What should you actually feed backyard chickens?

Backyard chickens are great to keep, but feeding them properly is one of the most important parts of flock care.

It can be tempting to rely on scraps, garden pickings and whatever they find while foraging, but chickens need a balanced diet to stay healthy and lay well.

Understanding what to feed, and what not to rely on, helps keep your birds in good condition.

Start with a complete feed

A quality poultry feed should form the foundation of the diet.  For laying hens, a layer feed is designed to provide the energy, protein, vitamins and minerals needed to support egg production.

Complete feeds are formulated to be balanced, which is important because chickens can miss out on key nutrients if their diet is made up mostly of scraps or grain alone.

Match feed to life stage

Chickens have different needs depending on age and purpose.  Chicks need starter feed to support early growth. Growing birds need feed suited to development. Laying hens need layer feed with nutrients to support egg production and shell quality.

Feeding the wrong type of feed can affect growth, laying or overall health.

Protein matters

Protein supports growth, feather condition and egg production.  If birds are not getting enough protein, laying may reduce, feather quality may decline, and birds may not maintain condition as well.

Protein needs can increase during moulting, when birds are growing new feathers.

Calcium for laying hens

Laying hens need calcium to produce strong eggshells.  Layer feeds usually include calcium, but some flocks may also benefit from access to shell grit or calcium supplements, especially if shell quality becomes poor.  Remember to also ensure your hens diet is balance for calcium and phosphorus, so they can adequately absorb the calcium provided in their diet.

Weak or thin shells can be a sign that calcium intake needs reviewing.

Scraps are extras, not the base

Kitchen scraps can be offered in moderation, but they should not replace balanced feed.

Too many scraps can dilute nutrition and lead to birds filling up on foods that do not support laying or health.

Avoid mouldy food, salty foods, highly processed leftovers and anything unsafe for poultry.

Grain and scratch mixes

Scratch grains can be useful as a treat or to encourage natural foraging behaviour, but they are not a complete diet.

If chickens are given too much grain, they may eat less of their balanced feed. This can affect nutrition over time.

Treat grains as an addition, not the main meal.

Foraging helps, but it is not enough

Chickens enjoy foraging for insects, grass and seeds. This provides enrichment and variety, but most backyard environments do not provide enough consistent nutrition to rely on alone.

Season, space and weather all affect what birds can find.

A balanced feed ensures they receive what they need, even when foraging is limited.

Do not forget water

Clean, fresh water is essential.

Chickens need water for digestion, temperature regulation and egg production. If water is dirty, empty or hard to access, health and laying can be affected quickly.

Waterers should be cleaned regularly and placed where birds can reach them easily.

Feeding made simple

The simplest approach is to provide a complete feed suited to your birds’ life stage, offer clean water daily, and use scraps or grains only as extras.

This gives chickens the nutrition they need while still allowing variety and natural behaviours.

A well-fed flock is more likely to stay healthy, lay consistently and cope better with seasonal changes.