Can Chickens Eat Corn Husks? Here's Everything You Need To Know!
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Like any domesticated animal, chickens require extra care, and it is necessary to be vigilant about what your chickens eat.
Being aware of what you are feeding your pet chickens is crucial in helping them stay healthy. In this article, you will find various nutritional facts and different foods to feed your chicken.
One of the most popular domestic animals, chickens, have a lot of fascinating aspects about them. They can also be lucrative for most of the people who keep them.
You may have some questions about feeding your chicken, such as can chickens eat corn, can you feed them corn husks and silk, and what nutrients does corn husk provide? Read this article for the answers to these questions and more!
Check out our other fun articles: can chicken eat popcorn? and chicken eat potatoes?
Is it safe to feed corn husks to chickens?
Chickens can eat corn husks, the leaves covering the corn cob, though they do not have a high nutritional value. When chopped into smaller pieces, the chicken will be able to digest the husk.
You can also feed your chickens the corn husks used for tamales, which are steamed, without affecting your chickens. So, next time you are feeding your chickens corn, feel free to throw in the whole cob.
Not only chickens but deers, raccoons, wild turkeys, and various other animals feed on corn husks too. The husk is also used as bedding for birds.
Usually, we see many owners feed corn to their chickens while few owners feed corn as a treat. But can you feed chickens corn on the cob? Well, the answer is yes.
Corn on cobs is rather delicious and can also be used as a treat. If you own multiple chickens, it might be a great idea to put some corn cobs in the coop.
It doesn't even have to be cooked. Corn even has many nutrients that benefit the chicken as long as they are not overeating corn. Letting the chickens feed vigorously on corn might not be the best idea after all.
Can chickens eat ground corn and husks?
Yes, chickens can eat ground corn and husks. Whole corn is like a treat to fully grown chickens; they love it.
Chickens will enjoy eating corn that is cooked, fresh, raw, crackled or frozen. Corn is also affordable. And because the whole corn, including the husk, can be fed, it is more relevant to feed your chicken with corn.
You should not feed your chicken strictly corn as the chicken also needs different types of nutrients to grow and stay healthy. Corn can provide some protein to the chicken, but they may lay fewer eggs if they do not get enough protein.
Now we know that both the corn and the husks are safe for your chickens to consume. Then what about the corn silk?
Is it safe for your birds to eat? Corn silk is the thin thread-like shiny strings that grow as part of the ears of corn. It has medicinal values and has various health benefits.
It is safe to say that your chicken can feed on corn silk, too, as they are not poisonous. Chickens will eat about anything you feed them. But to keep them healthy, it is our responsibility to be aware of what we feed them.
You might be concerned about your chicken choking on the silk threads. So, to avoid the risk of choking, you might want to rip it into small pieces before giving it to the chickens.
The silk is also pretty nutritious as it is rich in vitamins. There is no harm in throwing some in with the corn and the husk instead of wasting it. You can toss a whole corn cob into the coop too.
How many corn husks can chickens eat in a day?
It is not a good idea to keep feeding the same food to your chickens as they might not get all the required nutrients from one food. Even though corn husks are safe to consume for chickens, they have a high nutritional value.
About three lb. (1.36 Kg) or four lb. (1.81Kg) for the whole flock should be fine.
The chicken seems to like it. And it is assumed that if you are feeding the chickens corn husks every day, you will be feeding it with corn too, which is fine. Half a hand of corn per chicken won't hurt the chickens.
The chicks love to eat cracked corn, but try to feed corn in moderation. Only chicks older than four weeks can have treats, but younger ones cannot.
While feeding the chicken with corn, something to keep in mind is that sweet corn can be poisonous to them—the sweet corn and sugar in it are not suitable for the chickens.
You can also feed your chickens with field corn, but the problem is the size of the kernels and the potential for mycotoxins. Five-week-old chicken can consume felid corn with minimal trouble. Maize is usually fed to make the chicken fat.
Can I feed corn husks with chicken feed to my chickens?
Usually, chickens will peck and eat whatever they are fed. Chickens are also commonly given the name of "backyard disposal" as they eat everything.
It shouldn't be a problem when feeding them corn husks. You can feed the whole corn cob to the flock.
But if your birds are still not eating the husks, then try chopping them into smaller pieces and mixing them with chicken feed. This way, you will also not waste the husk, plus there are some extra nutrients, although not a lot, that will be added to the chickens' diet.
Here is a list of foods people give to their backyard chickens: pork, steak, duck, rabbit, and fish. Chickens also feed on sprouted bales of straw and flock block.
We can safely say that chickens can eat corn on the cob, corn husk, and corn silk without any drawbacks, provided they do not overeat these products. Remember that sticking strictly to only corn is not advisable.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can chickens eat corn husks? here's all you need to know about! Then why not take a look at can bearded dragons eat celery?
the truth answered! Or can chickens eat chocolate? not at all, please keep this treat away!
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Master of Business Administration
Deepthi ReddyMaster of Business Administration
With an MBA under her belt, Deepthi has discovered her true calling in content writing. Her writing repertoire is diverse, covering travel, movies, pet care, parenting, animals and birds, and more. Her joy of learning and creating has helped her craft well-written and engaging articles. When she isn't writing, Deepthi enjoys exploring new cultures, trying different foods, and spending quality time with her two children aged 7 and 12.
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts
Amatullah GulbargawalaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts
Amatullah is a passionate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Ashoka College of Education. With a keen interest in literature, she has excelled in elocution competitions and is an accomplished writer. She has completed courses like "History of English Language and Literature", "Introduction to Western Political Thought and Theory", and "Development of Soft Skills and Personality". In her free time, Amatullah enjoys reading books and writing poetry.
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