Extremely exciting news for the chicken keeping world was just released in August 2024! AAFCO has formally accepted hempseed meal as an ingredient for laying hen commercial feed 🙌 This is a long awaited development, for both farmers and chicken keepers alike.
Although hemp seed products, like hempseed oil and hemp hearts, have been approved for human consumption for over 20 years, hemp hasn't been approved for feeding to animals, despite studies showing that it has many nutritional benefits.
What is Hemp?
Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is an industrial crop that contains no psychoactive compounds. It is believed to be one of the oldest and most valuable crops grown throughout human history. Its many uses include textiles, food, and even animal bedding. Only during the past 100 years has hemp fallen out of favor due to it being grouped under marijuana. Fortunately, industrial hemp is making a resurgence, and we are very excited to see it being approved for laying hens.Â
What is Hempseed Meal?
AAFCO defines hempseed meal for laying hens as the following:
New Definition T71.5 Hemp Seed Meal, Mechanical Extracted is the product obtained by grinding or milling the cake, which remains after most of the oil is removed from the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. by a mechanical extraction process. The ingredient must be labeled with guarantees for minimum crude protein and maximum crude fat on an as-fed basis. The meal shall contain no more than 20 ppm of total cannabidiol (Total CBD = CBD + (CBDA x 0.877)) and no more than 2 ppm of total tetrahydrocannabinol (Total THC = delta-9-THC + (THCA x 0.877)). It is used in diets of laying hens as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion of no more than 20% of the diet.
Benefits of Hemp Feed for ChickensÂ
In the years leading up to its approval by the FDA and AAFCO, hempseed meal has been closely studied for its nutritional benefits to chickens. And the results are VERY interesting!
- Improved egg quality. Hemp seeds contain a 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which helps create bigger yolks and thicker eggshells.
- Improved egg nutrition. Chickens fed hempseed meal produce eggs with a higher omega-3 content.
- Improved feather quality Hempseed meal contains between 20% and 30% protein, helping develop healthier feathers.Â
- Improved sustainability. Hemp as a crop is better for the soil and the environment than other crops like soy.Â
- Improved flock health. Chickens fed hempseed meal showed a better feed-to-egg ratio, and maintained a healthy weight.Â
Will Chickens Eat Hempseed?
Yes! Chickens find the nutty flavor of hempseed to be very palatable, and they will happily gobble it down, both as a standalone supplement, and mixed into their regular feed. As with any new food, we recommend introducing hempseeds to your flock slowly to see how they react, and then increase from there. Although hempseed meal is approved for up to 20% of a chickens' diet, we recommend feeding up to 10% as a treat until more information becomes available.Â
What's Next for Hemp in Chicken Feed?
It will take time for state regulations and formulas to be developed and approved for widespread use of hempseed meal in chicken feed, especially on a commercial scale. Private chicken owners, however, can supplement their own flock's diet with hemp seeds and hempseed meal.Â
Have you tried feeding hemp to your chickens yet?
Happy Keeping!
~Jess