Understanding the 90/10 Rule for Chickens

The 90/10 Rule for Chickens: The Simple Feeding Strategy That Can Make or Break Your Flock

The first time I heard about the 90/10 rule for chickens, I brushed it off.

It sounded like one of those overly simplified farming principles—like “happy chickens lay more eggs” or “just feed them scraps, they’ll be fine.” It was a nice idea but not something that really mattered. I'm sure many of you can relate to this initial skepticism.

At least, that’s what I thought.

That belief lasted right up until I had a flock of sick, underperforming hens, a climbing feed bill, and eggs that weren’tas strong or plentiful as they should have been. It was a tough lesson, but one that I'm glad I learned.

I didn’t realize it then, but I was breaking the 90/10 rule every day—and my chickens were paying the price.

The Feeding Mistake That Nearly Cost Me My Flock

It started small.

At first, I just wanted to save money on feed. Commercial poultry rations weren’t cheap, and I figured I could stretch my feed supply by supplementing with kitchen scraps.

So I started giving them leftovers—vegetable peels, stale bread, rice from dinner. It seemed harmless, even smart. If I could cut down on the amount of feed I needed to buy, why wouldn’t I?

Then I started offering more “healthy” treats—things I had read about online, like oats, sunflower seeds, or even a little scratch grain before bedtime. I told myself it was enriching and that they were enjoying the variety.

And the chickens loved it. They ran to me, eager and excited whenever they saw the bucket, clucking louder than usual. It felt good—like I was giving them something special.

But then, the signs started appearing.

First, the eggshells got weaker. Instead of strong, solid shells, I started getting thin, brittle ones that

cracked too easily in my hands. It wasn’t just the occasional bad egg—this was becoming a trend.

Then, their feather quality changed. A few birds looked patchy and dull, their usual shine replaced with a rough, unhealthy texture. Even though it wasn't molting season, I noticed more molted feathers in the coop than usual.

And before long, I noticed something even worse—some of my best layers had stopped laying altogether.

At first, I thought it was the weather. Maybe the shorter days were throwing them off, or maybe something in their environment had changed. But after weeks of frustration, I finally traced it back to one simple mistake.

I had unknowingly been breaking the 90/10 rule—feeding my birds too many extras and not enough of what actuallymattered.

What Is the 90/10 Rule for Chickens?

It's a game-changer in poultry nutrition that I wish I had known about sooner. At its core, the 90/10 rule is a simple but crucial principle in poultry nutrition:

Ninety percent of a chicken’s diet should come from a balanced, complete poultry feed that provides the nutrients they need for growth, egg production, and overall health.

No more than ten percent should come from treats, scraps, or supplements—even if those extras seem healthy.

I hadn’t realized how quickly those extras could add up. A handful of scratch grain here, a bowl of rice there, some leftover salad tossed into the run—it all seemed small. But I was stunned when I sat down and calculated what percentage of their diet was coming from balanced feed versus scraps and treats.

I had unknowingly replaced nearly a third of their proper diet with nutritionally empty extras.

That was enough to throw everything off balance.

Why the 90/10 Rule Matters More Than You Think

For years, I assumed that chickens were instinctively good at balancing their diets—that they would naturally eat what was best for them.

But that assumption was dead wrong.

Chickens aren’t nutritionists. They eat what tastes good, not necessarily what they need. And just like a kid given the choice between candy and a well-balanced meal, chickens will always go for the quick, easy calories first.

And when they fill up on the wrong things, they don’t eat enough of their actual complete feed—which means they miss out on the vitamins, minerals, and protein they need to thrive.

That’s exactly what had happened to my flock.

I had diluted their diet by giving them too many scraps and grains, leaving them deficient in key nutrients like calcium, protein, and essential amino acids.

The consequences were immediate and obvious. Weak eggshells were the first sign, but feather conditions worsened soon after. Protein deficiencies will appear in the feathers, making them brittle, frayed-looking, and slow to regrow during molting. Some of my best layers had gone into nutritional shutdown, conserving energy rather than producing eggs.

And here’s the kicker—even though I thought I was saving money by supplementing with scraps, I was actually wasting it.

For every dollar I “saved” by stretching feed with scraps, I was losing in egg production, flock health, and overall performance.

How I Fixed the Problem

Once I understood where I had gone wrong, I made three key changes that turned everything around.

First, I measured their actual feed intake instead of just assuming they were eating enough. I stopped refilling feeders randomly and started tracking how much they needed. Laying hens, on average, eat about a quarter pound of feed per day. If they weren’t eating that, I knew they were filling up on extras instead.

Then, I rebuilt their diet from the ground up, setting the right priorities. Their pelleted or crumbled layer feed became the foundation of every meal. Everything else became a supplement, not a replacement.

I still wanted to give them variety, but I started being more intentional about what I added. High-protein treats like mealworms or black soldier fly larvae were kept in small amounts. The occasional handful of sunflower seeds was fine, but I no longer treated it like an everyday thing. Leafy greens, cucumbers, carrots, and pumpkins were added sparingly, but I avoided grains, bread, and starchy leftovers altogether.

I also ensured they had a separate source of calcium, like crushed oyster shells or recycled eggshells. Before, I had assumed their layer feed had enough calcium, but once I reintroduced a free-choice calcium source, the eggshells hardened up almost immediately.

Within two weeks, I noticed a difference.

The eggshells strengthened. The feather quality improved. The birds looked healthier, more alert, and more energetic.

And most importantly? The missing eggs returned.

The Lesson I Wish I Had Learned Sooner

I used to think extra food meant extra nutrition.

But I learned that feeding chickens is about balance—and when you get that balance right, everything else falls into place.

The health of a flock doesn’t just come from what we give them—it comes from what they actually absorb. Nothing else will matter if they aren’t getting the right balance of nutrients.

So now, before I throw out kitchen scraps or toss extra grains into the run, I ask myself one simple question:

Is this within the 90/10 rule?

If the answer is no, I don’t do it.

Because a healthy flock is worth more than a bucket of scraps.

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