above will assist you in choosing the best diet for your hens. Your chickens will have a fantastic time feeding on marigold blossoms.