What can/can't chickens eat?
Knowing which foods are safe and beneficial for chickens, and which are harmful or toxic, is crucial for their health. This question covers appropriate treats and supplements, as well as dangerous substances to avoid.
- Use commercial layer feed as the dietary staple5
Feed a commercially formulated layer feed as 90% of your hens' diet. Layer feed contains 16% protein with added calcium (3.5–4.5%) specifically formulated for egg production. Switch from grower feed to layer feed at 18 weeks or when hens lay their first egg, whichever comes first. Provide feed in a…
📌 commercial📌 best practice4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ Commercial layer feed (16% protein), hanging or treadle feeder
- Avoid toxic and harmful foods5
Never feed chickens avocado pits or skins (contain persin, which causes heart failure), raw or dried beans (contain phytohemagglutinin, lethal even in small amounts), green potato skins or sprouts (contain solanine), chocolate (theobromine toxicity), or moldy food (mycotoxins cause organ damage).…
📌 best practice4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ None
- Provide supplemental calcium with free-choice oyster shell5
Offer crushed oyster shell in a separate container so laying hens can eat extra calcium as needed. A hen producing eggs daily needs roughly 4–5 grams of calcium per egg, which often exceeds what layer feed alone provides. Oyster shell dissolves slowly in the gizzard, releasing calcium gradually…
📌 commercial📌 low cost4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ Crushed oyster shell, small separate feeder or dish
- Offer safe kitchen scraps in moderation4
Supplement your chickens' diet with safe kitchen scraps, keeping treats to no more than 10% of total daily intake. Good options include leafy greens (kale, lettuce, spinach), cooked rice or pasta, berries, watermelon, cucumbers, cooked squash, and herbs. Chickens also love mealworms, which provide…
📌 free📌 best practice4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ None
- Provide insoluble grit for proper digestion4
Offer insoluble poultry grit (small granite chips) in a separate dish if your chickens do not free-range on natural ground. Chickens have no teeth — they swallow food whole and grind it in their gizzard using stored grit. Without grit, they cannot properly digest whole grains, seeds, greens, or…
📌 commercial📌 low cost4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ Insoluble poultry grit (granite), small separate dish
- Limit scratch grains to an occasional treat3
Offer scratch grains (cracked corn, wheat, mixed grains) only as a small treat, not a dietary staple. Scratch is high in carbohydrates and energy but low in protein (typically 7–9% vs. 16% in layer feed) and lacks essential vitamins and minerals. Keep scratch to no more than 10% of daily intake —…
📌 commercial📌 best practice4/16/2025, 9:22:03 PM
🛠️ Scratch grains