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What Can Chickens Eat?

What Can Chickens Eat?

Updated on July 18, 2024
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Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care
Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

If you are considering keeping pet chickens, you’ll need to know what they eat. As they go about their day grazing, most chickens will consume a wide variety of foods—from bugs and grubs to seeds and greens—that are nutrient-rich complements to their commercially available food.

Healthy treats can be fed to your chickens(s) in moderation along with a nutritionally complete chicken food that’s appropriate for their species and life stage. We recommend following what’s known as the 90/10 rule, which means your pet(s) will get 90 percent of their daily nutritional needs met from commercially available chicken food with a maximum of 10 percent left over for treats.

What should I feed my chicken(s)?

When answering the question of what chickens can eat, it’s important to note the environment they have access to.

Before letting your chicken(s) out of their coop to roam around their fenced-in enclosure for the day, feed them their daily portion of complete chicken food.

As previously mentioned, chickens are used to foraging for their food, meaning their daily diet is usually diverse. Don’t be afraid to mix things up and try something new with their treats. Some chickens are pickier eaters than others, though, so be sure to watch the way they react to new foods.

Speaking of foraging, your chicken(s) will dig up all sorts of greens that make great healthy treats. Pet parents can encourage this by treating their fine feathered family members to greens and an occasional fruit snack. Just be sure to follow the 90/10 rule with their treat intake.

Safe treats to feed your chicken(s) in moderation:

  • Bread OK in moderation only, as long as no mold is present
  • Corn Acceptable in all forms, including cooked, dried, frozen and raw
  • Fruit Most fruits, including apples, berries and watermelon, are safe to feed to chickens
  • Grains
  • Herbs Basil, cilantro, lavender, mint, oregano, parsley and thyme
  • Meat Chickens are omnivores and can eat cooked (not raw) meat. Cut into bite-size pieces before serving. Avoid feeding salty cured meats
  • Oatmeal
  • Perennials Coneflowers, daisies, daylilies, ferns, hostas and roses
  • Vegetables Most cooked and raw vegetables— including broccoli, carrots, cabbage, chard, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, peas, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and turnip greens— are generally considered safe for chickens to eat

What can chickens not eat?

While chickens will try to eat just about anything, it’s important to know what they need to stay away from. Do not feed chickens:

  • Avocado skins and pits These contain persin, a toxin that can be fatal to chickens
  • Chocolate Theobromine and caffeine, both of which are present in chocolate, are toxic to birds
  • Coffee beans or grounds
  • Garlic and onions While these won’t harm your chicken(s), they may give eggs an unpleasant taste or smell
  • Greasy foods The chicken digestive system is not equipped to properly digest greasy foods
  • Processed foods They’re not good for you or your chicken(s)
  • Raw potato skins Potato skins contain solanine, an alkaloid that is toxic to chickens. Chickens can, however, eat sweet potatoes and their skins
  • Salt While salt in small amounts on rare occasions is unlikely to cause severe issues, salty foods should be avoided

Can chickens eat chicken?

The short answer is chickens are omnivores, and eating bite-size pieces of plain cooked chicken should not be harmful to them. That being said, mealworms are a great source of protein and a more appropriate option from a nutritional standpoint. Also, chickens love foraging for live mealworms.

What are the best treats for chickens in moderation?

Wondering what you can feed chickens for a snack? Let’s look at some healthy alternative treats for chickens here.

  • Frozen veggies and fruit Chickens love a cool treat on a hot day just as much as you do. Frozen fruits and veggies can make a delicious and healthy snack for your flock. Freeze them with a little yogurt for an extra-special treat.
  • Meat While bugs are a more appropriate source of protein and other essential nutrients for chickens, scraps of meat can be provided in small quantities on rare occasions as a tasty snack. Make sure it is cooked thoroughly and cut up into small, bite-size pieces.
  • Yogurt Yogurt can be a healthy treat for your chicken(s) to enjoy in moderation. Introducing beneficial bacteria to their gastrointestinal tract may aid digestion. Stick with plain yogurt without added sugar.
  • Insects (especially mealworms) Bugs and insects are the main protein source for many chickens, and they’re definitely their preferred dining option. If your chicken(s) are free ranging, they’re already digging up insects on their own and likely also chasing after flying insects like crickets, mosquitoes and moths. But you can still feed them a snack of live or dried mealworms. Your neighborhood Petco Pet Care Center also sells both live and dried grubs and crickets for a nice treat for your chicken(s).

If you’re new to keeping chickens, check out our helpful article Keeping Chickens 101 to cover some of the basics. You can shop Petco for all your chicken essentials, including chicken coops and accessories.

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