Chicken seed and feed
"Chicken seed" usually means one of three things: layer pellets, a mixed corn scratch feed, or grit, and they are not interchangeable. Layer pellets are the complete, everyday feed for laying hens; mixed corn is a treat and a foraging activity rather than a full diet on its own; grit helps a hen digest what she has eaten.
Layer pellets: the everyday feed
Layer pellets are formulated as a complete feed for hens that are laying, with the calcium and protein a laying bird needs built in rather than left to chance. For most backyard keepers, this is what should make up the bulk of what the flock eats day to day.
Pellets are also harder for hens to pick through and waste than a loose mix, since there is nothing to sort through and discard — every pellet carries the same balance of nutrients, which is not true of a mixed corn scratch feed where a hen can happily eat only the bits she likes.
Mixed corn: a treat, not a diet
Mixed corn is a blend of whole and cracked grains scattered on the ground for hens to scratch and forage for, which gives a flock something to do as much as something to eat. It is genuinely good for keeping hens occupied, particularly when they are confined to a run rather than free-ranging.
The catch is that corn is not a balanced feed on its own, and a flock fed too much of it relative to their pellets can end up short on the protein and calcium a layer pellet provides. Treat it as a supplement to the main feed rather than a replacement for it.
Grit: the part that gets forgotten
Hens have no teeth, so grit sitting in the gizzard does the job of grinding down food, corn especially. A flock without access to grit can struggle to digest a mixed corn feed properly even if everything else about their diet is right.
Free-ranging hens often pick up enough grit naturally from the ground, but a flock kept mostly in a run benefits from a dish of poultry grit offered separately, alongside their main feed and any water and feeder.
Oyster shell grit and flint grit are sold for slightly different purposes — oyster shell adds a calcium supplement on top of its grinding function, while flint grit is purely mechanical. Many keepers offer both side by side and let the flock take what they need.
Keeping feed fresh and pest-free
Whichever feed you choose, keeping it dry and stored away from rodents matters as much as the feed itself. Damp pellets or corn can spoil quickly, and an open feeder left out overnight is an easy target for rats and mice.
A treadle feeder, which only opens when a hen steps onto a platform, is a popular way of keeping wild birds and rodents out of the main feed supply while still leaving it freely available to the flock during the day.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Stainless Steel Pet Travel Water Bottle
A compact 304 stainless steel travel bottle with a leak-resistant cap and wrist strap for walks.
From£14.99
Ceramic Pet Food Bowl
A solid matte-glazed ceramic bowl with a heavy base that stays put through a keen eater's dinner.
From£10.99
No-Spill Slow-Drink Pet Water Bowl
A no-spill water bowl with a floating disc that lets pets drink freely while stopping splashes.
From£10.99
LickiMat OH Bowl for Dogs — Slow Feeder with Tongue-Cleaning Tips
A vet-developed dog feeding bowl with raised rubber tips that clean the tongue as your dog licks — calming, dishwasher safe, and available in three sizes.
From£12.99
Paw-Shaped Silicone Cat Treat Spoon
A soft silicone feeding spoon with a cute paw-shaped scoop, made for serving lickable wet treats and purees straight from the pouch. Mess-free, easy to clean and ideal for hand-feeding and bonding.
£9.99
Airtight Pet Food Storage Container
A high-capacity airtight storage container that keeps dry dog, cat or bird food fresh and moisture-free. Sturdy thick walls, a sealed push-lid and a clear window let you check levels at a glance, with a built-in measuring cup included.
From£10.99
Raised Double Ceramic Cat Bowls with Stand
Two tilted ceramic bowls in a gold stand with a cat-ear motif for easier eating.
£19.99
Tarhong Paw Ikat Teal Pet Placemat – BPA-Free PVC & EVA
A vibrant teal ikat placemat with paw print accents — BPA-free, wipe-clean, and 29 × 48 cm for protecting floors under pet bowls.
£8.49
Foldable Silicone Travel Water Bottle
A leaf-textured silicone travel bottle that folds open into a drinking cup, giving your dog fresh water on every walk. Soft, squeezable and roughly 14.5cm tall, with a carry strap for hands-free trips.
From£14.99
Tarhong Country Orchard Melamine Pet Saucer
A pretty fruit and floral orchard-print melamine saucer for pets — BPA-free, non-slip, shatterproof, and dishwasher safe at 13.2 cm.
£9.49
Smart Auto-Lid Pet Bowl with Stainless Steel Insert
A smart pet bowl with a motion-sensor lid that opens automatically as your pet approaches and closes to keep food fresh, dust-free and protected from insects. Includes a detachable stainless steel bowl.
£34.99
Tilted Ceramic Pet Bowl with Raised Stand
A ceramic bowl set in a raised, tilted stand to bring food to a comfortable height and reduce neck strain.
£11.99
Common questions
- Can chickens live on mixed corn alone?
- No, not properly. Mixed corn is a supplement and a foraging activity rather than a complete diet, and a flock fed mainly on corn can end up short on the protein and calcium that layer pellets are formulated to provide, which matters most for hens that are laying.
- How much layer feed does a hen need each day?
- This varies by breed, size and how much a hen forages for herself, so it is worth checking guidance from a poultry-keeping resource or an experienced keeper for your specific flock rather than following one fixed figure. A free-flow feeder that hens can access through the day is the usual approach.
- Do all chickens need grit?
- Any hen eating whole grains or foraging needs grit to help digest them properly, since chickens have no teeth to break food down mechanically. Free-ranging birds often find some naturally; hens kept mainly in a run generally need it offered separately.
- Is layer pellet feed suitable for chicks or non-laying hens?
- No, layer feed is formulated for hens that are actively laying, and its higher calcium content is not appropriate for chicks or younger birds who are not laying yet. Younger birds need a growers' feed suited to their stage instead.
- What is the difference between oyster shell grit and flint grit?
- Oyster shell grit dissolves gradually and doubles as a calcium supplement, useful for laying hens, while flint grit does not dissolve and works purely as a grinding aid in the gizzard. Some keepers offer both together so the flock can take what they need.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.