If there is one thing that all chicken owners know, it is that their birds generally love lush, leafy green vegetables.
There is hardly a plant or a blade of grass that is safe from these enthusiastic eaters, including many plans that you wouldn’t expect.
Naturally, there are many vegetables we enjoy the chickens also like. How about lettuce? Can chickens eat lettuce?
Yes, chickens can eat all kinds of lettuce and it is a healthy supplemental item for them. Most types of lettuce are abundant with vitamin A, folate and vitamin K along with a good assortment of minerals including iron, manganese, potassium and zinc.
Trust me; you won’t need to encourage your chickens too much in order to get them to dine on lettuce. But, as healthy as lettuce is, you’ll still want to give it to them sparingly.
We will tell you everything you need to know about feeding lettuce to your chickens in the rest of this article.
Nutritional Profile of Lettuce
There is no universal nutritional profile for lettuce since there are so many varieties, and even among common grocery store lettuces cultivated for human consumption, you’ll find many types.
Considering one of the most popular and most nutritious kinds of lettuce, butterhead, there is much to smile about, as it has plenty of vitamins and minerals to supplement a healthy diet.
This lettuce contains lots of vitamin A equivalent compounds, along with beta-carotene and lutein zeaxanthin.
| 100g Lettuce | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water | 94g |
| Calories | 22 kcal |
| Protein | 1.09g |
| Total Fat | 0.16g |
| Ash | 0.67g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.07g |
| Calcium | 40mg |
| Iron | 0.32mg |
| Magnesium | 12.8mg |
| Phosphorus | 27mg |
| Potassium | 277mg |
| Sodium | 29mg |
| Zinc | 0.31mg |
| Copper | <0.25mg |
| Manganese | 0.156mg |
| Vitamin C | 15.2mg |
| Thiamin | 0.082mg |
| Niacin | 0.375mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.071mg |
Most of the B complex vitamins including folate are present as is vitamin C, vitamin K, and just a little bit of vitamin E.
You’ll also find lots of minerals and good lettuce, minerals like iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
Notably, most lettuce contains only trace amounts of sodium but lots and lots of water, with the average ratio hovering around 93% to 94% water by mass.
Health Benefits of Lettuce for Chickens
Lettuce is a great, healthy food option for supplementing the diet of chickens and one that is highly hydrating.
On a warm day, cool, juicy lettuce combined with the potassium it contains can do much to help ward off heat stress and your flock.
But it is more than just a cooling treat. The vitamin A equivalent and beta-carotene present in lettuce do much to maintain healthy nervous system tissues and the eyes in particular.
All of the B complex vitamins perform a host of functions in the body but are especially important for various metabolic processes.
Vitamin E is essential for skin and organ health, and vitamin K helps to promote healing and stimulate healthy blood clotting.
And that’s just the vitamins!
There was more to come in the form of minerals, particularly iron which is essential for the production of red blood cells in the oxygenation of the bloodstream, and calcium, which is essential for the bone health of growing or healing chickens as well as the health of eggshells in laying hens and zinc which is fundamentally important for the function of enzymes in the body.
Can Chickens Eat Lettuce Raw?
Yes, chickens may eat lettuce raw and it is the preferred way to give it to them. Raw lettuce is juicy, cool and refreshing, and will maintain the entirety of its nutrient profile for the most part.
Can Chickens Eat Iceberg Lettuce?
Yes, chickens can eat this common and popular type of lettuce with absolutely no issues, and although it is one of the most nutritionally lackluster the chickens will find it tasty and hydrating.
Can Chickens Eat Romaine Lettuce?
Yes, they can. Romaine lettuce is another extremely popular type of lettuce, one that is commonly found at pretty much every grocery store in the land.
With superior taste, texture and nutritional profile compared to iceberg, this is an excellent option for serving to your chickens.
Can Chickens Eat Redleaf Lettuce?
Yes, although it is commonly confused with cabbage, red leaf lettuce is another nutritional powerhouse type that is tasty and fortifying, a great option for serving to your chickens if you grow it yourself or can find it in stores.
Can Chickens Eat Summercrisp Lettuce?
They sure can. Summer crisp lettuce is, as the name suggests, crispy and juicy, one of the most hydrating types of lettuce there is and also highly nutritious. Your chickens will love it, if you can find it or grow it.
Can Chickens Eat Bibb Lettuce?
Yes, bibb lettuce is safe and beloved by chickens. Although it is not the favorite of everyone because the leaves are a little sturdier this is one of the most nutritious types of lettuce around.
Don’t worry, your birds will scarcely know the difference and will tear into it with relish.
Can Chickens Eat Lettuce Cooked?
Yes, chickens may have cooked lettuce, but I’d advise against cooking it at all. First, most lettuce will turn into a wilted, slimy mess when you cook it, and second, a considerable amount of nutrition will be lost both vitamins and minerals.
There’s just no great reason to cook lettuce prior to serving it to your chickens.
Never Feed Lettuce to Chickens that Has Been Prepared with Harmful Ingredients
When most people think of lettuce, they instinctively think of a salad or a sandwich topping, and not much in between.
Hey, either is probably the best possible use of lettuce there is, but that doesn’t mean you should let your chickens partake.
You should never give lettuce to your chickens that have been prepared with or alongside any ingredients that they shouldn’t eat, namely salt, sugar, butter, oils, salad dressings, and so forth.
All of those items are either unhealthy for chickens or can cause significant illness. At best, your chickens will be looking at digestive problems, diarrhea, and weight gain.
At worst, it could be facing serious and life-threatening complications in the form of sodium poisoning, fatty liver syndrome, high blood pressure, and more.
You might love a fully loaded chef’s salad or a veggie wrap drenched in your favorite dressing, but you shouldn’t serve it to your chickens.
Beware of Pesticide on Grocery-bought Lettuce
If you were planning on purchasing lettuce for serving your chickens from the grocery store, you’ll need to be aware of pesticide contamination.
Pretty much all of our products today are heavily treated from planting to harvesting with pesticides and other chemicals.
Although this produce, including lettuce, it’s supposed to be washed, it rarely fails that there is a significant residue left behind.
Even worse, lettuces are one of the worst offenders when it comes to the retention of these residues.
That means you’ll need to thoroughly wash or soak your lettuce prior to serving it to your chickens assuming you cannot purchase an organic variety or grow it yourself.
How Often Can Chickens Have Lettuce?
Lettuce is definitely healthy for chickens, but it should not be something they eat all the time or even a majority component in their diet.
It isn’t nutritionally complete and eating too much moist, leafy matter can cause problems like crop impaction.
Your chickens should only be getting about 10% of their total calorie intake in the form of healthy, wholesome supplemental foods, and of that 10% lettuce should only be a fraction.
Preparing Lettuce for Your Flock
It is easy to give lettuce to your flock of chickens around dinner time. If you have larger, more adventurous and powerful birds you can set out a whole head and let them peck it apart at their leisure.
If you want to make it a little easier on them, however, you can split or quarter the head of lettuce before tossing it to them.
Ultimately, the lettuce may be chopped up in a manner similar to preparing a salad and set out in bowls or on trays.
Can Baby Chicks Have Lettuce, Too?
Yes, baby chicks may have lettuce, but you’ll want to wait for them to get a little bit older, around 6 weeks of age, before serving it to them.
Chicks have sensitive digestive tracts and highly specific nutritional requirements, and won’t benefit much from novel editions to their diet.
Tom has lived and worked on farms and homesteads from the Carolinas to Kentucky and beyond. He is passionate about helping people prepare for tough times by embracing lifestyles of self-sufficiency.