Raising chickens can be an extremely rewarding experience. Fresh eggs every morning and happy healthy birds pecking around the yard. But in order to keep your flock thriving, you need to feed them a nutritious balanced diet. So what exactly can you feed chickens?
As backyard chicken keepers, we want to provide our flocks with the best diet possible. Feeding them kitchen scraps or letting them free-range can supplement their diet But their main food source should be a complete feed formulated specifically for chickens.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about feeding chickens. We’ll talk about:
- Why a balanced diet is so important
- What nutrients chickens need
- Types of feed for chickens
- What human foods chickens can and can’t eat
- Dangerous or toxic foods to avoid
- And much more!
Let’s dive in and learn about how to feed chickens for optimal health,
Why Is A Balanced Diet Important For Chickens?
Chickens require energy and nutrients from their diet just like any other animal. The food we provide our flocks directly impacts their:
- Egg production
- Egg quality
- Growth rate
- Feathering
- Overall health and immunity
Without proper nutrition, chickens can experience issues like:
- Decreased egg production
- Small or thin eggshells
- Slow growth in chicks
- Weight loss
- Feather loss
- Increased susceptibility to disease
Nutrition is especially crucial for chicks and pullets who are still developing. A nutrient-deficient diet during these growth phases can seriously affect their health and productivity as adults.
As chicken keepers, it’s our responsibility to provide a balanced, complete feed. Their diet lays the foundation for healthy, thriving chickens.
Key Nutrients Chickens Need
Chickens need 6 essential nutrients in their diet:
1. Protein
Protein provides amino acids that are vital for growth and maintaining muscle. Chicken feed should contain 16-20% protein, depending on the type and age of the birds.
Good protein sources include:
- Soybean meal
- Fish meal
- Insects
- Legumes
- Nuts
2. Carbohydrates
Carbs provide energy for bodily functions and activity. They make up the bulk of chicken feed.
Good carb sources include:
- Grains like corn, wheat, and oats
- Vegetables
- Fruits
3. Fats
Fats deliver energy and essential fatty acids. Chicken feed should contain 2-5% fat.
Good fat sources include:
- Plant oils like soybean, corn, and canola oil
- Animal fats
- Seeds
4. Vitamins
Vitamins support growth, egg production, digestion, and immunity. Key vitamins chickens need include:
- Vitamin A
- B complex vitamins
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
5. Minerals
Major minerals chickens need include:
- Calcium – for egg shells and bone health
- Phosphorus – for bone, tissue, and eggs
- Sodium – regulates fluids and nerve signaling
- Chloride
- Potassium – maintains fluid balance
They also need trace minerals like copper, manganese, zinc, and selenium.
6. Water
Water is essential for digestion, nutrient absorption, and regulating body temperature. Chickens should have unlimited access to clean, fresh water.
Without balanced levels of these nutrients, chickens will be deficient and prone to health issues.
Now let’s look at the different types of feed available for your flock.
Types of Chicken Feed
There are 3 main categories of commercial chicken feed:
1. Starter Feed
Starter feed has 20-24% protein and is fed to baby chicks from hatch until 6-8 weeks old. The high protein helps support their rapid growth and development.
Many starter feeds contain medicated options with coccidiostats to prevent coccidiosis. You can also find non-medicated and organic options.
2. Grower Feed
Grower feed has 16-18% protein and is fed to pullets and juvenile chickens from 6-18 weeks old.
As they grow, chickens need less protein and their dietary needs change. Grower feed supports continued weight gain and growth as chicks transition to adulthood.
3. Layer Feed
At around 18 weeks, pullets are mature enough to start laying eggs. At this point, switch them to a quality layer feed.
Layer feed contains 16-18% protein, plus added calcium and nutrients to support egg production.
Some layer feeds also include supplements like omega-3s for enhanced nutrition. Always choose layer feed over scratch grains or flock raiser feed once hens start laying.
In addition to life stage feeds, you can find options like:
- Organic feeds
- Non-GMO feeds
- Scratch grains
- Flock raiser feed
- Feeds fortified with omega-3s, probiotics, etc.
Talk to your local farm store to help choose the right feed for your flock.
Now that we’ve covered commercial feed options, let’s look at what human foods chickens can and can’t eat.
Human Foods Chickens Can Eat
In addition to their regular feed, chickens can eat a variety of human foods. These treats provide supplemental nutrition and valuable variety in their diet.
Some of the healthiest human foods for chickens include:
Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Some good options are:
- Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce
- Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
- Celery, cucumber, zucchini
- Tomatoes, peppers, squash
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Melons, pineapple, mango
- Bananas, apples, pears
Chop produce into small pieces for baby chicks. Limit high-acid citrus fruits which can upset digestion.
Grains and Seeds
Whole grains provide carbohydrates, proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids. Some healthy options are:
- Cooked rice, barley, oats
- Wheat berries, popcorn (no salt/butter)
- Quinoa, buckwheat, millet
- Sunflower seeds, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds
Avoid uncooked rice and beans which can cause digestive upset.
Dairy Products
Small amounts of low-fat dairy offer protein, vitamins, and calcium. Good choices include:
- Plain yogurt
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Grated hard cheese
Too much can upset digestion, so feed dairy in moderation.
Meat and Eggs
Small amounts of cooked meat provide protein and nutrients. Some options are:
- Cooked chicken (no bones)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Canned fish like tuna (no salt added)
- Liver or gizzard
Avoid raw meat and eggs due to risk of salmonella.
Healthy Fats
Small amounts of healthy fats provide energy and fatty acids. Try:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Flaxseed
- Nuts/nut butter
Limit unhealthy fats like butter, bacon grease, etc. which can cause obesity.
This covers most of the human foods that make great supplemental treats for chickens. But there are also many foods you should never feed your flock…
Dangerous or Toxic Foods for Chickens
While chickens will eat almost anything, some foods are toxic or unhealthy for them.
Never feed chickens:
- Chocolate – contains toxic theobromine
- Caffeine – toxic stimulant
- Raw potato skins – contain solanine toxin
- Green potato skins – even more solanine toxin
- Moldy foods – can contain mycotoxins
- Salt – can cause electrolyte imbalance
- Raw beans – contain hemagglutinin lectin
- Avocados – contain persin toxin
- Onions – can cause anemia
- Raw eggs – risk of salmonella
- Citrus – acidic; can impact egg shells
Also avoid greasy, sugary, salty, or processed human foods which provide little nutrition.
Monitor treats to ensure chickens don’t fill up on “junk food” instead of their balanced feed. A good rule of thumb is treats shouldn’t exceed 10% of their total diet.
Providing a balanced commercial feed along with healthy supplemental treats is the key to keeping backyard chickens thriving. Follow these guidelines for proper nutrition. And as always, provide fresh clean water 24/7.
By feeding your flock a varied, nutrient-rich diet, you’ll have healthy, productive chickens for years to come!
Best Practices to Feed Chickens
There are many chicken owners who only put the feed outside twice a day. This is actually a really great way to feed your chickens while cutting down on the pest population. By keeping food and water out of your coop, you’ll likely keep mice, rats, and other pests out of your coop. I love this idea especially for people who are in the habit of feeding their farm animals twice a day. This is not what I do, however. I keep my flocks food and water in the coop, and they have access to it 24/7. This is what works for me.
I have a large flock, and I’m worried that if I only fed them twice a day, not everyone would get what they need. This way, the higher up in the pecking order birds usually get to eat first. Then, the lower hens still get to eat. If the weather is nice, they always get their snacks, treats and leftovers outside. ‘
In the winter, I’ll put leftovers pan out and give them their treats in the coop. I’ll also throw their scratch down on their bedding and they turn their bedding for me. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Different Types of Chicken Feed
Okay, let’s talk about different types of chicken food. When I start my chicks out, I use a non-medicated chick crumble. I prefer non-medicated food because my Baby Chick Care Kit includes First Peep which gives them such a great start and natural ingredients to do the same things as a medicated food. This is a personal preference, but if you use Strong Animals Chicken Essentials, you likely want to do things as naturally as possible.
Once your chickens hit around 8 weeks, it’s a good idea to switch from non-medicated starter feed to grower feed. This is where your chickens will start growing into mature hens that will eventually lay eggs. Switching from starter to grower feed at this point will give them what they need to grow and thrive.
When I switch my hens over to layer feed, I switch to pellets. I’ve found they are much less messy and less goes to waste. The chickens protested right away, but now they seem to love the pellets just as well.
If you’re raising meat chickens, you need to feed them meat bird food their entire (albeit short!) life. This will cause them to grow rapidly to produce meat within about 6 weeks.
What Kitchen Scraps Your Chickens Can And CANT Eat! Some Are Toxic For Chickens!
FAQ
What should you not feed a chicken?
FAQs in Relation to What Scraps Not to Feed Chickens
Foods that are toxic to chickens include dried beans, onions, garlic, green potatoes or potato skins, avocado pits and skin, green tomatoes, chocolate, and any spoiled food. Chickens can eat avocado flesh in very small amounts.
What do the Amish feed their chickens?
What to feed chickens when you run out of feed?
Alternative feed for chickens, if you’re out of feed, are whole grains like wheat, corn, flax, cooked rice (NOT UNCOOKED!), and raw or cooked oatmeal.
Can you feed chickens bread?
Yes, chickens can eat bread, but it should be offered as an occasional treat, not as a regular part of their diet. Bread is not very nutritious and should not replace their regular feed.
What is the easiest way to feed chickens?
The easiest way to feed chickens is with a treadle feeder. A treadle feeder is a large capacity feeder that uses a step activated door that gives chickens access to the feed. Treadle feeders are the best feeder for chickens because they keep rodents and wild birds out of the chicken feed, and protect the feed from rain and snow.
Can you feed a chicken a chick?
It is up to you whether you want to purchase medicated or unmedicated feed – just make sure you only feed chicks chick starter. When your chickens become pullets, they can be switched to layer feed or broiler feed. Layer feed has 16% protein and should not be given to birds unless they are lying.
What food is best for chickens?
Chickens prefer larger seeds like grass seeds and millet seeds. Providing them with lettuce, celery tops, chickweed, spinach, egg food, sprouted seeds, spray millets, carrot tops, and some nutritious fruits will help ensure they receive adequate nutrition. A regular supply of cuttlebone, grit, and fresh water is also necessary.