Best Vitamin B3 (Niacin)-Rich Foods for Chickens

Ranked by vitamin b3 (niacin) content among foods safe for chickens in the Creature Feast catalog.

Sunflower Seeds per 100g: 8.3mg niacin (Vitamin B3) Sunflower seeds are a strong niacin source, and unlike the niacin in many grains, sunflower seed niacin is not bound to proteins that limit absorption. For chickens, who convert tryptophan to niacin very poorly, direct dietary niacin from seeds is especially valuable.

Lentils per 100g cooked: 1.1mg niacin Lentils provide good niacin alongside their protein. Since chickens are notoriously poor at converting tryptophan to niacin compared to mammals, direct niacin sources like lentils are critical for preventing the bowed legs, inflamed tongues, and poor feathering of niacin deficiency.

Peas per 100g: 2.1mg niacin Peas deliver moderate niacin in a bioavailable form. Combined with their tryptophan content, peas provide both direct niacin and the amino acid precursor, supporting the metabolic pathways that keep skin, nerves, and digestive function healthy in the flock.

Barley per 100g dry: 4.6mg niacin (partially bound) Barley contains niacin, though much of it is bound in a form (niacytin) that has limited bioavailability for poultry. Sprouting barley can release some of this bound niacin, making it more accessible to the chicken's digestive system.