Feeding Chickens the Right Way

Feeding Chickens the Right Way

Chickens are omnivores and fairly undemanding – but a few basic rules make the difference between happy hens and poor eggs.

The Basic Feed

Layer mash or layer pellets are the simplest solution: all the important nutrients, protein and calcium in one product. Always offer it fresh and ad libitum (as needed).

Alternatively: grain (wheat, corn, barley) as the main feed. But be careful: grain alone doesn't provide enough protein for good egg production. Supplement with protein sources (insects, legumes, whey).

Calcium – the Most Important Thing for Egg-Laying

No calcium, no good eggshells. Always offer separately:

• Oyster shells or mussel grit in a small dish
• Hens take exactly as much as they need
• Do not feed eggshells – not even from your own hens: according to the veterinary office, this falls under the feeding ban

What Chickens Like as Snacks

• Vegetable trimmings from the garden (lettuce stalks, cabbage leaves, cucumber, bell pepper) – very popular
• Fruit in moderation (lots of sugar!)
• Oats, especially in winter as a warming meal
• Worms and insects – the absolute favorite
• Corn cobs to keep them busy

Where it comes from matters: kitchen and table scraps must not be fed to chickens – that's banned across the EU (Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009) and applies to backyard hens too, because they count as food-producing animals. What's allowed is unprocessed fruit and vegetables straight from the bed that haven't been through the kitchen.

What They Should Never Have

• Avocado – toxic to chickens
• Raw and green potatoes – because of the solanine; cooked potatoes from the kitchen also count as kitchen waste and are banned (see above)
• Onions, garlic in large amounts (affects egg taste)
• Citrus fruits in large amounts
• Raw meat or fish – risk of salmonella
• Salty foods (chips, bread in large amounts)
• Chocolate – toxic

Water

Clean, fresh water always available. Check several times a day in summer. Protect from freezing in winter. Approx. 0.5 liters per hen daily.

Tip: Chickens love variety. A cabbage head to peck at or a bundle of herbs hung in the run keeps them busy and happy.

Sources

• City of Halle (Saale), veterinary office: Veterinäramt erinnert an Verbot der Verfütterung von Küchen- und Speiseabfällen an Nutztiere, as of 13 Mar 2026, accessed 5 Oct 2026

The sources support individual statements in this article. The organisations named have neither reviewed nor endorsed it.