What to Feed Chickens: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners

It can be very rewarding to have fresh eggs every morning and happy, active chickens running around the yard. But to keep your flock healthy and productive, you need to make sure they are eating the right things. As a chicken owner, one of the most common questions you get is, “What should I feed my chickens?”

This huge guide will tell you everything you need to know about chicken nutrition and how to pick the best food for each stage of their lives. This article has tips and advice that will help your chickens do well, whether you’re new to raising chickens or have been doing it for a long time.

A Chicken’s Nutritional Needs

Chickens are omnivores in the wild, which means they eat everything from grains and seeds to bugs, berries, greens, and even small animals. This gives them a broad spectrum of nutrients.

As backyard chicken keepers, we need to try to mimic their diverse natural diet as much as possible. Here are some of the key nutrients chickens need:

• Protein: Necessary for growth, egg production and overall health.

• Carbohydrates: Provides energy. Main source is grains.

• Calcium: Critical for strong eggshells in laying hens.

• Fats: Support energy needs and metabolism.

• Vitamins & Minerals: For immune function, growth and vital bodily processes.

Getting the right balance of these nutrients is crucial. Let’s look at how commercial feeds are formulated to meet chickens’ requirements.

Types of Chicken Feed

Mixtures are added to commercial chicken feed to make sure that chickens of all life stages get complete, balanced nutrition. Here are the main types:

Starter Feed

• High in protein – 18-24%
• Fine, crumbly texture
• Medicated or non-medicated

Starter feed is designed for baby chicks from 0-8 weeks old. The high protein level supports rapid growth and development. Crumbles are easy for small beaks to pick up. Adding a coccidiostat medication can help prevent disease.

Grower Feed

• Less protein than starter – 16-20%
• For pullets 8-18 weeks old
• Supports growth to maturity

Grower feed has slightly less protein content as birds get older but still provides nutrients for continued growth and feathering. This feed transitions pullets from starter to layer feed.

Layer Feed

• 16% protein
• Extra calcium
• Provides nutrition for egg laying hens

Once birds start laying at around 18-20 weeks, they should be switched to a quality layer feed. The protein level is decreased but calcium is increased to support egg production. This feed nourishes laying hens for optimal health and performance.

Broiler Feed

• High protein level – 22-24%
• Rapid weight gain for meat production

Broilers are bred for fast growth so they require feed with a high concentration of protein and calories. This accelerated feed encourages quick meat production.

Meat Bird Feed

• Higher protein than layer feed
• Supports muscle growth in dual-purpose breeds

For breeds raised for both meat and eggs, meat bird feed provides an intermediate protein level between broiler and layer feed. This nourishes muscle growth without being as extreme as broiler rations.

Treats & Supplements

In addition to a complete feed, you can provide chickens with treats and supplements for variety and extra nutrition. Some examples are:

• Fresh fruits and veggies – great for nutrients and boredom relief

• Mealworms – extra protein boost

• Oyster shell – additional calcium source

• Scratch grains – fun boredom buster and treat

How Much and How Often to Feed Chickens

On average, chickens eat about 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 pound of feed per day. However, various factors affect consumption:

• Age: Chicks and pullets eat more per pound of body weight.

• Weather: Chickens eat less in hot weather.

• Production: High producing layers require more feed.

• Activity Level: Free range chickens may forage more and eat less feed.

Most backyard chickens do well with free choice feeding – keeping feed available at all times in the coop. This allows chickens to eat smaller meals throughout the day as they desire.

For chickens fed twice daily, provide feed in the amounts of:

• Chicks – as much as they can consume in 15 minutes
• Pullets – 1⁄4 pound per bird
• Adult hens – 1⁄2 pound per bird

Always remove any old, uneaten feed between feedings to prevent spoilage. Keep feed fresh, clean and dry.

Transitioning Feed for Growing Chickens

It’s important to make gradual feed changes as your flock ages to support healthy development:

• 0-8 weeks: Chick starter
• 8-18 weeks: Shift from starter to grower
• 18+ weeks: Transition from grower to layer feed

Switching feeds abruptly can upset sensitive digestive systems. Make changes slowly over 7-14 days by mixing a little of the new feed in with the old feed. This gives their gut microbiome time to adjust.

Feed Quality Matters

When selecting any type of chicken feed, always choose high quality options from reputable brands. Here’s what to look for on feed labels:

• Complete nutrition: Provides a full range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids etc. for chickens’ needs. Avoid feeds listing only “grain products” as ingredients.

• Freshness: Buy feed from sources with good product turnover to ensure freshness. Check expiration dates.

• Quality ingredients: Look for feeds listing whole grains rather than “by-products”. Avoid artificial colors or preservatives.

• Pellet quality: Pellets should be sturdy but not too hard. Dust indicates excess broken pellets.

Buying cheap feed may be false economy if nutrients are lacking. Paying a little more for quality helps avoid health issues.

Special Dietary Needs

While most healthy chickens thrive on standard complete feeds, certain birds may need specialized diets:

• Baby chicks: Require starter feed for proper nutrition. Avoid giving treats until fully feathered.

• Ill/recovering birds: Increase protein level to help recovery. Add probiotics to support gut health.

• Underweight chickens: Offer high-calorie suet cakes or fattier treats to help add weight.

• Overweight chickens: Give lower energy scratch grains rather than high carb feed. Limit treats.

• Senior chickens: Reduce protein level as birds age. Increase fiber and easily digested grains.

If you have birds with special needs, work with a qualified poultry nutritionist to formulate optimal diets. Custom mixing feed ingredients is also an option.

Potential Feeding Problems

Chicken health can suffer if feeding goes wrong. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Problem: Birds rejecting new feed

Solution: Transition slowly by mixing new and old feed together.

Problem: Uneven flock growth

Solution: Provide multiple feeders so all birds can eat. Avoid overcrowding.

Problem: Loose droppings

Solution: Reduce protein/fat content if feed is too rich. Offer probiotic yogurt.

Problem: cannibalism

Solution: Increase protein in feed. Distract with cabbage hung in coop.

Problem: Poor eggshell quality

Solution: Free choice oyster shell. Increase calcium and vitamin D3.

Monitor birds closely for signs of nutritional issues. Adjust feed as needed to get them back on track.

Making Your Own Chicken Feed

Want to cut costs by creating homemade chicken feed? Here are some tips:

• Use quality ingredients – organic grains, legumes, seeds, sprouted grains etc.

• Maintain correct protein level for flock’s needs

• Grind ingredients to proper texture – coarse mash for chicks, larger pieces for adults

• Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D – use oyster shell and fish oil etc.

• Offer free choice oyster shell and grit separately

• Mix and store carefully to prevent spoilage and rancidity

• Weigh intake and monitor bird health – adjust as needed

While home mixing seems frugal, it requires research to balance nutrition. Testing each batch for nutrient analysis helps ensure adequacy.

Choosing the Best Feeder Style

The type of feeder you select for your flock can impact how much chickens waste:

• Trough feeders: Long open tray allows side-by-side eating but feed can get scratched out.

• Tube feeders: Feed drops down as eaten to reduce waste. Prevent crowding with multiple tubes.

• Pan feeders: Wide lip minimizes scratching feed out. Dome lids deter roosting.

• Hanging feeders: Suspended by chain so chickens must reach up to eat. Discourages waste.

Try different feeder styles to see what works best for your flock. Place them at optimal height for your chickens’ size and age.

Setting Up Proper Feeding Stations

To make feeding time easier for you and your flock, set up proper feeding stations:

• Place feeders and waterers near coop – saves you steps.

• Offer at least 2 linear inches of feeder space per bird – prevents crowding.

• Set feeders at bird eye level – keeps feed cleaner.

• Use sturdy mounting for feeders – prevents spills.

• Separate feeder areas if housing chicks with older birds – reduces competition.

• Don’t walk in feed areas – prevents waste and contamination.

• Ensure adequate numbers of feeders – avoids bullying.

Proper feeding setup saves time and money while keeping your birds healthier.

Healthy Supplemental Treats

In addition to complete feed, you can offer treats. Here are some healthy options:

Fruits/Veggies: Cucumbers, berries, leafy greens, pumpkin – provide nutrients.

Yogurt: Plain yogurt has probiotics for gut health. Can feed directly or mix in feed.

Mealworms: High in protein – great during molt. Offer dry or fresh in moderation.

Scratch Grains: Wheat, corn, oats etc. – allows natural foraging behavior.

Table Scraps: Healthy leftovers like rice, pasta, cheese. Avoid too much fat/salt.

Treats provide variety and nutrients but should make up less than 10% of total diet.

Foods to Avoid Feeding Chickens

Some foods are dangerous for backyard chickens:

• Spoiled Foods – Moldy, rotten or contaminated items can cause illness.

• Raw Potato Peels – Contain toxins that can be harmful. Cooked potatoes are ok.

• Avocado – The fruit, skin and pit contain the toxin persin.

• Dry Beans – Contain lectin phytohemagglutinin which is toxic to chickens unless cooked.

• Chocolate – Contains theobromine and caffeine which chickens can’t metabolize.

• High-Salt Foods – Excess salt is hard on chickens’ kidneys.

When in doubt, don’t feed it! Removing questionable foods can prevent health issues.

Hopefully this guide has helped explain what to feed chickens in your backyard flock. The key is choosing high quality feeds appropriate for each lifestage and monitoring your birds’ health.

Providing proper nutrition is crucial for keeping chickens active and productive while avoiding issues like malnutrition and organ damage. With an ideal diet and clean water available at all times, your chickens will thrive for years to come!