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 describes what a sensible basic ration consists of, what can be given in addition, what is legally prohibited, and what changes during moulting, winter, and the laying period.
The staple feed: complete feed or grain mix
The core of the feeding is a Complete feed – it fully meets the requirements and does not need to be supplemented. Grain mixes, on the other hand, are supplementary feed: the animals prefer the taste, but on their own they do not cover everything.
In practice, most owners combine both: a complete feed as the basis, plus seeds for enrichment and the 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.
Approximate value: A medium-sized chicken eats around 120 g of feed per day. Less if it has access to plenty of greenery, more in winter.
What chickens also eat
- Greens – Grass, herbs, dandelion, lettuce. In the outdoor run, chickens help themselves; in winter, you can offer kale or a handful of hay.
- Insects and worms – the natural source of protein. If they don't have access to outdoor space, dried insects can be fed as a supplement.
- Fruit and vegetables – Apples, pumpkin, carrots, cucumber. In moderation, raw and unseasoned.
- Cracked corn and grain – as the evening ration, so that the animals go to the perch with a full crop. We carry Cracked corn as a straight feed.
- Herbs – for example as a ready-made mix over the food, see Poultry specialty feed.
What is prohibited in Germany
Here, many guides are wrong: Kitchen and food waste may not be fed to chickens in Germany – not even for hobby farming. The basis is EU Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 on animal by-products. Prohibited are, among other things:
- Food scraps from your own kitchen, once they have come into contact with meat, fish, or dairy products
- everything from restaurant or canteen kitchens
- Meat and sausage leftovers
Allowed are unprocessed plant products from your own garden – that is, fruit, vegetables, and green waste that have not passed through a kitchen.
Unsuitable regardless: salted and seasoned foods, avocado, raw potato peels with green spots, citrus fruits in large quantities, and anything moldy.
Grit and shell limestone – two different things
This is often confused:
- Grit consists of insoluble small stones. Chickens have no teeth – the grit remains in the gizzard and grinds up the grain there. Without grit, grains cannot be broken down as effectively.
- Shell limestone and oyster shells dissolve and provide calcium for the eggshell. They do not replace grit.
Both belong in separate bowls for the free admission ready, not mixed into the feed – the animals take what they need. In the range under Grit & Minerals for Chickens.
Water
A chicken drinks about twice as much as it eats—around a quarter of a liter a day, and significantly more in hot weather. The drinker should be filled daily and cleaned regularly; residue quickly builds up in standing water. You can find drinkers and feeders under Drinkers & Troughs for Chickens.
Chicks, pullets, laying hens
Chick need a fine, protein-rich rearing feed in the first few weeks – see rearing feed. Fine-grain grit can be offered from the second week onward.
Pullets receive feed with less calcium than laying hens. Layer feed given too early places unnecessary strain on birds that are not yet laying.
Laying hens have the highest calcium requirement – an eggshell consists almost entirely of it. A calcium-rich complete feed plus oyster shell grit for free choice intake is worthwhile here.
Mauser and Winter
In the Mauser hens largely stop laying and grow new plumage. Feathers are made up of over 80% protein – the requirement increases significantly, and egg production decreases. This is normal and lasts six to twelve weeks depending on the animal. Suitable supplements at Molting aids for chickens.
In Winter Increases the energy requirement because the animals need to keep warm. An evening ration of grain helps them get through the cold night. It is also important that the drinking water does not freeze.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do chickens like to eat most?
Corn and sunflower seeds — both high in energy and therefore only as a supplement, not as the 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 feed chickens kitchen scraps?
No. Kitchen and food waste is prohibited as feed for livestock under EU Regulation 1069/2009 - even for hobby keeping. Unprocessed fruit and vegetables directly from the garden, on the other hand, are permitted.
Why do chickens need grit?
Because they have no teeth. The grit remains in the gizzard and grinds the grain there. Shell limestone does not fulfill this function - it dissolves and provides calcium for the eggshell.
Why are my chickens no longer laying eggs?
The most common reasons are molting, lack of daylight in winter, the animals' age, stress, or a low-calcium diet. A mite infestation in the coop can also reduce egg production – more on that under Mite control for chickens and in the guide Diatomaceous earth in the stable.
How long do chickens lay eggs?
Most in the first and second laying year; after that, the number decreases each year. But they often continue laying for many years.
You can find the full poultry range under Chickens and Poultry.
