The Basics of Feeding Chickens 101

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A common question that appears on our poultry message boards is about feeding chickens. "What should I feed my chickens?" many beginner hobbyists wonder. In this article, we'll teach you the basics of feeding chickens and how to choose the right chicken feed.

There is a lot of controversy regarding feeding chickens. Some people insist on feeding their chickens a vegetarian diet (as evidenced on the many all-natural egg cartons in the grocery store that boast of "vegetarian chickens"). Other's say the opposite. Others disagree, saying things like:

The new "all vegetarian" chicken is a convenience to the mass-producer, who thus doesn't have to worry about the potential of latent animal diseases in poultry feed. Mass-producers of poultry are certainly leery of disease, which might bring about the destruction of their entire laying flock. But, strictly vegetarian-fed chickens are potentially undernourished. An all-vegetarian diet is not natural for them ~ they need animal protein. The ideal is for a chicken to be free to roam grasslands that are not denuded by too many animals in one place, finding myriad bugs and eating lots of wild plants. If supplemented with grains, and especially with fish meal, these chickens will be the healthiest around, and live and lay eggs for many, many years.
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So what's right? What should you feed your chickens? The simple answer: Feeding chickens is a lot easier than you might think! Read more about feeding chickens below the following advertisement...

At our most basic recommendation, we suggest that you feed your chickens a commercially-prepared chicken feed diet that is formulated for your chickens' age and purpose. Your local feed store carries a full line of chicken feed, including chick starter (high in protein), chicken grower, and chicken feed made especially for egg laying hens. Buying a commercial chicken feed takes all the guesswork and headache out of feeding your chickens.

If you buy a commercial chicken feed, you won't have to worry about whether or not the feed is balanced, either! All commercial chicken feeds are balanced and complete. As Mississippi State University says...

Poultry feeds are referred to as "complete" feeds, because they are designed to contain all the protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for proper growth, egg production, and health of the birds. Feeding any other ingredients, mixed with the feed or fed separately, upsets the balance of nutrients in the "complete" feed. Feeding additional grain or supplement with the complete poultry feed is not recommended.
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As you can see in the chicken feed chart below, chicken feed must be tailored to the specific needs of the chicken. Thus, formulating your own chicken feed is not something we recommend!

That being said, some people still choose to mix their own homemade chicken feed. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service says the following about home-mixed chicken feed:

Some producers decide to mix their own rations in order to be assured that only "natural" ingredients are used. Poultry feed ingredients include energy concentrates such as corn, oats, wheat, barley, sorghum, and milling by-products. Protein concentrates include soybean meal and other oilseed meals (peanut, sesame, safflower, sunflower, etc.), cottonseed meal, animal protein sources (meat and bone meal, dried whey, fish meal, etc.), grain legumes such as dry beans and field peas, and alfalfa. Grains are usually ground to improve digestibility. Soybeans need to be heated-usually by extruding or roasting-before feeding in order to deactivate a protein inhibitor. Soybeans are usually fed in the form of soybean meal, not in "full-fat" form, because the valuable oil is extracted first. Whole, roasted soybeans are high in fat which provides energy to the birds.
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And now, some questions and answers about feeding chickens:

What Should I Feed My Chickens?

As mentioned previously, we recommend feeding your chickens a commercially-prepared chicken feed diet. All you need to do is go to your local feed store and pickup a bag of feed that meets the specific needs of your chickens. Got a new batch of chicks? Feed them chick starter. Raising egg layers? Get layer feed which is high in protein and calcium to help your hens lay lots of eggs! It's simple and easy. Don't make it hard on yourself!

You can also feed your chickens healthy kitchen scraps as well as grains. Make sure that the majority of your chickens' diet is still the commercial chicken feed; feeding too much "scratch" grain (corn, wheat, barley, etc.) can throw off the nutritional balance of their feed.

How Much Should I Feed My Chickens? How Much Do Chickens Eat?

Again, the easy answer: Many farmers feed their chickens using a "free-choice" method. This involves filling up your chicken feeders in the morning and then replenishing it in the late afternoon. Your chickens will help themselves to the chicken feed when they're hungry.

What About Giving My Chickens Water?

Water is very, very important for a chicken's diet. A chicken's body is made up of mostly water. Thus, your chickens need to always have access to fresh, clean water at all times (and especially during the heat of summer!). As the University of Mississippi says,

Many people overlook the importance of providing clean, fresh water to their flocks. Water, though not often considered a nutrient, is the most important nutrient for animals. Chickens, as all farm animals, need clean water at all times. Drinking water must not get too hot or cold, or chickens will not drink it. Clean the water troughs and replace with fresh water at least once daily. Keep water and feed troughs clean of droppings, litter, soil, and other contaminants.
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Can My Chickens Be Raised Free-Ranged On A Pasture?

Yes! Many people let their chickens have access to sunshine and fresh grass using a chicken run. You can have the run attached to your chicken coop or have it as a portable enclosure that you move around your pasture or backyard. However, the AATRA notes the following about feeding your chickens on pasture:

When raising birds in a pasture-based model, it is important to keep in mind that the digestive system of the chicken is geared towards the digestion of insects, seeds, and grain rather than the digestion of forage, and they will still need concentrate feed rations to produce well. However, chickens can make some use of high-quality forages, particularly legumes. Ladino clover was a recommended forage in the 30's and 40's when grazing poultry was more common. Sudan grass was used for summer grazing, oats and wheat were used in the winter, and alfalfa provided perennial legume pasture.
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What About Feeding Newly-Hatched Baby Chicks?

Chicks have different feed requirements from adult chickens. To begin with, they need a much higher level of protein in the chicken feed to help them grow and develop properly. Here is an excerpt from a University of Minnesota article by Melvin Hamre that you will find useful in learning how to feed chicks:

Hatching and Brooding Small Numbers of Chicks
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystem s/DI0631.html
from THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION SERVICE http://www.extension.umn.edu/

Waterers to be used with pint canning jars are often available at farm supply stores. They should be placed onto a wooden block to help keep them free from litter. A small dish—with marbles or pebbles added to keep the chicks out of the water—can be used for a waterer. You can also use a saucer having an inverted cup placed over it. Replace the water twice a day, or more frequently if necessary to keep the water clean and fresh. Clean the waterer each time you make the change, and refill it with lukewarm water.

Although chicks don't need feed or water the first 48 hours after hatching, both are usually provided as soon as the chicks are transferred to the rearing box. Use a small box or tray for a feeder. Let the chicks scratch around in the feed for the first few days so they get off to a good start on the feed and don't eat too much litter.

Chicks are best started on a chick starter mash. For other poultry, use the appropriate starter feed for that species, of bird, if available. Mashed, hardcooked egg also makes an I excellent starter feed. You can use breakfast cereal for a few days if it is in a form the chicks can readily eat. Rapidly growing chicks must have a well-balanced starter diet for proper growth and development.