Can Chickens Eat Cilantro? Is Coriander Good For Hens?

Last Updated on September 24, 2024 by Pauline G. Carter

Yes, chickens can eat cilantro, and it is indeed beneficial for them. Cilantro can be a healthy addition to their diet, providing essential vitamins such as A and K, along with antioxidants that can help boost their immune system. It is safe for chickens when given in moderation as part of a varied diet.

Coriander, the seed of the cilantro plant, is also good for hens. It can be used as a dietary supplement because it aids in digestion and helps reduce inflammation. Including small amounts of coriander in their feed can promote general health and well-being in chickens.

Ask anyone who raises chicken; they’ll tell you that these birds eat almost every kind of food. But can chickens eat cilantro? Find out in this article.

What Is Cilantro?

Before we go to whether or not chickens can eat cilantro, let us state what cilantro is. Cilantro is a traditional herb that also doubles as a spice.

It contains a lot of active phenolic acid and flavonoids like kaempferol, quercetin, apigenin, etc. Cilantro is sometimes called coriander even though there are slight differences between these two herbs.

Do Chickens Eat Cilantro?

Yes, chickens eat cilantro. Although humans may sometimes not hit it off with this herb, chickens love the taste and never seem to get bored of cilantro.

If you have cilantro in your garden, the chickens will head straight to them and munch on them happily. So, if you are considering adding this herb to your bird’s diet, you are on the right track.

Is Cilantro Safe For Chickens?

Yes, cilantro is healthy for chickens. It is loaded with numerous vitamins and minerals that offer your chicken unmeasurable health benefits. Vitamin A in cilantro improves your chicken’s ocular health while vitamins C and K boost their immune system and strengthen their bones.

Of course, where there are vitamins, there are lots of antioxidants that help keep the chickens healthy. The anti-parasitic properties in cilantro also help keep fungus at bay.

But, for us, the best part is that cilantro does not harm your chicken regardless of how often you give it to them.

How To Incorporate Cilantro In Your Chickens Diet

Since cilantro is low in sugar and fat, you can get away with giving your birds a little portion of it every day. That way, you are assured that your chickens get all the nutrients it needs to grow.

You can give your chickens the entire cilantro, stalk and all. For this, you can decide to hand-feed the birds because it gives you time to bond with your chickens.

Alternatively, you can place a pot of the growing herb in the bird’s coop and leave them to munch on it at their pace.

Another option is to add cilantro extract or powder to the regular chicken feed. Doing this helps to improve your chicken’s immune response and reduces the number of pathogenic bacteria in their digestive tract. With reduced pathogenic bacteria, you will notice an improvement in your bird’s intestinal health.

We suggest adding other herbs to the mix to add a bit of spice to your chicken’s meals.

Can Chickens Eat The Leaves Of Cilantro?

Yes, they can. Let us let you in on a secret; cilantro leaves are probably the most nutritious part of the plant right after the stems. They are rich in chlorophyll (have you seen their rich dark color?) and contain several nutrients.

Chickens can also eat cilantro stems without any adverse effects. Cilantro stems are rich in antioxidants that help your chickens win the battle against free radicals responsible for oxidative damage. So try it out today.

Should I Feed My Chicken Fresh Or Dry Cilantro?

We recommend feeding chickens fresh cilantro because they taste better and are more nutritious than dried or frozen cilantro. Another reason is that refrigerated or dried cilantro are pest magnets if left in the chicken coop for long.

Whether you feed your chicken fresh or dried cilantro, the important thing is that you are on the ground to remove the leftover herbs from the coop.

If you leave the uneaten cilantro in the chicken’s cage for extended periods, you will have created a breeding ground for all kinds of pests.

How To Store Cilantro

Fresh green cilantro contains more nutrients than dried ones. But the challenge most people face is how to store these herbs. Refrigerate at low temperatures for at most four weeks; that way, your cilantro stays fresh without losing most of its nutrients.

Is Coriander / Cilantro Healthy For Chickens?

Health benefits of cilantro for chickens, let’s take a look at the nutritional chart of cilantro:

Serving size: 100 grams

What Other Herbs Can Chickens Eat?

There are numerous other herbs that chickens can eat. Top on the list is basil which improves your chicken’s digestive process.

Parsley and lemon balm are great herbs that help stimulate egg-laying in your chickens. Thyme, yes, good old thyme has potent anti-parasitic and antioxidant properties.

All of these herbs we have mentioned are safe for your chicken to snack on. They are also cheap and easy to grow in your backyard. What’s more, you can use them for cooking all of your food too!

Conclusion

Chickens love cilantro and enjoy all of the benefits that it has to offer. A great way to incorporate cilantro into your chicken’s diet is to give them the entire cilantro, fresh from the garden.

If that option is not feasible for you, you can opt for sprinkling cilantro powder on the chicken feed. Try out this herb today!