How to Feed Collard Greens to Chickens

Chickens are relatively easy to care for and can supply food to us in the form of meat and eggs, and used as an insect removal or garden clean up crew. Chickens require certain nutrients in their diet, and greens are an excellent addition. Collard greens provide vitamin C, fiber and other nutrients. Collard greens are inexpensive, easy to grow and cheap to obtain in most areas.

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh collard greens
  • Grit
  • Fresh water
  • String or feed box (optional)
  • Leftover cooked collard greens
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase collard greens fresh in bunches, or harvest them from the garden if you are growing them yourself.

    • 2

      Provide grit for the chickens, preferably in the form of granite or quartz sand. Grit is what helps chickens grind food in the gut, working as teeth to reduce the size of the food particles. Digestible grit does not properly help the chicken grind the food in the gut as it digests too quickly. Granite or quartz sand, or riverbed sand you can collect yourself does not digest and is the best choice.

    • 3

      Distribute collard greens to the chickens with their main diet of grain and protein. Tie the greens in bunches and hang several from the coop or fence. You can also just toss them into the chicken yard, or pile them in a feed box readily available to the chickens. It is not necessary to cook the greens before feeding them, however if you have leftover cooked collard greens from your table, you can distribute these to the chickens and they will eat them.

    • 4

      Allow the chickens to clean up the collard greens in the garden in late summer or early fall. When you have finished harvesting, release the chickens into the garden to roam, they will eat the remaining greens, which helps clean up the garden.

    • 5

      Provide a regular supply of fresh clean water when feeding chickens to aid the digestion of food, including the collard greens.