Top 5 Magnesium-Rich Foods for Healthy Chickens

When it comes to poultry nutrition, magnesium is one of the most overlooked but essential minerals for optimal health and productivity. 

Magnesium plays a vital role in bone development, enzyme activation, muscle function, and stress regulation. Including magnesium-rich foods in your chicken’s diet can lead to stronger shells, better growth rates, and healthier immune systems.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the top 5 magnesium-rich foods that can naturally improve the magnesium levels in chickens, explain why magnesium benefits matter, and how they contribute to overall poultry well-being.

Why Do Chickens Need Magnesium?

Before diving into the food list, let’s first understand why magnesium matters in poultry farming.

Bone development: Magnesium helps absorb calcium efficiently, crucial for egg-laying hens.

Muscle and nerve function: It supports smooth muscle activity, reducing leg issues and lameness.

Enzyme activation: Magnesium is necessary for more than 300 metabolic processes in the bird's body.

Stress control: It regulates stress hormones, important during transportation, vaccination, or weather changes.

In short, maintaining proper magnesium in chickens is essential for healthy growth and egg production.

1. Spinach

Spinach is a power-packed leafy source of magnesium in chicken. It’s not only affordable and accessible across India, but also packed with other nutrients like iron and vitamin A.

How to feed: Chop raw spinach into small pieces and mix it with regular feed or give as a treat.

Magnesium benefits:

• Boosts immune function

• Improves bone density

• Enhances feather quality

Note: Feed in moderation—excess greens can cause loose droppings.

2. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are a great source of magnesium for chickens. While commonly discarded, they are full of essential minerals and proteins.

How to feed: Dry and crush pumpkin seeds, then mix them with your poultry mash or scatter them in the pen as a scratch treat.

Magnesium in chickens through seeds also helps with:

• Better muscle development

• Parasite control (they contain cucurbitacin, a natural dewormer)

This is a win-win for poultry keepers looking for natural, magnesium-rich feed options.

3. Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are another excellent source of magnesium in chicken feed. They’re high in healthy fats and are especially useful during colder months for added energy.

Feeding tip: Use raw, unsalted sunflower seeds. A handful mixed in with grains goes a long way.

Magnesium benefits:

• Promotes heart and nerve health

• Enhances shell formation

• Acts as a natural anti-inflammatory

Chickens also love pecking at sunflower seeds, so it doubles as both food and enrichment.

4. Bananas

Bananas aren’t just for humans. Magnesium, potassium, and other essential minerals are abundant in these fruits.

Feeding method: Mash ripe bananas and mix with feed or serve them whole in small chunks.

Magnesium in chickens from bananas helps in:

• Reducing stress (especially in layer hens)

• Improving digestion

• Supporting reproductive health

Because bananas contain a lot of sugar, be careful not to overfeed them.

5. Whole Grains (Like Wheat Bran and Oats)

Whole grains like wheat bran, oats, and brown rice are naturally high in magnesium and fiber. They form a staple in many poultry feeds and can be sourced easily in India.

How to feed: Mix them with dry feed or use as part of a scratch mix.

Magnesium benefits from whole grains include:

• Better gut function

• Steady energy supply

• Stronger skeletal health

Including a variety of grains also balances the diet and supports poultry gut health.

Signs of Magnesium Deficiency in Chickens

It’s important to recognize when your flock may need more magnesium. Watch out for these signs:

• Weak legs or trembling

• Poor eggshell quality

• Sudden drop in egg production

• Stress symptoms or feather pecking

• Loss of appetite

By adding magnesium-rich foods for chickens, many of these issues can be prevented naturally.

How to Ensure Balanced Magnesium Intake

While adding these foods is helpful, consistency is key. Follow these tips for balanced magnesium intake:

• Rotate different magnesium-rich foods throughout the week

• Avoid overfeeding treats to maintain feed balance

• Use formulated premixes if birds are underperforming or during stress

• See a veterinarian for advice if your birds continue to exhibit symptoms of deficiency.

Final Thoughts

Adding magnesium to your poultry feed doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. From spinach and pumpkin seeds to bananas and whole grains, there are many natural ways to improve magnesium in chickens and boost their productivity and health.

Promote Glamac

At Glamac International, we understand that mineral nutrition plays a key role in poultry performance. Our scientifically formulated feed additives are designed to improve mineral absorption, gut health, and overall immunity.

If you’re looking for reliable solutions that support magnesium benefits and more, explore our wide range of products tailored for Indian poultry farms.