What Are Superfoods for Chickens?

And Why Sprouts Might Be a Better Choice Than Microgreens

[M]icrogreens and sprouts... seemed similar—both were just early-stage plants, right?

When I first started raising chickens, I thought their diet was simple—just toss them a scoop of feed every day, maybe a few scraps, and they’d be fine.

And for a while, they were.

Eggs showed up in the nesting boxes like clockwork. The birds seemed active and content. I didn’t see any obvious problems.

But when an old timer visited my backyard chicken farm, he commented our flock looked healthier than his in every way.

Their feathers had a deep, glossy sheen. Their combs were bright red and full. And when the farmer cracked open an egg, the yolk was almost a deep golden-orange, far richer than the pale yellow ones I had been collecting from my hens.

At first, I thought it might be just genetics. Maybe those birds were a better breed, or they were younger.

But then he asked me my secret:

I was feeding them superfoods.

I was not just tossing them random extras—I was strategic about it.

That conversation sent me down a rabbit hole, trying to figure out what I was actually doing differently. And one of the first things I kept coming across was this ongoing debate:

Microgreens or sprouts? Which is better for chickens?

The Truth About Chicken Superfoods

When people talk about superfoods, they usually mean foods that pack a higher-than-average nutritional punch—things loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, and compounds that help boost immune function, egg production, and overall health.

For humans, it’s things like blueberries, kale, and salmon.

For chickens, certain foods act as superfoods for them, too.

The trick is finding the right ones—and knowing which ones make a difference.

That’s when I found myself stuck between two options:

• Microgreens—young, nutrient-dense plants harvested just after they sprout their first true leaves.

• Sprouts—germinated seeds that never develop leaves, eaten when they’re still packed with enzymes and early-stage nutrients.

On the surface, both looked great.

Both were fresh, living foods. Both had been praised for boosting egg quality and improving digestion.

But the more I researched, the more I realized that one of these options was much more practical and beneficial for chickens than the other.

Microgreens vs. Sprouts: What’s the Difference?

At first, I didn’t understand why people compared microgreens and sprouts to competing ideas. They seemed similar—both were just early-stage plants, right?

But after trying both, I realized that their differences aren’t just in how they grow but in how they work for chickens.

Microgreens require a growing medium (usually soil or a hydroponic mat). They take 7-14 days to reach the right stage for harvest, at which point they’re cut and fed as tiny leafy greens.

Sprouts require only water and air. They’re ready in 3-5 days and can be fed whole—roots, shoots, and all.

At first glance, microgreens seemed like the better option. They have fully developed leaves, are packed with chlorophyll, and look more like a complete plant.

But then I ran into some unexpected problems.

Why Microgreens Weren’t the Best Choice for My Chickens

The first problem was time and effort.

Microgreens take over a week to grow and require space, trays, and a reliable light source. To keep up with a steady supply, I’d have to stagger multiple trays at different stages, which meant setting up a mini-growing operation.

And even after all that work, I ran into waste issues.

Chickens don’t peck at microgreens like they do sprouts or whole grains. They step on, scratch through, and ignore half of what’s offered. I tried chopping them into smaller pieces, mixing them into feed, and even hanging bunches in the run, but it didn’t make much difference.

Most of what I grew was uneaten, trampled, or rotting in the bedding.

That’s when I started to rethink things.

If I put in this much effort, I needed to be sure that the benefits outweighed the cost.

And that’s when I started looking more seriously at sprouts.

Why Sprouts Worked Better for My Flock

Sprouts were easier to grow, faster to produce, and better suited to how chickens actually eat.

Unlike microgreens, which required a full 7-14 days to reach the right stage, sprouts were ready in just 3-5 days—meaning I could grow them on a much faster cycle.

They also took up almost no space. A simple jar on the counter, rinsed once or twice daily, was enough to produce highly digestible, enzyme-rich food for my flock.

But the biggest difference?

Chickens actually ate them.

There were no wasted greens sitting in the bedding, no half-eaten clumps scattered around the run, just clean, easy nutrition that they devoured as soon as I tossed it in.

The Hidden Advantage of Sprouts for Egg Production

At first, I wasn’t convinced that something so simple could have a noticeable impact on egg quality.

But within a few weeks of feeding sprouts regularly, I started to notice small changes:

• Eggshells got stronger. No more weak or brittle shells.

• Yolks turned darker. More golden-orange instead of pale yellow.

• Feather quality improved. Birds looked shinier, especially those going through a molt.

It wasn’t an overnight transformation, but the consistency of improvement was undeniable.

What I didn’t fully understand at the time was why this was happening.

Later, I learned that sprouts unlock nutrients that aren’t as available in dry grains—things like amino acids, B vitamins, and trace minerals that support egg production, immunity, and digestion.

Because they were fresh and raw, they contained enzymes that helped break down other foods more efficiently, which meant my chickens got more out of everything else they ate, too.

So Should You Feed Microgreens or Sprouts?

I won’t say that microgreens are bad for chickens—they’re not.

They contain plenty of great nutrients; if you already have a system for growing them, they can be a useful supplement.

But if your goal is to maximize nutrition with the least amount of effort, sprouts are a much better fit.

They’re faster, easier, and more aligned with how chickens naturally eat.

And at the end of the day, the best feeding strategy isn’t about what looks the most impressive—it’s about what actually works.

What I Wish I Had Known Sooner About Chicken Superfoods

I used to think they'd be fine as long as my chickens had something green to eat.

But after experimenting with different options, I realized that not all “healthy” foods are practical for backyard flocks.

If you want to feed smarter—without wasting time and money—it’s not just about what you feed but how efficiently your chickens can use it.

That’s why I keep sprouts as a staple in my feeding system—and why I no longer spend time growing trays of microgreens to see them go uneaten.