What Do Chickens Eat? Complete Feeding Guide for Hens

What Do Chickens Eat? A Complete Feeding Guide for Laying Hens

The Quick Answer

Chickens eat a balanced layer feed (16–18% protein) as their main diet, plus insoluble grit for digestion and oyster shell for calcium. Each laying hen needs about 1/4 pound of feed per day. Safe vegetable scraps, fruits, and free-range forage make healthy treats, but treats should never exceed 10% of their diet.

Getting feeding right is the single biggest lever you have for healthy hens and strong eggshells. The good news? It is simpler than most beginners expect.

What Should You Feed Your Chickens Every Day?

The foundation of every hen's diet is a complete layer feed. Think of it as their daily multivitamin plus dinner in one. A good layer feed is formulated with 16–18% protein, the right balance of calcium (about 3.5–4.5%), and all the vitamins and minerals a laying hen needs to produce an egg almost every day.

Feed stores sell layer feed in three forms: crumbles, pellets, and mash. Pellets are the most popular choice for backyard flocks because chickens waste less of them. Crumbles are finer and work well too, especially for smaller or pickier birds. Mash is the least processed option but tends to get wasted more.

How much does each hen eat? Plan on roughly 1/4 pound of feed per bird per day — about 1.5 pounds per hen per week.

If you are just setting up your first flock, a starter set with both a feeder and a waterer is the easiest way to get going.

Layer Feed vs. Starter and Grower Feed

Not all chicken feed is the same, and the label matters. Chicks (0–8 weeks) need starter feed with 20–24% protein. Young pullets (8–18 weeks) switch to grower feed at around 18% protein. Once hens start laying — usually around 18–20 weeks — move them to layer feed with its higher calcium content.

Never feed layer feed to young chicks. The high calcium level that strengthens eggshells can damage a chick's kidneys. Matching the feed to the life stage is one of the easiest wins in backyard chicken keeping.

The Three Pillars: Layer Feed, Grit, and Calcium

1. Layer Feed — The Main Course

Quality matters more than brand. Look for 16–18% protein from a reputable mill, and check the milling date — feed loses nutrition after about 3 months. Store it sealed in a cool, dry place.

2. Grit — For Digestion

Chickens have no teeth. They grind their food in a muscular organ called the gizzard, and they need small stones — grit — to do it. Offer insoluble grit (crushed granite) free-choice in a separate dish. Hens that free-range will pick up small pebbles naturally, but confined birds absolutely need supplemented grit. Without it, feed passes through poorly digested, and you waste money on feed your hens cannot use.

3. Oyster Shell — For Strong Eggshells

Layer feed contains calcium, but many hens benefit from extra. Offer crushed oyster shell free-choice in a separate container. Soft or thin-shelled eggs are the classic sign of a calcium shortfall.

Healthy Treats and Kitchen Scraps Your Chickens Will Love

Treats are the fun part of chicken keeping, and hens are enthusiastic foragers. Safe favorites include:

• Leafy greens: kale, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard
• Vegetables: cooked pumpkin, squash, carrots, cucumbers, peas
• Fruits: watermelon, berries, apples (no seeds), bananas
• Protein boosts: mealworms, scrambled eggs, plain yogurt
• Grains: cooked oatmeal, brown rice, cracked corn (in moderation)

The golden rule is the 10% treat rule: treats and scraps should make up no more than 10% of a hen's total diet. Layer feed is precisely balanced; too many treats means fewer eggs and weaker shells.

Scratch grains — the cracked corn and wheat mixes sold at feed stores — are treats, not feed. Toss a small handful in the run in the afternoon as an activity, not a meal replacement.

Foods You Must Never Feed Chickens

Some common foods are genuinely dangerous for chickens. Keep these out of the coop and compost bin:

• Dried or raw beans — contain hemagglutinin, a toxin that is fatal to chickens. (Fully cooked beans are fine.)
• Avocado skin and pits — contain persin, toxic to birds.
• Chocolate and caffeine — toxic, just like for dogs.
• Green potato skins and sprouts — contain solanine.
• Onions and garlic in large amounts — can cause anemia; small amounts in cooking scraps are usually harmless, but do not feed them directly.
• Citrus fruits — not toxic, but the acid can interfere with calcium absorption and thin eggshells.
• Moldy or rotten food — mold toxins can kill chickens. When in doubt, throw it out.

Apple seeds and cherry pits contain trace cyanide compounds — the fruit flesh is fine, but skip the seeds.

Do Chickens Need Constant Access to Water?

Yes — fresh, clean water available at all times is non-negotiable. A laying hen drinks roughly 1–2 cups of water per day, more in summer heat. Dehydration drops egg production fast.

Change water daily and scrub waterers weekly to prevent algae and biofilm.

How to Feed Without Wasting Money

Feed is your biggest ongoing expense, so cutting waste pays off every month. Chickens are messy eaters — they bill feed out of open dishes, scratch it into the bedding, and poop in it.

A no-waste feeder with ports or a treadle design stops the worst of it. Port-style feeders let hens stick their heads in to eat while keeping feed from being flung everywhere, and many keepers report cutting feed waste by half or more.

For keepers who work long hours, an automatic treadle feeder is worth considering. Hens step on a pedal to open the feed tray, which keeps feed dry, reduces waste, and locks out rats, mice, and wild birds.

More waste-saving habits:

• Hang feeders at back height so hens cannot scratch feed out.
• Let the feeder run low by evening — this also discourages rodents.
• Do not overfill. A feeder stuffed to the brim invites billing and spilling.

Feeding Chickens by Life Stage and Season

Chicks (0–8 weeks): Starter feed, 20–24% protein, plus chick-sized grit once they eat anything besides feed. Clean water in a shallow chick waterer.

Pullets (8–18 weeks): Grower feed around 18% protein. No layer feed yet — too much calcium too early harms developing kidneys.

Laying hens: Layer feed 16–18% protein, free-choice oyster shell and grit, treats capped at 10%.

Molting hens: During the fall molt, hens stop laying and grow new feathers. Bump protein to 18–20% with an all-flock or feather-fixer feed to support feather regrowth.

Winter: Hens burn more calories staying warm. Slightly increase feed, offer warm oatmeal on bitter mornings, and make sure water never freezes.

How Much Does Feeding Chickens Cost?

For a flock of six laying hens, expect to spend roughly $18–$28 per month on feed (a 40–50 lb bag of layer feed runs $18–$25 in most US feed stores and lasts about 5–6 weeks). Oyster shell and grit are cheap — a bag of each costs a few dollars and lasts months.

Treats from your kitchen are free. Mealworms and supplements add a few dollars a month if you buy them. All in, feeding six hens typically costs $25–$35 per month, while the same flock produces 150+ eggs monthly — feeding costs usually run well under the grocery-store price of those eggs.

5 Common Feeding Mistakes Beginners Make

1. Too many treats. The #1 mistake. Kitchen scraps are fun, but a treat-heavy diet causes thin shells and fewer eggs. Stick to the 10% rule.
2. Feeding layer feed to chicks. The calcium is too high for young birds. Match feed to life stage.
3. No grit for confined birds. Free-ranging hens find their own; penned hens need supplemented grit or they cannot digest feed properly.
4. Stale or moldy feed. Check milling dates, store feed sealed and dry, and never feed anything moldy.
5. Dirty water. Algae-covered waterers discourage drinking, and low water intake means low egg production. Scrub weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best feed for laying hens?

A complete layer feed with 16–18% protein and 3.5–4.5% calcium is the best daily diet for laying hens. Pellets waste less than crumbles or mash. Supplement with free-choice oyster shell for calcium and insoluble grit for digestion, and keep treats under 10% of total intake.

Can chickens eat table scraps every day?

Yes, in moderation. Safe daily scraps include vegetable trimmings, leafy greens, cooked grains, and most fruits. Keep scraps to 10% or less of the total diet so the balanced layer feed remains the main course. Never feed moldy food, raw beans, avocado pits, chocolate, or green potato skins.

How much feed does one chicken eat per day?

One laying hen eats about 1/4 pound (roughly 1/2 cup) of layer feed per day, or around 1.5 pounds per week. Larger dual-purpose breeds eat slightly more; smaller bantams eat less. Free-ranging hens eat less commercial feed because they forage for insects and greens.

Do chickens need grit if they free range?

Usually not — free-ranging hens pick up small stones and coarse sand naturally while foraging, which serves as grit. Confined or run-kept hens do need supplemented insoluble grit offered free-choice, since they cannot find their own grinding stones.

Why are my chickens' eggshells thin or soft?

Thin or soft shells almost always mean a calcium shortfall. Make sure hens are on proper layer feed (not grower or all-flock without supplementation) and offer crushed oyster shell free-choice in a separate dish. Stress, extreme heat, and older age can also thin shells, but calcium is the first thing to check.

Can chickens eat cracked corn?

Yes, but only as a treat. Cracked corn is low in protein (around 8–9%) and high in energy, so it dilutes the balanced nutrition of layer feed. A small handful of scratch grains in the afternoon is fine and gives hens something to forage for, but it should never replace their main feed.

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