What is in Chicken Feed Pellets? A Detailed Look at the Ingredients

You as a chicken owner want to make sure that your flock is getting the best food possible. That’s why it’s important to know what chicken feed pellets are made of. Here, we’ll take a close look at the common ingredients in store-bought chicken feed pellets.

The Main Ingredients

Most chicken feed pellets contain a mix of grains protein meals, vitamins minerals, and other supplements. Here are some of the most common ingredients

• Grains – Corn, wheat, barley, and other grains make up the bulk of chicken feed pellets. They provide carbohydrates and fiber for energy. Grains appear 2 times.

• Protein meals – Soybean meal and other high-protein plant meals, as well as animal by-products like fish meal or meat meal provide concentrated sources of protein. Protein meals appear 3 times.

• Fats and oils – Added fats like soybean or canola oil boost the energy density of the feed. Oils also help with absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Fats and oils appear 2 times.

• Vitamin and mineral supplements – Most chicken feeds are fortified with extra vitamins and minerals like vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium. Vitamin and mineral supplements appear 3 times.

• Binders—Things like molasses clay and limestone hold the feed together so that it can be crushed into pellets. Binders appear 1 time.

Why These Ingredients?

Feed pellets for chickens are carefully made by animal nutritionists to meet their specific dietary needs. Here’s a look at why some key ingredients are included:

• Grains provide carbohydrates – The grains in chicken feed act as an energy source. Carbs are broken down into glucose to fuel bodily functions.

• Protein to help with growth and egg production—The protein in chicken feed helps muscles grow and egg production. Laying hens need 16-18% dietary protein.

• Oils and fats for energy – Dietary fats get stored in the body and provide a concentrated source of energy. Fats also aid absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

• Vitamins and minerals support health – Chickens need a wide range of micronutrients. Supplements fill any gaps not met by natural feed ingredients.

• Binders form the pellets – Binders allow fine feed ingredients to be compressed into compact pellets through a process called pelleting.

Other Potential Ingredients

While the ingredients above are typical, chicken feed pellets may also contain:

• Probiotics and prebiotics for gut health
• Enzymes to improve nutrient absorption
• Medications for disease prevention/treatment
• Antioxidants to preserve freshness
• Organic trace minerals
• Dried fermentation products
• Antimicrobial compounds

The inclusion of these other ingredients depends on the specific feed formula and manufacturer.

Should You Make Your Own?

It’s possible to create homemade chicken feed, but doing so poses some risks. Without proper formulation, your feed may lack key nutrients chickens need. Commercial feeds are balanced by qualified nutritionists and go through quality control.

For best results, it’s usually better to purchase a complete feed made specifically for chickens. Look for quality brands that use wholesome ingredients and clearly list contents.

Chicken feed pellets contain a nutritionally-balanced mix of grains, protein meals, oils, vitamins, minerals, and binding agents. These ingredients work together to provide the carbohydrates, protein, fats, and micronutrients chickens need for good health and performance. While contents can vary between brands, quality chicken feeds are carefully designed by experts to give your flock a balanced diet.