What a chicken eats shows in the eggs: in the strength of the shell, in the regularity of laying and in glossy plumage. Here you will find all the feed for backyard chickens together, from main feed and grain to grit, mealworms and peck blocks. The layout helps you quickly see what is the daily basis and what serves as a supplement or reward.
Three layers in the chicken menu
The first layer is the main feed: layers pellets or layers mash is formulated to give a laying hen everything she needs, including extra calcium for the eggshell. You make it freely available all day in a feeder.
The second layer is the supplement. Mixed corn such as Wierikx Kippenvoer Gemengd Graan, Wierikx cracked maize and Kasper Faunafood Multigrain for poultry is best scattered in the afternoon, so the chickens start foraging. Offer grit and oyster shell separately: grit helps the gizzard grind grains, calcium supports shell formation.
The third layer is the treat. Mealworms and other treats, such as Utopia mealworms for chickens and garden birds, are handy for taming your chickens or luring them back into the run. Peck blocks and chicken toys such as the blocks from Lax and Excellent or the Savic Chicken Fun toy give the birds something to work at.
Which combination suits your flock?
- Laying hens: layers feed as the main meal, a handful of grain in the afternoon, grit and calcium in a separate dish.
- Chickens with plenty of free range: they find seeds, insects and small stones themselves, but still need layers feed for a strong shell.
- Chickens kept indoors for a while: a peck block or treat toy against boredom, and extra attention to grit because they can no longer forage for it.
- Older hens that no longer lay: less need for calcium; if in doubt about their ration, consult a vet.
Storing and offering feed
Store feed dry and in a tightly closing bin, because grain attracts mice and rats. Put the main feed in a feeder or feeder tower rather than on the ground; that keeps it clean and you spill less. Too much grain or treats makes chickens lazy about their layers feed. So give extras in small amounts, preferably at a fixed time. You can go back to the full overview via everything for your chickens.
Frequently asked questions
Can I feed my chickens only grain?
No, grain alone provides too little protein, vitamins and calcium for a laying hen. Use it as a supplement alongside a complete layers feed.
Do chickens need grit?
Chickens grind their feed in the gizzard with small stones. If they forage little on bare ground, put out grit separately in a dish.
How often can I give mealworms?
As a treat, in moderation and not as a replacement for the main feed. A small handful at a time is enough to reward your chickens.