The Do’s and Don’ts of Feeding Chickens

What They’ll Eat, What They Shouldn’t, and How to Keep Your Flock Thriving

I learned the hard way that chickens will eat just about anything.

The first time I tossed kitchen scraps into the run, I expected them to peck at a few choice pieces and ignore the rest. Instead, it was a free-for-all. One hen grabbed a tomato peel and ran, and three others chased her. Another scratched through the pile, picking out bits of rice.

But the real wake-up call came when I threw in a few onion scraps.

I didn’t think much of it—chickens are farm animals. They should know what’s good for them, right?

Wrong.

They ate the onions. And later that evening, I noticed something was off. Their usual gentle clucking had quieted. They looked lethargic, a few standing motionless, eyes half-closed.

Panic set in. I ran to look it up. Onions can be toxic to chickens in large amounts. They can cause anemia, affecting the way red blood cells function.

It was a small mistake, but it stuck with me.

I realized then that feeding chickens isn’t just about giving them food—it’s about giving them the right food.

Because while they’ll eat just about anything, that doesn’t mean they should.

The Do’s of Feeding Chickens

If you want a healthy flock, feed them like one.

A good diet isn’t just about survival but longevity, egg production, and resilience.

I started paying more attention to what they actually needed, not just what they would eat. And that’s when I started seeing the difference.

Their feathers became shinier and stronger. Their eggshells weren’t thin or brittle anymore. They had more energy and more enthusiasm.

Here’s what I learned:

First, quality feed matters. If you’re buying layer feed, go for something that provides nutrition—something with at least 16% protein for laying hens. Cheap, filler-heavy feed might keep them alive, but it won’t make them thrive.

Second, let them forage as much as possible. Chickens are natural omnivores. They don’t just eat grains—they hunt for bugs, worms, greens, and even small critters. The more access they have to fresh pasture, the healthier they’ll be.

Third, supplement smartly.

I started giving my hens a mix of:

• Fermented feed to improve digestion.

• Sprouted grains for added nutrients.

• Crushed eggshells for calcium (instead of relying on store-bought oyster shells).

• Mealworms and black soldier fly larvae for extra protein.

It wasn’t about feeding more—it was about feeding better.

But just as important as knowing what to give them… is knowing what to keep out.

The Don’ts of Feeding Chickens

Mistakes in a chicken’s diet don’t always show up right away.

Sometimes, a bad meal just slows them down for a day. Other times, it can lead to serious health issues.

I’ve seen it firsthand.

A neighbor once called me in a panic. Her hens had stopped laying eggs. They seemed fine otherwise—active, alert, scratching through the yard. But no eggs for weeks.

I asked what she was feeding them.

“Mostly scratch grains,” she said.

That was the problem.

Scratch is a treat, not a diet. It’s like feeding a kid nothing but crackers and expecting them to grow strong. It’s too low in protein and too high in simple carbs. It fills them up without providing the nutrients they actually need.

The eggs returned once she cut back the scratch and switched them back to proper feed.

That’s the kind of mistake you don’t realize you’re making—until you do.

And there are plenty of others.

Here’s what you should never feed your chickens:

• Moldy or spoiled food – Chickens can handle some funky stuff, but mold contains toxins that can make them seriously ill.

• Raw beans – Uncooked beans contain phytohemagglutinin, a compound that can be deadly to chickens. Cooked beans? Fine. Raw? Never.

• Avocado pits and skins contain persin, a toxin that can cause heart failure in chickens.

• Onions and garlic in large amounts – Small bits of garlic are fine and even beneficial, but too much onion can lead to anemia.

• Sugary or salty foods – Processed snacks, leftover junk food, anything too salty—chickens don’t need it, and it’ll throw off their health.

I also learned to be cautious with kitchen scraps. Not everything humans eat is good for birds.

And while I still toss out fruit and veggie peels, I watch what goes into the pile. Because chickens? They don’t know what’s bad for them. If it’s in front of them, they’ll eat it.

Finding the Balance

After that first mistake, I started thinking differently about feeding my flock.

Instead of treating them like garbage disposals, I treated them like what they are—livestock, producers, natural foragers.

I let them roam. I let them hunt.

I fed them things supporting their health instead of just filling their stomachs.

And the results were obvious.

Their eggs were stronger, richer in color, and better tasting. Their feathers gleamed. They were more active, more engaged, more alive.

It wasn’t about spending more money—it was about spending it wisely.

I realized something even bigger when I stopped relying entirely on commercial feed.

For too long, we’ve been told that farming must be done a certain way. We must buy the right feeds, supplements, andequipment.

But what if we didn’t?

What if the real key to feeding chickens—and ourselves—wasn’t buying more but taking back control?

The First Step Toward Food Sovereignty

Those who control the seed, control the world.

But what if you could take that control back?

For too long, the industrial food system has dictated how we grow, what we feed, and even what we’re allowed to farm. But the key to food sovereignty isn’t in fighting the system—it’s in building something better.

The Lost Chapter is the blueprint for doing just that.

It reveals how sprouting, hatching, and regenerative farming work together to create self-sustaining food systems—systems that put control back into your hands, not in the hands of corporations.

This isn’t just a chapter—it’s the first step toward designing your own future.

Download it today and start breaking free.

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