Are Red Pepper Flakes Good for Chickens?

An inexpensive way of boosting chicken health is spicing up their diet.

Among the sought-after spices for chicken is red pepper since some people believe it increases egg production.

So, should you purchase loads of red pepper flakes for your chickens?

Red pepper flakes are good for chickens. Red pepper contains capsaicin, a compound that disrupts bacteria and worm colonies. The anti-microbial and anti-viral properties of capsaicin may help your chickens fight bacterial infections and worm infestation.

So, let’s talk more about the benefits of adding red pepper flakes into your chickens’ diet.

I’ll teach you the science behind how red pepper flakes can keep your flock healthy and discuss some of the misconceptions about what pepper can do for poultry. 

Why Should You Feed Red Pepper Flakes to Chickens?

You should feed red pepper flakes to chickens to boost immunity and fight bacterial infections and parasites. The capsaicin in red pepper creates an unconducive environment for bacteria, limiting colony growth. A mixture of red pepper, garlic, and vinegar detaches worms from chickens.

The chemical profile of red pepper primarily consists of the alkaloid capsaicinoid. Although there are many classes of capsaicinoids, capsaicin accounts for 90% of capsaicinoids in red pepper.

Capsaicin, the active constituent in red pepper, has antimicrobial and antiviral characteristics. These properties may help chickens combat bacterial infections.

Evidence of direct bacteria inactivation by capsaicin is still lacking. However, some studies suggest capsaicin can inhibit biofilm formation, limiting the growth of bacteria colonies.

So, while red peppers don’t necessarily kill the bacteria, they do make your chickens’ stomachs less comfy for those harmful bacteria. 

Besides bacteria, capsaicin has shown activity against worms in chickens’ digestive systems.

This method of worm removal is effective when you mix red pepper with other natural dewormers like garlic and vinegar.

Do Red Pepper Flakes Improve Egg Production in Chickens?

Red pepper flakes don’t improve egg production in chickens. Egg production primarily depends on the breed, feed, and lighting.

Laying chickens require about 18% protein and 3% calcium per day in food for improved egg production. Unfortunately, red pepper doesn’t include much protein and calcium.

Red pepper flakes don’t contain enough nutritional components to boost egg production. A tablespoon of crushed red pepper contains:

• 0.9 g total fat
• 2.8 g carbohydrates
• 0.6 g protein
• 1 % calcium
• 2% iron
• 42% Vitamin A
• 6% Vitamin C

This nutritional composition makes red pepper an unideal candidate for boosting egg production.

A 2012 study on the effect of red pepper on egg yolk found that dietary inclusion of red pepper does not affect the egg-laying performance of chickens.

Some articles claim that phytogenics (non-antibiotic growth inducers) incorporating spices and herbs improve egg production. However, research affirming that red peppers boost egg production in chickens is still lacking.

So, although peppers won’t increase the size or amount of eggs your chickens produce, other factors play a role in laying.

Egg production depends on several factors, including:

• Light management: Egg production occurs when chickens get at least 12 hours of sunlight per day. Light helps trigger their reproduction cycles and also supplies the needed vitamin D3.
• Proper nutrition: Maximum egg production happens when chickens feed on a protein and calcium-dense diet. Salt and water are also vital in egg-laying.
• Age of hens: Aging hens may frequently molt, reducing their egg productivity.

Can Red Pepper Flakes Improve Egg Quality of Chickens?

Red pepper flakes improve the egg quality of chickens. Red pepper contains color-changing pigments known as carotenoids. Feeding chickens with 0.5-3% concentration of red pepper will transform their egg yolks to red-orange. Egg weight can also increase when chickens feed on red pepper flakes.

The egg yolk score is a vital parameter for gauging the quality of eggs in the consumer market. Consumers primarily seek eggs with yellow to red yolks, and for a good reason.

A publication in the Journal of Food Science asserts that yolks with darker colors (red/orange) tend to have more omega-3 fatty acids than lighter-colored counterparts.

Fortunately, you can enrich eggs by feeding chickens compounds called carotenoids, and when it comes to carotenoids, red pepper flakes have tons of them.

The yellow pigments in red pepper outnumber the red pigments. So, red pepper flakes for chickens will likely intensify the yellow color of egg yolks.

A study evaluating the effect of red pepper (Capsicum frutescens) on egg yolks backs up this claim.

According to the study, chickens that ate a diet supplemented with 0.3 ppm red pepper laid eggs with improved yolk scores.

Interestingly, egg weight also increased when chickens fed on the red pepper.

Does Feeding Chickens Red Pepper Flakes Prevent Frostbite?

Feeding red pepper flakes to chickens does not prevent frostbite during cold seasons. Although the red pepper may aid blood circulation, this isn’t enough to stop frostbite in chickens. You prevent frostbite in chickens by properly ventilating their coops.

Some experts suggest feeding red pepper flakes might help prevent frostbite in chickens. Such advice isn’t entirely wrong, but it’s misleading.

Red pepper may help improve blood circulation in chickens, but that won’t be enough to prevent frostbite.

The frostbite issue in chickens has a lot to do with the coop’s state. Frostbite is common in poorly ventilated enclosures that retain moisture.

Water condenses and freezes on your flock’s wattles and combs when temperatures plummet. You can avoid this problem by ventilating the coop.

Will Red Pepper Flakes Hurt Chickens?

Red pepper flakes won’t hurt chickens. Chickens lack the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and cannot feel the heat from food. Chickens can feed on red pepper flakes without experiencing the spicy sensation associated with pepper.

TRPV1 (vanilloid receptor) is a protein that mediates the detection of toxic stimuli in humans, animals, and birds. This vanilloid receptor binds to capsaicinoids in foods, sending heat and temperature signals to the brain.

That is why humans and many other animals feel hot after eating capsaicin-rich foods like red pepper.

Studies have shown that chickens’ TRPV1 is capsaicin insensitive, which means chickens can feed on red pepper flakes without experiencing the heat.

Since other animals such as squirrels, opossums, and rabbits taste spices like pepper, you can safely use red pepper flakes to deter pests from eating chicken feed.

Final Thoughts

Red pepper flakes are good for chickens. Red pepper contains capsaicin which helps chickens fight bacteria and worm infestation. Carotenoids in red pepper might also increase your chickens’ egg yolk color and health benefits.

Red pepper flakes for chickens are high in vitamin C and may improve blood circulation. Contrary to misguided beliefs, this pepper variant doesn’t boost egg production or prevent frostbite. 

Sources

• CyTA – Journal of Food: Capsaicinoids Content and Proximate Composition of Mexican Chili Peppers (Capsicum spp.) Cultivated in the State of Chihuahua
• National Library of Medicine: Antimicrobial and Anti-Virulence Activity of Capsaicin Against Erythromycin-Resistant, Cell-Invasive Group A Streptococci
• National Library of Medicine: Effect of Red Pepper (Capsicum frutescens) Powder or Red Pepper Pigment on the Performance and Egg Yolk Color of Laying Hens
• BIOMIN: An Alternative Way to Boost Egg Production in Layers
• Wiley Online Library: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Profile of Eggs from Laying Hens Fed Diets Supplemented with Chia, Fish Oil, and Flaxseed
• National Library of Medicine: TRPV1 Receptors and Signal Transduction
• National Library of Medicine: Involvement of a capsaicin-sensitive TRPV1-independent mechanism in lipopolysaccharide-induced fever in chicken