This is the Abstract of a research paper that considered Aronia as a supplement for egg laying hens:
The continuous ovulation of laying hens during the peak period is likely to cause oxidative stress, resulting in a reduction in the laying cycle over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of Aronia melanocarpa (AM) in the diet and its effect on the yolk precursor content caused by ovulation in laying hens during the peak period. A total of 300 25-week-old Roman brown laying hens were randomly divided into five groups with six replicates in each group, 10 in each replicate. The control group was fed a basal diet, the positive control group was fed a Vitamin C (VC) plus basal diet, and the experimental group was fed 1%, 4%, and 7% doses of AM plus diet according to the principle of energy and nitrogen requirements, which lasted eight weeks. At the end of the study, the egg quality, biochemical, and antioxidant markers, as well as mRNA and protein expressions, were evaluated to determine the potential signaling pathways involved. Results showed that the addition of AM to the feed increased the weight of laying hens at the peak of egg production and improved egg quality. The biochemical markers, as well as the antioxidant parameters in the serum, liver, and ovarian tissues, were ameliorated. The gene and protein expression of recombinant kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) in the liver and ovarian tissues was decreased, while nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression was increased. The feed supplemented with AM also increased the estrogen contents and lipid parameters, as well as the gene and protein expressions related to the yolk precursor. Feed supplemented with AM could improve the egg quality and the oxidative stress caused by the ovulation process of laying hens during the peak egg production period by activating the Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway. These results suggest that the feed supplemented with 1% AM and 4% AM can improve egg production in peak laying hens.
i like honey berries, but all i have growing in my garden are two of them, but i guess i could find a distributor and buy dried honey berries. but as for Aronia, in the off season i buy dried, Aronia berries are high in fiber and do not give the chicken loose, watery and possibly more-frequent bowel movements whereas if they over consume other berries this will happen, just so you understand why i don’t feed them a lot of other berries.
i have 4 Aronia bushes and they produce a lot of berries weighing them down almost to the ground and my hens harvest the ones they can reach, and i harvest the ones they cannot harvest themselves. my wife makes Aronia pie with a pie crust made with coconut oil and it is very good, try it some time, i feed what my wife does not use to the chickens.
Interesting option as a forage food. I haven’t seen value in having it on property until considering it for the girls. Might find a spot for a stand of them, the more feed i can grow the better
I know you weren’t commenting that to me, but I wanted to share that I’ve been experimenting with “gardening” with poultry for a number of years now and short plants are frequently less than ideal due to trampling and curiosity from the chickens (and other poultry). I’ve found berry bushes that are at least four or more feet tall are best and chickens readily jump into the air to pick fruit from the branches. Very short plants often don’t fare well unless they are completely uninteresting to and out of the way of the poultry.
they will make an effort for something tasty