Dogwoods make up a whole household of woody vegetation, each timber, and shrubs, that are recognized for his or her plentiful, distinctive blossoms and most notably their berries.
Rising in bunches and in many alternative colours relying on the species, dogwoods are a typical sight in lots of elements of the world and throughout North America.
Since they’re so widespread, you might wish to know if chickens can eat the berries that develop on dogwood timber or shrubs. Can chickens safely eat dogwood berries?
Sure, the overwhelming majority of dogwood species produce berries which can be suitable for eating for chickens. Many chickens appear to take pleasure in them when they’re ripe, and they’re moderately nutritious fare, offering modest quantities of nutritional vitamins and minerals.
The excellent news is that not like so many flowering, decorative timber most dogwoods are utterly protected in your chickens, at the least if they’re simply consuming the berries.
You’ll be able to study every part there may be to learn about giving dogwood berries to your chickens in the remainder of this text.
Dietary Profile of Dogwood Berries
Dogwood berries are usually not going to be a serious a part of your chicken’s diet, however they will eat them with none issues.
The dietary worth of dogwood berries can also be not very excessive, so they won’t present a major supply of nutritional vitamins and minerals for chickens. Nonetheless, all berries, together with dogwoods, are a great supply of antioxidants.
The antioxidants current in dogwoods may help defend your chickens from free radicals, which may harm cells and result in illness.
Dogwood berries are additionally a great supply of dietary fiber, which is essential for digestive well being. As well as, dogwoods comprise small quantities of nutritional vitamins C and E, in addition to potassium and magnesium.
Well being Advantages of Dogwood Berries for Chickens
A very powerful advantage of feeding dogwood berries to your chickens is the antioxidants they comprise.
As talked about above, these compounds may help defend cells from harm and scale back the danger of illness.
Some research have even proven that antioxidants may help lengthen the lifespan of chickens and, as well as, they will additionally assist scale back irritation all through the physique, together with within the digestive tract.
Vitamin C is one other essential nutrient present in dogwoods that may supply well being advantages for chickens.
This vitamin is important for a robust immune system and may help forestall or deal with respiratory infections.
Vitamin C can also be essential for the formation of collagen, which is a protein that helps preserve bones and joints wholesome.
Chickens make their very own vitamin C, however some additional received’t damage! The vitamin E current in dogwoods can even assist enhance joint well being in chickens and scale back the danger of arthritis.
Potassium is a mineral that’s essential for a lot of completely different bodily capabilities, together with regulating blood stress, coronary heart perform, and muscle contraction.
Magnesium is one other mineral present in dogwoods that performs a task in these similar capabilities, in addition to in power manufacturing. Each of those minerals are helpful for chickens, particularly as they age.
Lastly, the fiber current in dogwood berries may also be helpful for digestive well being. That is because of the presence of dietary fiber, which helps preserve the digestive tract transferring correctly.
Potential Facet Results of Dogwood Berries for Chickens
Whereas dogwood berries are usually protected for chickens to eat, there are a number of potential unwanted effects to pay attention to.
Dogwood berries from most species are intensely astringent, and although most chickens don’t appear to thoughts (not like individuals!) this may result in some abdomen troubles in the event that they overindulge.
The commonest aspect impact is diarrhea. That is more than likely to happen in case your chickens eat too many dogwood berries without delay or if they aren’t used to consuming them.
In case your chickens do expertise an upset abdomen after consuming dogwoods, it ought to resolve by itself inside a day or two, tops.
Can Chickens Eat Dogwood Berries Uncooked?
Sure, and that is really one of the best ways to feed them to your chickens. It’s because uncooked dogwood berries comprise probably the most vitamins and in addition as a result of your flock is prone to pounce on the ripe berries at any time when they encounter them.
For those who do prepare dinner dogwood berries, nevertheless, they will nonetheless be given to your chickens however they won’t be as nutritious.
Can Chickens Eat Dogwood Leaves?
Sure, however chickens appear to keep away from them solely. That is probably as a result of the leaves of most dogwood species comprise tannins, which act as a repellent. Chickens will often solely eat dogwood leaves if they’re determined for one thing to eat or if there may be nothing else out there.
Can Chickens Eat Dogwood Berries Cooked?
Sure, however cooking the berries is pointless. Cooking the berries additionally reduces what scant diet is present in them.
For those who do prepare dinner the berries, they will nonetheless be given to your chickens however they won’t be pretty much as good for them.
By no means Feed Dogwood Berries to Chickens that Have Been Ready with Dangerous Substances
With reference to cooking, it’s essential to by no means feed dogwood berries to your chickens which were ready with dangerous elements.
This consists of issues like oil, butter, salt, sugar and the like. These elements would possibly render dogwood berries into one thing extra palatable for people, however they will really be dangerous to chickens.
At greatest, your birds could possibly be going through indigestion, diarrhea and weight achieve from extra energy, however at worst critical well being problems might come up.
Issues like fatty liver syndrome, salt poisoning, bitter crop and hypertension are not any joke, and might kill chickens or depart them with well being points for all times.
Don’t give your flock any scraps or different dishes which were made with issues they need to not eat!
Watch out for Pesticides and Herbicides on Wild or Unknown Dogwoods
Whereas dogwoods are usually protected for chickens to eat, it’s essential to bear in mind that they will soak up pesticide and herbicide residues they’ve been in touch or handled with.
The berries particularly are able to holding vital quantities of chemical substances on their pores and skin.
These chemical substances are sometimes poisonous and might construct up over time within the tissues of your birds and ultimately result in critical sicknesses.
In case you are feeding your flock berries from wild dogwoods, make sure that they arrive from an space that has not been handled with any dangerous chemical substances. In case you are unsure, it’s all the time greatest to err on the aspect of warning and never feed them the berries.
The identical goes for dogwoods in your personal yard or backyard. You probably have handled them with any pesticides or herbicides, make sure that they’re utterly dry and wash the berries freed from residue earlier than letting your chickens close to them.
How Typically Can Chickens Have Dogwood Berries?
Dogwood berries are a healthful if not severely nutritious snack, and so chickens ought to have them solely often.
If given the chance, they are going to probably eat as many as they will discover, however this isn’t essentially a great factor.
As talked about, too many dogwood berries can provide your chickens diarrhea, however they will even refill on them and miss out on the diet they want in different meals.
A very good rule of thumb is to supply dogwood berries to your flock not more than a few times every week, and solely sparingly.
90% of a rooster’s energy ought to come from their rooster feed, with the remaining 10% being made up of different meals.
Getting ready Dogwood Berries for Your Flock
One of the best ways to feed dogwood berries to your chickens is to attend till they’re ripe after which supply them as a deal with, for those who decide them your self, or allow them to graze them proper off the tree or shrub.
You can too add the berries to rooster feed to boost their typical meal a bit, though this isn’t obligatory.
Can Child Chicks Have Dogwood Berries, Too?
Tentatively sure, however it’s best to wait till the chicks are fairly a bit older, round 8 weeks of age on the earliest.
You also needs to solely give them a number of nibbles from a berry at a time to begin with and see how they react.
Diarrhea is extra probably and extra harmful for younger chicks, so it’s greatest to be cautious when introducing new meals.
