Can Chickens Eat Wheat Berries? Find Out Here Today!

Wheat berries are whole, unprocessed kernels of wheat. This nutritious grain contains the wheat germ, bran, and endosperm. Wheat is high in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals that can benefit chickens. But can chickens safely eat wheat berries? Let’s find out.

What Are Wheat Berries?

Wheat berries refer to whole, unprocessed wheat kernels. Since the grain remains intact, it provides more nutrition than refined wheat flour. Wheat berries contain:

• Protein – essential for growth and egg production.
• Fiber – supports digestion and gut health.
• Vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine.
• Minerals including phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

When harvested, wheat is first milled into wheat berries. Further processing removes the wheat germ and bran to produce white flour. But whole wheat berries retain all nutritional parts of the original grain.

Are Wheat Berries Good for Chickens?

Yes, wheat berries can be a nutritious addition to a chicken’s diet. Here’s why:

• High protein – Wheat contains 12-15% protein, important for muscle growth and egg production.
• Energy – The complex carbohydrates in wheat provide usable energy.
• Fiber – Wheat bran promotes digestion and gut health.
• Vitamins & minerals – Niacin, riboflavin, and other vitamins and minerals support overall health.
• Nutrient diversity – Adding variety helps ensure chickens get all essential nutrients.

In moderation, whole wheat berries make a healthy, natural treat for chickens. They offer full nutrition not found in refined wheat flour.

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Do Chickens Like Wheat Berries?

Most chickens enjoy pecking at and eating whole wheat berries. Here’s why they like them:

• Natural foraging – Chickens instinctively forage and peck for grains. Wheat berries satisfy this need.
• Texture – The hard, chewy texture is fun for chickens. It takes them time to break down the seed.
• Taste – Chickens enjoy the sweet, nutty flavor of whole wheat.
• Novelty – As a supplemental treat, wheat berries add diversity to their regular feed.

Scattering a handful in the run encourages natural pecking, grazing, and foraging. The activity provides enrichment. chickens happily engage in this natural behavior.

How Much Wheat Berries Can Chickens Eat?

Wheat should be fed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Recommended amounts:

• Chicks – None until 4-6 weeks old. Then 1-2 teaspoons per chick daily.
• Pullets – 1-2 tablespoons per bird per day.
• Laying hens – 2-3 tablespoons per hen per day.
• Meat birds – 2-3 tablespoons per bird per day.

Exceeding these amounts can lead to obesity and other health issues in chickens. Wheat berries are healthy but high in carbohydrates. Moderation is important.

Are Wheat Berries High in Protein for Chickens?

Yes, wheat provides a significant amount of protein for chickens:

• Whole wheat berries contain 12-15% protein.
• Protein supports growth, muscle tissue, and egg production.
• The protein in wheat contains all essential amino acids poultry need.
• Compared to corn, wheat has nearly 4 times as much protein.

While not quite as high as soybean meal, whole wheat berries are a quality source of protein for chickens. Feeding them provides protein needed for good health and productivity.

Should I Soak Wheat Berries for Chickens?

It’s a good idea to soak whole wheat berries for 12-24 hours before feeding to chickens. Here’s why:

• Softens hull – Soaking softens the seed coating so it’s easier to digest.
• Improves digestibility – The grains absorb moisture, helping breakdown in the gut.
• Reduces choking risk – Softer grains are less likely to get stuck in the crop.
• Increases palatability – Soaking plumps up wheat berries and enhances taste.

Simply cover the wheat with water overnight before feeding. The extra step improves the nutrition chickens get from the grains.

Do I Need to Cook Wheat Berries for Chickens?

Cooking is not necessary to feed wheat berries to chickens. In fact, raw whole grains are ideal:

• Natural diet – Uncooked grains mimic a chicken’s ancestral diet.
• Enzymes preserved – Cooking destroys nutrients and natural enzymes.
• Better digestion – Raw wheat may be easier for chickens to digest.
• Higher nutrition – Cooking reduces some vitamins like thiamine.

As long as you soak the wheat berries first, chickens can eat them raw. Cooking is an extra step that provides little benefit.

Can Chickens Digest Whole Wheat Berries?

Yes, chickens are able to digest whole wheat berries efficiently when fed properly:

• Chickens swallow grains whole to store and soften in their crop.
• In the gizzard, wheat berries are ground up before moving to the intestine.
• The gizzard acts as a mechanical grinding organ using swallowed rocks.
• Digestive enzymes break down the softened grains in the intestine.
• The nutrients are then absorbed.

Make sure chickens have sufficient grit to aid gizzard function. Overall, chickens digest whole wheat well when eaten in moderation.

Is Too Much Wheat Bad for Chickens?

Feeding too much wheat can cause problems for chickens:

• Obesity – The high carbohydrate content can lead to weight gain.
• Fatty liver disease – Excess fat accumulation in the liver.
• Digestive issues – Gut inflammation, diarrhea, or constipation.
• Nutrient imbalance – Too much unbalanced wheat displaces other feeds.
• Boredom – Chickens may get bored of an excess of one treat.

Moderation is key when supplementing wheat berries. Chickens should get no more than 10-15% of calories from treats.

Are Sprouted Wheat Berries Better for Chickens?

Sprouting wheat berries before feeding makes them more nutritious for chickens:

• The sprouting process increases vitamins and makes minerals more bioavailable.
• Sprouting reduces phytic acid, allowing better absorption of nutrients.
• Enzyme activity during sprouting breaks down some of the seed hulls.
• Active enzymes also aid digestion.
• The sprouts are highly palatable and preferred by chickens.

It takes only 2-3 days to sprout wheat berries and further enhance their nutritional value for chickens.

Final Thoughts

Wheat berries can be a healthy, natural supplemental feed for chickens. The whole grains provide more balanced nutrition compared to refined wheat products. Just feed them in moderation, soak them first, and avoid cooking. Then wheat makes an excellent high protein, high fiber treat that aligns with a chicken’s natural diet and behavior.

Adreena Shanum

Welcome. I’m Adreena Shanum, the proud owner of this website, and I am incredibly passionate about animals, especially poultry. I founded adreenapets.com as a labor of love, stemming from my desire to share my knowledge and experiences with poultry enthusiasts worldwide.