What Do Chickens Eat?
A laying hen eats about 110–120 g of feed a day. Everything else — scraps, greens, grit — is a supplement, not the diet.
The base diet
| Age / stage | Feed | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| 0–8 weeks (chicks) | Chick crumble | 18–20% |
| 8–18 weeks (pullets) | Grower feed | 16–18% |
| 18 weeks+ (laying) | Layer pellets or crumble | 16–18% |
| Moulting | Layer feed + extra protein | 18–20% |
Pellets waste less than mash and stop hens picking out favourites. Crumble suits bantams and chicks.
Always available
- Clean water — a hen drinks up to 500 ml a day, more in heat
- Oyster shell — separate dish, never mixed into feed. Hens take what they need for shells.
- Grit — insoluble grit for digestion if they eat anything beyond commercial feed
Safe kitchen scraps
| Safe | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Vegetable peelings, lettuce, carrot | Avocado (persin — toxic) |
| Cooked rice, pasta, potato | Raw potato and green skins (solanine) |
| Bread in small amounts | Chocolate (theobromine) |
| Fruit cores, melon, berries | Onion and garlic in quantity |
| Cooked meat, fish (small amounts) | Caffeine, alcohol |
| Yoghurt, cottage cheese | Mouldy food — causes aspergillosis |
| Grass, weeds, dandelion | Dry beans raw (haemagglutinin) |
Keep scraps under 10% of the diet. More than that dilutes protein and directly reduces laying. Hens fill up on bread and then do not eat their pellets.
How much per day
- Standard hen: 110–120 g layer feed
- Large breed (Orpington): 130–150 g
- Bantam: 70–90 g
- Free-ranging hens: reduce feed by 10–20%, since they find their own
Feed in the morning and late afternoon. A hen that empties the feeder by noon is being underfed; feed left over at night means you are overfeeding.
Seasonal changes
- Winter: more energy needed to stay warm. Some keepers add a little corn in the evening — but too much lowers protein.
- Summer: appetite drops in heat. Feed early morning and evening, and make sure water is cool.
- Moult: protein demand spikes. Feathers are about 85% protein — add a handful of sunflower seeds or a little meat.
Common questions
How much should I feed my chickens?
About 110-120g of layer feed per hen per day, plus free-choice oyster shell and grit. Scraps should stay under 10% of the total diet.
Can chickens eat rice?
Yes, cooked rice is fine in moderation. Uncooked rice is not dangerous as commonly claimed, but it is hard to digest and offers little nutrition.
Can chickens eat avocado?
No. Avocado contains persin, which is toxic to birds. The flesh is risky and the skin and pit are worse.
Do chickens need grit?
Yes, if they eat anything beyond commercial pellets. Grit stays in the gizzard and grinds food. Oyster shell is for calcium and is not a substitute.
Full feeding and first-year guide: Backyard Chickens for Beginners.
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