Benefits of Elderberries for Chickens

Benefits of Elderberries for Chickens
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | January 30, 2024
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Elderberries are an ancient holistic remedy that were used by the Native Americans to help treat both internal and external health issues. But… did you know that elderberries can also be used to benefit your homestead flock of chickens? The benefits of elderberries for chickens is amazing! I knew that elderberry was good for me and my health, but it has been so fascinating to learn about how I can use it to keep my flock healthy and use it as a natural remedy for certain health ailments! I can’t wait to share with you how you can use elderberries to keep your flock healthy and happy too!

Can Chickens Eat Elderberries?

First, let’s answer the question of… can chickens eat elderberries? Are elderberries even safe for chickens? Yes, chickens can eat elderberries, however, we are dealing with a toxic plant here, so caution is mandatory! The stems, leaves, roots, and unripe berries of the elderberry plant all contain a compound of cyanide-inducing glycosides which are toxic.

Glycosides are toxic even when consumed in small quantities. Also, certain species within the elderberry plant family contain more of the toxin than other elderberry species.

But, before you throw in the towel and wonder how something dangerous can actually be beneficial for your chickens, let me clarify. Ripe berries and the flowers of the elderberry plant have been used for years as a natural holistic remedy. This alone should calm your fears of poisoning your flock. When used correctly, you should not worry about feeding elderberries to your chickens!

While raw, ripe elderberries are safe for chickens to consume, they are composed of about 50% elderberry seeds. The toxin contained within the actual elderberries is mainly on the seed to protect it as it matures. That is why unripe berries are toxic while ripe, mature berries are fine. However, there IS something you can do to remove any potential toxin in elderberries.

When exposed to heat, the toxic glycosides within elderberries (if any is present in the mature berry) is harmlessly released. We will talk more about methods of feeding elderberries to your chickens later, in which case we will discuss methods of heating or cooking the berries prior to feeding.

A Note on Elderberry Species:

Before we move on, I do want to discuss the different species of elderberries. There are now 9 recognized species of elderberry. The American elderberry, European (black) elderberry, red elderberry, and blue elderberry are four of the most common species you may find growing in the United States. The American elderberry is native to North America and can be found growing wild in many states.

The two varieties most commonly associated with health benefits are the American elderberry and the European elderberry. The European elderberry has had the most scientific research done on it, however, it is also one of the varieties that contains the most wide spread toxic compound in its stems, leaves, roots, and seeds.

On the other hand, the American elderberry is thought to have more anthocyanins and polyphenols, which are the source of many of the benefits provided by elderberries.

In regards to elderberries for chickens, just be conscious about where you source your elderberries from and try to find out what variety they are.

Benefits of Elderberries for Chickens

Now on to the benefits! We know that elderberries are safe for chickens to consume with some considerations taken. But why do we want to give our chickens elderberries? There are many reasons! Here are just a few:

• they are very high in vitamin C and vitamin A
• elderberries provide an excellent source of necessary chicken dietary elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium
• they are a good source of fiber
• elderberries are rich in phenolic acid (antioxidants) and flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamn)
• the elderflowers are an even richer source of flavonols and can contain up to 10x more than the berries
• they are anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory
• elderberries help boost the immune system to ward off disease

Benefit Breakdown

Calcium– One especially noticeable benefit that elderberries have for chickens is the fact that they provide a good ratio of calcium and phosphorus. Phosphorus and calcium need to be present in a chicken’s body at the same time in order for the chicken to utilize the calcium correctly. Hens need calcium in order to produce strong eggshells. Elderberries provide a good source of both of these dietary elements!

Vitamin C– While chickens actually produce their own vitamin C, supplemental vitamin C (such as what would be provided by the elderberries) is often needed during times of high stress, like disease, injury, parasites, or environmental stressors.

Fiber– The fiber in elderberries helps keep a chicken’s gut healthy. A healthy gut is the foundation for a healthy chicken. Fiber is known to improve digestion, which can in turn benefit your flock’s feed consumption ratio in terms of production and efficiency. Fiber can also be beneficial for chickens in helping them maintain healthy, well-structured feathers.

Antioxidants– The antioxidant composition of elderberries is what really makes them shine! Antioxidants are known to prevent many chronic diseases and also provide anti-inflammatory benefits. The antioxidants that elderberries contain are thought to have over 3x the power of antioxidants provided by vitamin E.

All these benefits can have an amazing affect on your flock! We will discuss more about using these benefits for your flock later in this post!

Can Chickens Have Elderberry Syrup?

All this talk about elderberries and I am sure you are wondering about elderberry syrup. It seems to be the new holistic cure-all for people, but what about chickens? Can chickens have elderberry syrup? My answer is yes, but under one condition: you know what the ingredients are!

Elderberry syrup is extremely beneficial, but only if it contains beneficial ingredients. Healthy elderberry syrup for chickens should only contain a few simple ingredients such as organic elderberries, raw honey, and maybe a few extra spices such as cinnamon or cloves. All of those ingredients are actually very good for your flock!

Elderberries– Elderberries, when they are cooked down for a short amount of time, are thought to actually release more of their beneficial compounds. So, when elderberries are made into syrup by boiling them with water, the heat does two beneficial things: it eliminates the possibility of any toxins being present and it enhances the benefits provided by the berries.

Honey– The raw honey contained in healthy elderberry syrup is also good for your flock! Raw honey is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, a natural antibiotic, and is rich in antioxidants. As well as being a natural antibiotic, honey also contains natural prebiotic compounds. Prebiotics help keep the gut healthy by stimulating good gut flora growth, which in turn can keep out bad gut flora through competitive exclusion.

Spices– Lastly, cinnamon and cloves are both beneficial spices for chickens. Cinnamon is especially good for respiratory health and cloves is another good source of disease fighting antioxidants.

So yes, healthy elderberry syrup is a great holistic remedy to have in your chicken first aid kit!

How to Feed Elderberries to Chickens

Chickens seem to naturally love eating berries! So you would think getting them to enjoy some elderberries wouldn’t be too hard. However, elderberries are a very tart berry and my chickens didn’t seem to be as excited over these berries compared to other berries. Nonetheless, there are many ways that you can feed elderberries to your chickens!

Elderberry Bushes

In some regions, elderberries naturally grow in the wild. If you happen to have elderberry plants on your property, you may be concerned about the toxic compounds in the other parts of the plant. Chickens seem to love eating the fresh, ripe berries but they also seem to know that the rest of the plant is not palatable.

However, to ensure your flock doesn’t consume too many elderberries, unripe berries, or accidentally consume some of the plant, you may want to limit the access your flock has to any wild elderberry plants on your property.

Raw Berries

With that being said, you can feed both raw or dried elderberries to your flock as a treat! Pick fresh berries and scatter them in the enclosure for your flock to forage for. Make boredom busting treats with the berries or top off a bowl of fermented feed with some fresh elderberries!

The raw, mature berries don’t need to be cooked prior to your flock enjoying them. All of the benefits will still be provided in raw, fresh berries even without heating them. However, heating them up will eliminate any chance of toxic compounds being present.

Dried Berries

For dried elderberries, chickens don’t seem quite as compelled to consume the dried berries compared to fresh berries. Hydrating the berries or softening them in some boiling water seems to make them more appealing. The heated dried berries will be free of any toxic compounds and may even have enhanced nutritional benefits!

The way I get my chickens to eat the rehydrated, dried berries is by mixing them into fermented feed or sprinkling them on some treats. Oatmeal or oatmeal alternatives often pair well with the dried berries as do meat scraps, cooked vegetables (like squash) or anything else your flock adores (but is healthy for them!)

I love feeding my flock the leftover cooked elderberries from when I make homemade elderberry syrup!

Feeding Elderberries as a Chicken Treat

Elderberries used as a chicken treat should be treated like a treat. That means they are fed in moderation and only on occasion. They are not an every day treat and will actually be more beneficial when they are only offered on occasion or as needed. Despite being a tart berry, they still contain natural sugar. Sugar, even natural sugar, is not something that should be fed in high quantities to your flock. I recommend feeding your flock elderberries as a treat no more than once a week.

Also, keep in mind that dried elderberries are more nutrient-dense than fresh elderberries. Meaning, you can feed less dried berries compared to fresh, raw berries and they will still provide just as many benefits!

However, even when elderberries are fed just as an occasional treat for your flock, they still provide amazing health benefits! The benefits of feeding elderberries to your flock as a treat include:

• Immunity– The berries will boost a chicken’s immune system, which a chicken’s main defense against disease and parasites.
• Feather Health– Elderberries can help promote healthy feather growth thanks to the fiber content of the berries.
• Antioxidants– The antioxidants in elderberries prevent free radicals from building up in a chicken’s body. Free radicals cause oxidative stress by damaging cells and body tissues, which leads to disease.
• Nutrition– Elderberries act as a general health supplement and can help a chicken stay healthy and productive.

Feeding Elderberries as a Supplement

Elderberries fed as a treat, such as sprinkling raw berries in the enclosure, wild berries consumed while free-ranging, or dried berries added to fermented feed, are great for your flock. But don’t assume they will cure anything. In order for elderberries to be used as a holistic remedy, they need to be used as a supplement with a specific usage pattern.

Like with most holistic supplements, you will want to know exactly what you are working with and what you want to gain by using the elderberries as a supplement. For elderberries, I highly recommend using elderberry syrup as your source of elderberry supplement. The syrup can easily be measured out and you can administer it in specific quantities to specific birds.

When to Use Elderberries for Chickens:

Elderberries will be most affective against chronic diseases, respiratory issues, and viruses in poultry. The antioxidants contained in the berries are what will fight pathogens or build up the immune system to fight diseases. Raw honey in elderberry syrup will also add to the healing power of elderberry syrup as a holistic remedy.

Start administering elderberry syrup as soon as you see symptoms of chronic, respiratory, or viral-type ailments. Common signs that I look for to indicate elderberry syrup might be helpful include:

• sneezing
• rattling in the chest
• gurgling
• sinus discharge
• diarrhea

For individual birds, I administer elderberry syrup via a pipette. I fill the pipette up with the desired amount of syrup, then gently open the bird’s mouth and slowly squeeze the syrup into the chicken’s open beak. This is usually a two person job! One person holds the bird while the other person administers the syrup.

For administering to the whole flock, you can add the syrup right to your flock’s water.

• Individual Recommended Dosage: 1-2 mL per day
• Flock Recommended Dosage: 4-6 T. per 1 gallon of water

Continue the administrations until the symptoms disappear or for up to 7-10 days. If after 7-10 days has passed, then you will want to take at least a 5-7 day break before administering the syrup again.

I also like to use elderberry syrup as a winter immune system support and respiratory health supplement. During the winter, your flock’s immune system may be suppressed due to cold stress. Respiratory issues may also become more prevalent due to weather changes, other irritants, or a suppressed immune system. A weekly dose of elderberry syrup can help keeps things under wrap and give your flock the winter-time health support that they need.

Disclaimers:

Remember, elderberries are not a known cure for any poultry ailment. They are simply a holistic remedy that has amazing healing potential and can be used to prevent and even treat some poultry ailments. Always consider the severity of a chicken’s symptoms and try to diagnose the ailment before starting a treatment. Sick birds may need to be quarantined or separated from the flock while receiving administrations.

How Much is Too Much?

Whether you are using elderberries as a treat or as a supplement, there is such a thing as ‘too much of a good thing’. Raw, fresh elderberries should always be limited. However, dried and cooked berries are a little easier to offer more frequently due to their safeness and smallness. Just remember that dried elderberries are more nutrient-dense (and sugar dense) than raw, fresh elderberries.

If your flock consumes a large amount of elderberries, whether fresh or dried, their poops may turn a dark red color. Elderberries are deeply pigmented and a sudden influx in consumption can cause droppings to change color!

However, the main sign that a chicken has consumed too many elderberries will be diarrhea. Between the fiber content of the berries and overconsumption, the body will flush out intestinal matter quickly, which causes diarrhea. The problem with this sign is that diarrhea is also a symptom of many other poultry ailments!

If you feed elderberries moderately as a treat, then you shouldn’t have to worry about overdosing your flock with elderberries. When elderberry syrup is used as a supplement, follow a specific administration plan and make sure you give your flock a break after 7-10 days.

Elderberries on the Homestead

There you have it… not only are elderberries a great natural remedy to have in the homestead medicine cabinet, but they are also extremely beneficial for your homestead flock! Keeping some elderberry syrup in your poultry first aid kit will ensure you have a holistic remedy to use when signs of respiratory issues show up. Elderberries help boost your flock’s immune systems to fight disease. They are rich in antioxidants to prevent chronic ailments. And they help support overall good health and productivity! Add some elderberries to your flock’s homestead diet this year!

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Sources of Elderberries

• Foraging for Wild Elderberries: only pick from sources that have not been treated or sprayed with chemicals or pesticides, pick only the ripe berries, make sure you have correctly identified wild elderberries
• Buying Fresh or Dried Elderberries: buy organic elderberries, look to see what variety they are
• Resources: Amazon & Etsy both sell dried elderberries