What Do Chickens Eat? A Complete Guide to a Healthy Diet

Dealing with chickens can be a very rewarding experience! And it all starts with understanding what do chickens eat for optimal healthUnderstanding that you have to get a hold of the sustainable practices to keep your chickens healthy and productive. These practices will help you provide them with a well-balanced diet. As humans love it, chickens also love it when they receive proper nutrition. And we all know that what they eat directly impacts their growth, egg production, and overall well-being.

We completely understand the importance of knowing what goes into the livestock’s diet. The commitment to farming makes it certain that chickens are pasture-raised. Also, you need to make sure that they are free from harmful chemicals. At the same time, they should have a natural diet that promotes both animal welfare and nutrient-dense food. If you’re curious about what chickens should eat for optimal health, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

What Do Chickens Eat in a Balanced Diet?

We all know that chickens are omnivores. They eat both plant-based and animal-based foods. However, in the wild, they eat seeds and small rodents. On the other hand, domestic chickens completely rely on their caretakers. These caretakers provide a balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs.

What do chickens like to eat in a balanced diet:

Commercial Chicken Feed 

The foundation of a chicken’s diet should have the right balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

• Starter feed (for chicks, high in protein—around 20-24%)
• Grower feed (for adolescent chickens, slightly lower protein—16-18%)
• Layer feed (for egg-laying hens, contains extra calcium—16% protein)
• Broiler feed (for meat chickens, high protein—20-24%)

Grains & Seeds 

 A great source of energy.

• Corn
• Wheat
• Oats
• Barleyeli
• Sunflower seeds

Protein Sources 

Essential for muscle development and egg production.

• Mealworms
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Cooked eggs (yes, chickens can eat eggs!)
• Small fish or meat scraps (in moderation)

Greens & Vegetables 

What greens do chickens eat​

• Leafy greens (kale, spinach, lettuce)
• Carrots
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Cucumbers

Fruits 

 A tasty treat packed with nutrients.

• Apples (remove seeds)
• Berries
• Watermelon
• Bananas

Calcium Supplements 

Crucial for strong eggshells.

• Crushed oyster shells
• Eggshells (baked and crushed).
• Small stones or commercial grit

The Pasture-Raised Advantage

Chickens should roam freely on pasture so that they can express their natural behaviors. This way, you can apply conventional factory farming methods where birds eat simple medicated diets. These chickens enjoy and require a buffet of grasses, seeds, insects, and worms. Commercial operations simply can’t replace feed mills.

The advantages of this natural diet can be defined in different ways. The eggs from these pasture-raised hens show higher levels of omega-3 fatty acid and beta-carotene when compared to their factory-farmed counterparts. The meat of these hens develops a richer flavor and better texture from a different diet and exercise. Perhaps most importantly, chickens allowed to forage naturally can show stronger immune systems and lower disease rates. It will reduce reliance on antibiotics and other medications.

Apart from the straight benefits, pasture-based systems support environmental health. Also, optimal grazing practices improve soil quality. At the same time, they increase biodiversity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. This process creates a cycle where healthy land produces healthy feed. It will lead to producing healthier animals and people.

Foods That Can Harm Your Chickens

While chickens can enjoy many kitchen scraps and garden treats, some common foods are dangerous and should be avoided:

Toxic Foods

• Avocado pits & skins: They contain persin, which can cause respiratory distress and heart failure.
• Chocolate & caffeine: Can lead to fatal heart problems.
• Raw or undercooked beans: Contain lectins that are deadly unless fully cooked.
• Green potatoes & tomato leaves: Contain solanine, a toxin that affects the nervous system.
• Onions & garlic (in large amounts): Can cause anemia by damaging red blood cells.

Unhealthy or Risky Foods

• Salty foods: Disrupt electrolyte balance, leading to dehydration.
• Sugary foods: Can cause obesity and digestive issues.
• Moldy or spoiled feed: Contains harmful fungi that cause respiratory and digestive illnesses.
• Citrus fruits (in excess): These may interfere with calcium absorption, affecting eggshell quality.
• Processed/junk food: Offers no nutritional value and can lead to health problems.

Foods to Use with Caution

• Dairy products: Small amounts are okay, but chickens are lactose-intolerant.
• Bread: Can be fed occasionally but lacks nutrients and may cause crop impaction if dry.
• Meat scraps: Should be cooked and given sparingly to avoid bacterial risks.

The Connection Between Diet and Egg Quality

The direct relationship between what do chickens eat and egg quality cannot be overstated. Hens lacking proper calcium produce thin-shelled eggs prone to breaking. Those deprived of adequate protein may lay fewer eggs or stop production altogether. The vibrant orange yolks prized by chefs and home cooks alike come from hens consuming ample greens and insects rich in xanthophylls.

Commercial operations often rely on synthetic additives to approximate these qualities, but pasture-based systems achieve them naturally. The difference is noticeable in both appearance and taste. When chickens receive diverse, nutrient-rich diets, their eggs become more nutrient-dense as well – a true case of “you are what you eat.”

Creating a Sustainable Feeding Strategy

Chicken feeding practices go way more than the coop. To keep more sustainability considerations, we prefer growing supplemental chicken feeds on-site whenever it’s possible. Moreover, composting wasted feed to enrich soils and carefully managing pastures make sure that the feed is available for the whole year, directly addressing the question of what do chickens eat throughout different seasons.

Remember that even small-scale keepers can adopt elements of this approach. You can plant chicken-friendly gardens with kale and sunflowers to provide fresh greens. At the same time, you can beautify the space through that. Or you can establish a system that can turn kitchen scraps and garden waste into valuable feed supplements. You can also partner with local breweries or bakeries for spent grains and unsold bread, which answers what do chickens eat while simultaneously reducing food waste and cutting feed costs.

Conclusion

If you want to feed your chicken properly, then you have to learn about the science and the art that will help you balance its nutritional needs. Whatever you need, raising a small backyard flock or managing a larger operation, the fundamentals remain the same. You can always start by getting along with a high-quality commercial feed as the foundation of their diet. After that, you can use fresh greens and healthy treats as a supplement. However, try to avoid toxic foods and spoiled feed. Don’t forget to make sure that your birds have constant access to clean and fresh water, as it will be impactful!

If you want to know more about what do chickens like to eat? Then, join Elias Farms on this journey! They’ll help you move forward towards sustainable farming. For those interested in premium quality meats, you might also enjoy learning about the best cattle breed for prime beef. To learn more, call 440-670-1813 or send an email to [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be the base of a chicken’s diet?

A balanced commercial feed formulated for their life stage (starter, grower, or layer) should be the foundation, supplemented with natural foods.

What do chickens like to eat?

Chickens enjoy a varied diet, including grains, leafy greens, insects, and occasional fruits as treats.

What do chickens eat naturally?

Chickens naturally forage for seeds, insects, greens, and small organisms when allowed to free-range.

What do baby chickens eat?

Baby chicks need starter feed with 20-24% protein for proper growth, along with clean water and optional treats like finely chopped greens or cooked eggs.

What vegetables do chickens eat?

Chickens enjoy most vegetables, like leafy greens, carrots, cucumbers, and squash, but avoid toxic varieties like raw potatoes and onions.