A Complete Guide to Feeding and Watering Chickens: What Do Chickens Eat?

Whether you’re a first-time flock owner or an experienced poultry keeper, mastering the diet of your birds is crucial for their health and egg production. If you’ve been searching what do chickens eat or wondering about the best feed for poultry, you’ve come to the right place. Providing the right nutrition goes beyond just throwing out scraps – it’s about balance, consistency, and stage-specific care.

The Best Feed for Poultry

The cornerstone of your chicken’s diet should always be a high-quality, commercially prepared poultry food. This ensures they get the balanced nutrients, vitamins, and minerals they need. Different life stages require different formulas:

Life Stage	Type of Feed	Protein %	Purpose
Chicks (0-8 weeks)	Starter Feed	20-24%	High protein for rapid growth and development.
Pullets (8-20 weeks)	Grower Feed	16-18%	Balanced protein to sustain growth without encouraging premature egg-laying.
Laying Hens (20+ weeks)	Layer Feed	16-18%	Includes essential calcium for strong eggshells. This is the main feed for adult birds.
Roosters/Non-Layers	All-Flock Feed	14-16%	Maintenance feed without the high calcium needed for laying.

When selecting the best feed for poultry, look for non-GMO, organic, or fortified options that are specifically labelled for the life stage of your flock.

Treats, Scraps, and Supplements For Chickens

While commercial feed should make up about 90% of your chicken’s diet, the fun part is feeding them treats! Many owners ask, what can you feed chickens from the kitchen?

Safe & Healthy Treats For Chickens (Offer in Moderation)

• Vegetables: Leafy greens (lettuce, kale, spinach), corn, cooked beans, squash, carrots.

• Fruits: Berries, melon, apples (without seeds).

• Grains: Cooked rice or pasta, oatmeal.

• Protein: Cooked meat scraps (small), scrambled eggs (excellent booster!), and mealworms.

 Things to Avoid (Toxic or Dangerous to Chickens)

• Avocado pits and skin

• Raw green potato peels

• Onions

• Citrus fruits (can irritate the stomach)

• Rhubarb

• Chocolate and candy

Pro Tip: Treats should only be given in the afternoon after the chickens have filled up on their main layer feed. Too many treats can dilute their essential nutrient intake.

Why Grit and Oyster Shells are Essential

A chicken’s digestive system is unique. Since they don’t have teeth, they need assistance processing food.

• Grit: Chickens need insoluble grit (small stones/sand) to help grind up food in their gizzard. This should be available free-choice.

• Oyster Shells: Laying hens need extra calcium for strong eggshells. Oyster shells provide the necessary soluble calcium and should also be offered in a separate container, allowing the hens to take what they need.

The Critical Importance of Watering Chickens

While we often focus on feeding chickens, watering chickens is arguably more important. A hen is made of about 75% water, and an egg is 65% water.

• Availability: Chickens must have access to fresh, clean water 24 hours a day. Dehydration can stop egg production in hours.

• Temperature: In hot weather, change the water frequently to keep it cool. In winter, use a heated waterer to prevent freezing. Chickens will not drink ice-cold or frozen water.

• Cleanliness: Clean your waterers daily. Contaminated water can lead to illness.

By understanding the nutritional needs of your flock – from the specific proteins in starter feed to the necessity of a constant clean water supply. See our range of Poultry Feed & Supplies & Poultry Feeders and you will be well on your way to raising happy, healthy, and productive chickens.