Feeding chickens well is the key to good health and steady laying. A hen eats a bit of everything, but her diet should rest on a balanced base, topped up with a few extras and, above all, plenty of clean water.
What do chickens eat? The feed basics
The base is a complete commercial feed, as pellets or mash, matched to age: starter for chicks, grower for pullets, layer for adults. A layer feed contains around 16 to 18% protein and added calcium. You can add a grain mix such as wheat or corn, without going over a third of the ration.
What else can you give chickens?
Hens enjoy many kitchen and garden scraps alongside their feed:
- Vegetable peelings and leftovers, cooked or raw, except those to avoid.
- Grass, weeds, leafy tops and salad.
- Leftover rice, pasta and stale bread, in small amounts.
- Worms, insects and cooked meat scraps, in small amounts, for protein.
- Bruised fruit, in moderation.
What you must never give chickens
Some foods are toxic or dangerous to chickens and must be avoided:
- Avocado, whose pit and skin are toxic.
- Raw or green potato and the green parts of nightshades.
- Chocolate, coffee and alcohol.
- Any moldy or spoiled food.
- Very salty, very sugary or fried foods.
- Raw onion in large amounts and excess citrus.
Calcium and grit, both essential
To build strong shells, a layer needs calcium: offer crushed oyster shell, or well-crushed eggshell, free choice and separate from the feed. Grit, small stones, helps the gizzard grind grain in hens with no access to stony ground. Without enough calcium, eggs have soft or brittle shells.
How much does a hen eat per day?
An adult hen eats around 120 to 150 g of feed a day. The simplest approach is to leave feed available: hens self-regulate and do not eat more than they need. Adjust the amount to the season, as they eat more in cold weather to stay warm.
Water, the most important nutrient
Clean, fresh water is vital: a hen drinks 250 to 500 ml a day, more in summer. A lack of water, even for a few hours in hot weather, drops laying immediately. Clean the drinker regularly and keep water from freezing in winter.
Matching feed to age
Chicks get a rich starter feed at around 20% protein for the first weeks, then a grower feed. Around laying age (4.5 to 6 months), switch to layer feed with added calcium. Do not give layer feed to young chicks: the excess calcium is bad for their kidneys.
Adjusting feed to the seasons
In winter, slightly increase energy grains such as corn in the evening to help hens warm up. In summer, focus on fresh foods and renewed water, and avoid too much corn, which is heating. A little greenery and space to scratch round out a balanced diet all year.