Plant-based Superfood: Quinoa in Poultry Diets

Quinoa is often hailed as a human superfood—but its nutritional profile makes it a promising addition to poultry diets too. With higher protein than many cereals and a well-balanced amino acid profile, quinoa can complement conventional feed ingredients when used properly.

1. Protein & Amino Acid Advantages

Quinoa provides 11-18% protein and contains good levels of lysine and methionine, two amino acids that are often limiting in common grains. These qualities make it a strong complementary ingredient in feed formulations for broilers and layers. 

2. Nutritional Layers Beyond Protein

Beyond raw protein, quinoa offers additional nutritional value: higher levels of calcium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins compared to many standard grains. Also, when included in modest proportion, quinoa in chicken diets has been shown to alter muscle fatty acid composition positively—raising levels of unsaturated fats and reducing saturated fat ratios in some studies.

3. Things to Watch: Saponins & Inclusion Levels

Quinoa seeds have a coating of saponins, natural bitter compounds that deter ingestion. These can be removed or reduced by washing the seeds before feeding. Also, in trials with broilers, diets with raw quinoa above 10-40% showed reductions in growth performance, so many experts recommend keeping quinoa under 15% of diet by weight.

4. Why It’s Worth Considering for Organic Poultry Feed

For poultry producers prioritizing organic and non-GMO chicken feed, quinoa offers an alternative source of high-quality protein and micronutrients. When used carefully within tested limits, quinoa can help reduce dependence on more conventional protein sources and enhance feed diversity. Because it pairs well with other grains and feedstuffs, it has potential to be part of a premium “organic poultry feed” formulation.