What Do Chickens Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide for Backyard Chickens
One of the first questions new chicken keepers ask is “What do chickens eat?” Closely behind it is another important question: “How do you keep a backyard flock healthy and productive?” The good news is that chickens are not very picky. They can eat a wide range of foods, including commercial feed, grains, greens, insects, and some kitchen scraps. In this complete feeding guide, you’ll learn what chickens eat, which foods are safe, which foods to avoid, how feeding changes with the seasons, and how to choose the best feed for every stage of a chicken’s life. If you’re just starting out, our Complete Beginner Guide to Raising Chickens walks through everything from choosing breeds to setting up your first coop. What Do Chickens Eat? Chickens eat a wide variety of foods both in the wild and in backyard flocks. A healthy diet typically includes commercial feed, grains, insects, kitchen scraps, and fresh greens. A good chicken diet includes commercial feed, grains, insects, kitchen scraps, and fresh greens. Each of these plays a role in keeping your flock strong and productive. Commercial feed forms the backbone of most backyard chicken diets because it’s formulated to meet a chicken’s daily nutritional needs. Beyond that, chickens are natural foragers. They scratch the ground looking for bugs, seeds, and plant matter. Feeding chickens a mix of quality feed and natural forage produces the healthiest birds. Here’s a quick overview of the foods that make up a typical backyard chicken diet: 🐔 Food Type 🌾 Role in the Diet Commercial pellets or crumble Forms the bulk of a chicken’s daily diet and provides balanced nutrition. Grains (corn, oats, barley) Provide energy and carbohydrates for active birds. Insects and worms Deliver natural protein and encourage natural foraging behavior. Kitchen scraps Offer variety and nutrients when given in moderation. Leafy greens Provide vitamins and minerals while keeping chickens active. While chickens can eat many different foods, they still need the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. The Basics of a Healthy Chicken Diet While chickens eat a wide variety of foods, they still need a balanced diet to stay healthy. A complete chicken diet covers four main nutritional areas. Protein Protein supports feather growth, muscle development, and egg production. Laying hens need about 16% protein in their diet. Good protein sources include mealworms, fish meal, and high-quality commercial feed. Free-ranging chickens also get extra protein from insects. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates give chickens energy. Corn, wheat, and oats are common sources. Don’t overdo it with corn, though. Too much corn can throw off the nutritional balance and lead to weight gain. Vitamins and Minerals Fresh greens, vegetables, and quality feed all contribute vitamins and minerals. Chickens that forage freely tend to get a good mix naturally. Confined birds may benefit from occasional vitamin supplements, especially if they have limited access to fresh forage. Calcium Laying hens require extra calcium to produce strong eggshells. Most layer feeds include calcium, but many keepers offer oyster shell as a free-choice supplement on the side. We’ll cover this more in a later section. Types of Chicken Feed Not all chicken feed is formulated the same way. The best chicken feed depends on your bird’s age and purpose. Starter Feed Starter feed is designed for chicks from hatch through about 8 weeks of age. It’s high in protein, usually around 20–22%, and supports rapid early growth. It typically comes as a fine crumble that young chicks can eat easily. Grower Feed Grower feed is used for pullets from about 8 weeks until they begin laying, usually around 18–20 weeks. Protein drops slightly, to around 16–18%, as growth slows and the body matures. Layer Feed Layer feed is formulated to support egg production and should make up the majority of the laying hen diet. Some breeds produce more eggs than others, which can affect how much feed they consume. Our guide to the Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners explains which breeds are known for reliable egg production. The best chicken feed for layers contains around 16% protein and added calcium. Switch your hens to layer feed when they start laying their first eggs. Feeding layer feed too early can stress young kidneys, so timing matters. What Chickens Can Eat (Safe Foods) Chickens can eat a surprisingly wide range of foods. Knowing what chickens can eat helps you use kitchen and garden scraps wisely. 🐔 Food ✅ Safe for Chickens? 📝 Notes Lettuce Yes Great hydration source Berries (strawberries, blueberries) Yes High in antioxidants Oats (cooked or raw) Yes Good energy source Corn Yes Feed in moderation Mealworms Yes Excellent protein boost Cooked rice Yes Plain only, no salt or seasoning Watermelon Yes A favorite summer treat Pumpkin Yes Seeds act as a natural dewormer Cooked vegetables Yes Avoid heavily seasoned leftovers Apples Yes Remove seeds before feeding Sunflower seeds Yes High in fat, feed sparingly Eggs (cooked) Yes Do not feed raw or whole Keep treats and scraps to less than 10% of your flock’s total daily intake. Too many extras push balanced nutrition out of commercial feed. If you’re new to keeping chickens, you may also want to read 10 Questions Every New Chicken Keeper Asks, which covers many of the most common beginner concerns. What Not to Feed Chickens Some foods are toxic to chickens. Knowing what not to feed chickens can help keep your birds healthy and prevent serious illness or death. ⚠️ Food 🚫 Why It’s Unsafe Avocado Contains persin, which is toxic to birds. Chocolate Theobromine causes heart and nervous system damage. Moldy food Mold produces mycotoxins that can kill chickens. Raw beans Contain phytohemagglutinins, a deadly toxin. Salty foods Salt poisoning causes neurological symptoms. Green potatoes or peels Contain solanine, a toxic compound. Onions Can cause hemolytic anemia in large amounts. Citrus fruit May reduce egg production and cause digestive upset. Rhubarb leaves Contain oxalic acid, which is toxic. Dried or undercooked beans Carry the same toxin risk as raw beans. When in doubt, leave it