Best Vitamin B9 (Folate)-Rich Foods for Chickens

Ranked by vitamin b9 (folate) content among foods safe for chickens in the Creature Feast catalog.

Lentils per 100g cooked: 181mcg folate (Vitamin B9) Lentils are one of the richest folate sources available to backyard chickens. Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, making it critical during molt when millions of feather follicle cells are rapidly dividing to produce new plumage.

Spinach per 100g raw: 194mcg folate Spinach is an outstanding folate source for chickens. The high folate content supports red blood cell production and is particularly important for breeding hens, where adequate folate in the egg ensures proper embryonic development and reduces early embryo mortality.

Peas per 100g: 65mcg folate Peas deliver good folate in a form chickens readily consume. Fresh or thawed frozen peas scattered in the run provide folate alongside protein and fiber, supporting the rapid cell division in the intestinal lining and bone marrow.

Broccoli per 100g raw: 63mcg folate Broccoli provides meaningful folate alongside its vitamin C and K content. For breeding flocks where egg nutritional quality directly impacts chick viability, broccoli's folate contribution supports the embryonic neural tube development that occurs in the first days of incubation.