Best food for chickens
The best everyday food for laying chickens is a complete layers pellet or layers mash, formulated to cover their protein, calcium and vitamin needs for producing eggs — not a mix of kitchen scraps and corn, however traditional that looks. Treats like mixed corn, mealworms and vegetable scraps have their place, but only as a small addition on top of a proper base feed, not instead of one.
Why a complete layers feed is the base of the diet
Laying hens have a genuinely high nutritional demand — producing an egg most days takes a meaningful amount of protein and calcium, and a diet based mainly on corn or scraps will not supply either in the right amount. A complete layers pellet or mash is formulated specifically around that demand, which is why it should make up the bulk of what a hen eats day to day.
Pellets and mash contain the same nutrition in different textures; pellets are less easy to pick out favourite bits from, so they tend to give more even nutrition across a flock, while mash suits some keepers' feeding routines better. Either is a reasonable base as long as it is a genuine complete layers feed rather than a plain grain mix.
Treats, and how much is too much
Mixed corn, mealworms, and vegetable scraps like leafy greens are popular treats and hens enjoy them, but they should stay a small proportion of the daily diet — as a rough guide, treats crowding out too much of the complete feed is what leads to an unbalanced diet and, over time, lower egg quality or production.
Avoid feeding anything mouldy, salty, or heavily processed, and steer clear of foods known to be unsuitable for birds generally, such as avocado, chocolate, and raw or dried beans, all of which carry genuine toxicity risks rather than just being "not ideal".
Grit, water and the parts owners forget
Chickens need access to grit (small stones) to grind food in their gizzard, since they have no teeth — this matters as much as the feed itself for digestion, especially if hens free-range on soft ground without natural grit available. Oyster shell or a separate calcium supplement alongside layers feed can help if you notice thin-shelled eggs, though a good complete layers feed should already cover this for most hens.
Clean water available at all times is easy to overlook next to feed, but hens drink more than owners expect, particularly in hot weather, and reduced water intake affects both health and egg production quickly.
What these need
Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.
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
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
Tarhong Heart Print Pet Placemat
A charming heart-patterned, wipe-clean placemat that keeps spills off your floor at every mealtime.
£8.49
Common questions
- Can chickens eat kitchen scraps?
- Some scraps are fine as an occasional treat — vegetable peelings and leafy greens, for example — but scraps should never replace a complete layers feed as the main diet, and some common foods like avocado, chocolate, and raw beans are genuinely toxic to birds and should never be given.
- How much should I feed a chicken each day?
- Most laying hens will self-regulate reasonably well on free access to a complete layers feed through the day, with treats kept to a small proportion on top. If you are concerned about a specific bird eating too little or too much, that is worth mentioning to a vet who treats poultry.
- Do chickens need grit if they free-range?
- Often yes. Chickens grind their food using grit held in the gizzard rather than teeth, and free-ranging birds do not always pick up enough naturally, especially on soft or grassy ground. A dedicated poultry grit is a cheap and easy addition if you are not sure.
- What is the difference between layers pellets and layers mash?
- They contain broadly the same nutrition in different physical forms — pellets are compressed and harder to pick apart, while mash is loose and can be mixed with a little water if preferred. Either is a suitable complete feed; the choice mostly comes down to what suits your flock and feeding routine.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
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.