Feeding Chickens: What They Need and What Is Forbidden

Chickens eat almost anything — and that is exactly what leads to most feeding mistakes. This text explains what a sensible basic ration consists of, what can be given in addition, what is legally prohibited, and what changes during molt, winter, and laying periods.

The basic ration: complete feed or grain mix

The core of feeding is a complete feed — it fully covers the nutritional needs and does not need to be supplemented. Grain mixes, by contrast, are supplemental feed: chickens like them better, but on their own they do not cover everything.

In practice, most keepers combine both: a complete feed as the base, plus grain as occupation and an evening ration. In the range, you will find feed mixes for chickens in 20 kg, including a dust-free chicken mix, a mix for mixed poultry keeping, and a calcium-rich Gold 4 Mix for laying hens. If you want a finer grain ration, for example for smaller breeds, you will find it in the crushed grain mix from Deli Nature.

Rule of thumb: A medium-sized chicken eats around 120 g of feed per day. Less with free range and lots of greenery, more in winter.

What chickens also eat

• Greens — grass, herbs, dandelion, lettuce. In the run, chickens pick this up themselves; in winter you can offer kale or a handful of hay.
• Insects and worms — the natural source of protein. If you do not have a run, you can feed dried insects.
• Fruit and vegetables — apples, pumpkin, carrots, cucumber. In moderation, raw and unseasoned.
• Cracked corn and grain — as an evening ration so the birds go to roost with a full crop. We carry cracked corn as a single feed.
• Herbs — for example as a ready-made mix over the feed, see special poultry feed. Specifically, for example, premium herbs for chickens in the 500 g tin or from the own brand of the Eurital Herbal Mix of 16 Herbs and ground oregano.

What is prohibited in Germany

Many guides get this wrong: kitchen and food scraps may not be fed to chickens in Germany — not even in hobby keeping. The basis is EU Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 on animal by-products. Prohibited are, among other things:

• leftovers from your own kitchen once they have come into contact with meat, fish, or dairy products
• anything from restaurant or canteen kitchens
• meat and sausage leftovers

Unprocessed plant products from your own garden remain allowed — that is, fruit, vegetables, and green cuttings that have not passed through a kitchen.

Also unsuitable regardless: salted and seasoned foods, avocado, raw potato peels with green spots, citrus fruits in large quantities, and anything moldy.

Grit and shell grit — two different things

This is often confused:

• Grit consists of insoluble small stones. Chickens have no teeth — the grit stays in the gizzard and grinds the grain there. Without grit, grain is broken down less effectively.
• Shell grit and oyster shells dissolve and provide calcium for the eggshell. They do not replace grit.

Both should be provided in separate bowls for free access, not mixed into the feed — the birds take what they need. In the range under grit & minerals for chickens.

For the grit bowl, the Ida Plus Mineral Grit Mix with quartz granules is suitable; as a calcium source alongside it, for example Röhnfried Breed Mineral made from oyster shells and shell grit.

Water

A chicken drinks about twice as much as it eats — around a quarter of a liter per day, and significantly more in hot weather. The drinker should be filled daily and cleaned regularly; deposits build up quickly in standing water. Drinkers and feed dispensers can be found under drinkers & troughs for chickens. For a larger group, the weatherproof 12-liter poultry drinker is suitable. As an additive to drinking water, the Eurital Apple Cider Vinegar-Onion-Honey-Garlic Mix is commonly used.

Chicks, pullets, laying hens

Chicks need a fine, protein-rich rearing feed in the first few weeks — see rearing feed. Fine grit can be offered from the second week onward.

Pullets get a feed with less calcium than laying hens. Feed for layers given too early puts unnecessary strain on birds that are not yet laying.

Laying hens have the highest calcium requirement — an eggshell consists almost entirely of it. Here, a calcium-rich complete feed plus shell grit for free access is worthwhile. Such a feed is the Gold 4 Mix by Country's Best.

Molt and winter

During the molt, chickens largely stop laying and build new plumage. Feathers are more than 80% protein — the need rises significantly, while laying performance drops. This is normal and, depending on the bird, lasts six to twelve weeks. Suitable supplements under molt aids for chickens. Rich in protein and B vitamins is, for example, brewer's yeast Pro, which can be added to the feed. Traditionally, during feather change sulfur blossoms is also given over the feed or into the dust bath — how to do this is explained in the guide Sulfur blossoms: application and dosage.

In winter, the energy requirement increases because the birds need to maintain warmth. An evening ration of grain helps them through the cold night. It is also important that the drinking water does not freeze.

Frequently asked questions

What do chickens like best?

Corn and sunflower seeds — both are energy-rich and therefore only suitable as additions, not as main feed. In the run, chickens prefer insects and fresh greens.

How much feed does a chicken need per day?

About 120 g for a medium-sized chicken. Bantams need less, large breeds more.

Can you give chickens kitchen scraps?

No. Kitchen and food waste is prohibited as feed for livestock under EU Regulation 1069/2009 — even in hobby keeping. Unprocessed fruit and vegetables straight from the garden are allowed, however.

Why do chickens need grit?

Because they do not have teeth. The grit stays in the gizzard and grinds the grain there. Shell grit does not do this — it dissolves and provides calcium for the eggshell.

Why have my chickens stopped laying eggs?

The most common reasons are molt, lack of daylight in winter, the birds' age, stress, or a calcium-poor diet. A mite infestation in the coop can also reduce laying performance — more on that under mite control for chickens and in the guide diatomaceous earth in the coop. How to recognize an infestation at all is explained in the guide detecting and controlling red poultry mites; the material for this can be found under diatomaceous earth.

How long do chickens lay eggs?

Most in the first and second laying year; after that, the number declines every year. But many continue laying for many years.

You can find the full poultry range under chickens and poultry.