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Useful fodders for chickens and ducks include alfalfa, pasture grasses and clovers, kale, cabbage, and sprouted oats or wheat. These are supplemental forage options—not a ranked list of the five most nutritious plants, and not substitutes for a complete, species- and life-stage-appropriate poultry feed.
What to plant or offer
“What should I plant?” is a practical starting question for anyone planning poultry forage. Choose among these options based on what grows well locally, how you will provide it, and whether it will stay fresh. The sources do not establish a universal nutrient ranking or a shared feeding rate for chickens and ducks.
1. Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a documented poultry feed option: UC Agriculture and Natural Resources lists it among feed choices for small-acreage poultry, and ATTRA describes alfalfa meal as a green addition to rations. It can be grown and harvested or offered as a purchased feed ingredient. The sources do not specify an ideal daily amount for either chickens or ducks.
2. Pasture grasses and clovers
Ryegrass, clovers, and other palatable forage plants are examples of poultry-friendly pasture. What birds can obtain from pasture depends on the plants present, their growth and maturity, and the type and age of the birds. Pasture should not be treated as a complete ration.
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3. Kale
Kale is a documented fodder crop grown and harvested for poultry; ATTRA also recounts use of a hardy, productive variety. Offer it as a green supplement rather than a replacement for formulated feed.
4. Cabbage
ATTRA lists cabbage among vegetables fed to poultry at regular intervals. It is one possible green addition, but the source does not set a universal portion for chickens or ducks.
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5. Sprouted oats or wheat
ATTRA describes sprouted oats or wheat as green additions to poultry rations. This supports them as forage examples, not as a proven nutritional match for the other options or as a recommendation for a particular amount.
How to choose between the options
There is no source-validated scorecard comparing these plants. Use practical considerations instead:
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- Availability and season: Choose forage you can grow or obtain consistently in your area.
- How birds will get it: Pasture can be grazed; crops such as kale may need to be harvested and carried to the birds.
- Forage condition: Plant growth and maturity affect what is available for birds to eat.
- Its place in the diet: Treat forage as an addition to, not a replacement for, balanced feed.
ATTRA quotes livestock nutritionist Jeff Mattocks’s 2002 estimate that pasture may provide 5–20% of a poultry diet. The estimate depends on poultry type and age and on forage growth quality; it is not a guaranteed share or a universal target.
Keep complete feed at the center of the diet
Foraging and greens can contribute to a bird’s diet, but a list of plants cannot establish that the full diet meets its needs. Cornell’s Duck Research Laboratory puts the requirement plainly: “Regardless of how ducks obtain their food, whether it be by scavenging, or consuming a complete ration, the food consumed must contain all the nutrients, in an available form, that are needed for maintenance, growth and reproduction.”
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Chickens and ducks need the same broad classes of nutrients, but not always in the same amounts. Cornell notes that their requirements differ, particularly in nutrient-to-energy ratios, and emphasizes the essential amino acids supplied by dietary protein. Do not assume that advice based on chickens automatically meets ducks’ needs.
UC ANR says poultry are healthiest and most productive when most calories come from a balanced commercial poultry ration. Utah State University Extension likewise recommends keeping suitable formulated balanced feed available even when birds forage. A complete feed appropriate to the species and life stage is especially important for growing birds and productive layers.
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Freshness and food safety
Keep fodder and feed clean, dry where appropriate, and fresh. Cornell cautions that poorly dried or stored feed can develop mold, and some molds produce toxins harmful to ducks. Do not offer moldy fodder or feed, and remove wet greens before they spoil.
For chickens, Colorado State University Extension advises limiting scraps and treats to no more than 10% of the daily diet. Its chicken-specific avoid list includes moldy scraps, avocado skins or pits, undercooked or dried beans, onions, and rhubarb. This list is not a complete guide to foods unsafe for ducks.
Why duckweed is not one of the five choices
Duckweed is sometimes considered for its potential as a protein-rich feed, but the evidence here does not support recommending it as reliably nutritious for all backyard chickens and ducks. A 2022 broiler study tested three duckweed batches with different species and compositions; the authors reported variation in feed intake and digestibility and concluded that stable biomass adapted to broiler requirements is needed. Those findings do not establish a general feeding recommendation across poultry types.
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