What do chickens eat?

Chickens are omnivores and eat many different foods including commercial feeds, grass clippings and table scraps. Chickens grow best when fed commercial pellets, supplemented by other foods.

Commercial feed pellets are the best foundation for a chicken's diet because they are nutritionally balanced. Depending on the age and type of bird, chickens require different combinations of grain and protein in their diets, so pellets created for each kind of chicken work best. Once their basic needs are covered, chickens benefit from added nutrients such as calcium from table scraps or oyster shells. Supplementing chickens' diets with table scraps not only provides additional protein but also reduces feeding costs.