Can chickens eat corn? Yes. Corn is a popular treat for backyard chickens and can provide extra energy, especially during cold weather. But like any treat, corn should be fed in moderation. Here’s what to know about the different types of corn chickens can eat, how much to offer and which forms to avoid.

Key Takeaways

• Chickens can eat both sweet corn and field corn.
• Corn is high in carbohydrates and can provide extra energy, particularly in cold weather.
• Feed corn as a treat rather than a replacement for a complete, balanced chicken feed.
• Avoid moldy, heavily salted, buttered, or seasoned corn.
• Whole or cracked corn can be offered, but baby chicks should not be fed whole corn kernels.

Can Chickens Eat Corn?

Yes. Chickens can eat corn. Despite its bad name, corn is especially beneficial during the winter months, when hens need the extra calories to fuel through frigid temperatures.

Can Chickens Eat Sweet Corn?

Can chickens eat corn? What about sweet corn? Yes. Chickens can eat both sweet corn and field corn. Sweet corn is often a better choice during the summer, as it has a higher water content and contains more vitamin C than field corn.

As its name suggests, sweet corn also contains more sugar than field corn, and should only be fed as an occasional treat.

Is Corn Healthy for Chickens?

Often labeled as “bad” for chickens, corn has surprising benefits buried beneath its label. Both sweet corn and field corn contain large amounts of carbohydrates, which supply chickens with a quick blast of energy. When paired with a protein source, the carbohydrates help keep your flock moving all day long.

Corn also contains vitamins B and C, and is full of antioxidants. The two most powerful antioxidants found in corn (lutein and zeaxanthin), are also considered phytochemicals and help to improve overall eye health.

Feeding both field corn and sweet corn to your flock can also help deepen skin and egg yolk color, as the kernels contain natural carotenoids. Although backyard flock owners favor deeper-colored egg yolks for their looks alone, the carotenoids aren’t just to make egg yolks look pretty. Carotenoids also contain amazing health benefits such as supporting the immune system and reducing cell damage.

Is Corn Bad for Chickens?

Is corn bad for chickens? Consuming too much corn can be harmful for chickens, as the high carbohydrate content can lead to obesity and other potential health risks.

Health concerns from consuming a high-corn diet include: an increased risk of fatty liver disease, egg-related problems (including egg binding and oviduct prolapse), and digestive upsets. High-corn diets can also lead to lower protein, calcium, and other nutrient intake, resulting in decreased egg production and a weakened immune system.

Never feed moldy corn to your flock, as both consuming the moldy kernels and breathing in the dust from the grain can cause Aspergillus and other severe health problems.

Never feed chickens corn that has been buttered or seasoned.

How to Feed Corn to Chickens

Can chickens eat corn? Chickens can eat corn in a variety of ways. Whether feeding cracked field corn in a scratch mix or allowing hens to nibble off the leftover kernels from an ear of sweet corn, your chickens will be tripping over themselves to get a peck of the tasty kernels.

Corn is a wonderful way to add some enrichment to your flock’s daily routine. Allowing your hens to forage for kernels or peck corn off the cob is a good way to boost mental stimulation and reduce winter boredom.

How Much and How Often

Corn can be very beneficial for chickens, but care should be taken not to overfeed this carbohydrate-rich seed to chickens. During the winter months, in northern climates, corn can be offered daily about an hour before sunset to ensure your flock stays warm throughout the long, cold night. In winter, corn (or scratch mixed with corn) should not exceed more than ten percent of a chicken’s daily diet.

For warmer months, offer corn only a handful of times throughout the season. To prevent chickens from overheating, corn should not exceed five percent of the flock’s daily diet and should only be fed on occasion.

Can Chickens Eat Fresh or Cooked Corn?

Chickens can eat corn fresh, cooked, or grilled, as long as it doesn’t contain butter or any other seasonings (including salt or sugar). When it comes to this delicious treat, most chickens aren’t fussy, so feel free to switch it up.

Can Chickens Eat Canned or Frozen Corn?

Can chickens eat corn? What about canned or frozen corn? Canned corn, like most canned vegetables, often contains high amounts of sodium (salt). High sodium intake can take a toll on a chicken’s health, so avoid feeding canned corn to your flock.

Frozen corn (free of butter, salt, sugar, or other seasonings) can be thawed and safely fed to chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Popcorn?

Yes, chickens can eat plain, air-popped popcorn as an occasional treat. Many chickens enjoy pecking at the small pieces, and popcorn can provide some enrichment as well as carbohydrates.

Avoid popcorn made with butter, salt, sugar or other seasonings. As with other treats, popcorn should be offered in moderation and should not replace a chicken’s complete, balanced feed.

Can Baby Chicks Eat Corn?

Although corn is often added to chick feed, avoid feeding corn to baby chicks as the kernels are too large for a chick to swallow and digest.

FAQs

Is corn healthy for chickens?

Yes. Corn can be a nutritious treat for chickens because it provides carbohydrates and energy. However, it should be fed in moderation and should not replace a complete, balanced chicken feed.

Can chickens eat whole kernels or cracked corn?

Yes. Chickens can eat both whole and cracked corn. Adult chickens can digest whole kernels with help from their gizzards.

Can chickens eat corn on the cob?

Yes. Chickens can peck kernels from an ear of corn, making corn on the cob a fun form of enrichment. Remove the cob when the kernels have been eaten.

Can chickens eat corn husks?

Although corn husks aren’t considered toxic to chickens, they are tough and fibrous and aren’t a particularly useful food. It’s better to remove the husks before offering corn.

What kind of corn should chickens avoid?

Avoid moldy corn and corn that has been prepared with butter, salt, sugar or other seasonings. These ingredients can be unhealthy for chickens, and moldy feed can contain harmful toxins.

Can chickens eat popcorn?

Chickens can have plain, unsalted, unbuttered popcorn as an occasional treat, but it isn’t necessary in their diet. Avoid popcorn covered in butter, salt, sugar or other flavorings.

Final Thoughts

Can chickens eat corn? Absolutely. Corn can be a tasty, energy-rich treat for chickens, especially during cold weather, but it should remain a small part of a balanced diet. Offer plain corn in moderation and avoid moldy or seasoned corn to keep this popular treat a safe addition to your flock’s routine.

This article about can chickens eat corn was written for Chickens and Hobby Farms magazines. Click here to subscribe.