The 6 Best Chicken Feeds and Treats to Help Your Flock Flourish

I care for two flocks of chickens and two roosters on a hobby farm in Washougal, Washington. Chickens are easy to care for—full of personality and provide fresh eggs—but keeping your chickens happy and healthy begins with quality chicken feed.

According to Yuko Sato, MS, DACPV, a poultry expert from Iowa State University, when selecting chicken feed, one should start with the type of bird they are feeding and what their intended purpose is. For example, an egg laying hen will require different nutrients than a rooster or a baby chick.

“All commercially formulated diets are designed to be well balanced in terms of nutrients (macro and micro-minerals, protein levels, vitamins, energy levels, etc). All of the information is written on the feed label, so owners should be familiar with what type of bird they are feeding and how to manage a mixed flock (different ages, types of birds).” shared Sato with The Spruce Pets. “Corn and soy are the two key ingredients to providing energy and protein in poultry diets. Unless the owner wants a specific diet (e.g. wheat-based diet), I do not think there is any benefit to a non-corn or non-soy diet. There are certain things that are toxic to chickens that should be avoided, but in general, avoid moldy or rotten feed,” Sato added.

There are pros and cons to each type of feed type, but it’s best to focus more on what your flock is used to eating and the cost of the feed. At the end of the day, the birds will tell you what they need.

The Winners

After testing various chicken feed brands and a mix of mash, pellets, and crumbles over the years, my go-to feed for our two flocks is Scratch and Peck Organic Chicken Feeds. This is a mash diet, which is the most standard diet for egg-type chickens. My flocks are healthy year-round and race towards their feed bowls.  Plus it is made with USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, and sustainably sourced ingredients. For a more affordable choice, Nutrena’s NatureWise Layer Feed is high in protein and amino acids. I always have a bag on hand as a backup, and sometimes I even mix the two top picks together. In my experience, every flock has picky eaters, so here are a few more recommendations:

  • Best Starter Feed for Chicks: Manna Pro Non-Medicated Starter Crumbles Chicken Feed
  • Best Pellet Layer Feed: Small Pet Select Premium Chicken Layer Pellet Feed
  • Best Crumbles Layer Feed: Blue Seal Home Fresh Extra Egg Crumbles
  • Best Treats for Chickens: Grubbly Farms Black Soldier Fly Larvae  

Best Overall

Scratch and Peck Organic Chicken Feeds

Chewy Scratch and Peck Organic Chicken Feeds
PHOTO: Chewy
$89 at Amazon $45 at Chewy View on Scratchandpeck.com

What We Like: USDA-certified organic ingredients; free of fillers; non-GMO Project verified; sustainably grown, sourced, and produced in North America; feed can be fermented for chicken and ducks

What We Don't Like: Some feed is lost to dustiness

Our favorite chicken feed has balanced nutrition and high-quality ingredients and comes from a manufacturer with a proven track record.

Scratch and Peck offers 11 varieties of organic chicken and duck feed, as well as several types of poultry treats, supplements, and kits. For my chickens, the original Naturally Free Organic Layer Feed is the perfect option.

In addition to the organic grains, flax meal, and other essential vitamins included in its organic feed, Scratch and Peck gets its protein from black soldier fly larvae, more commonly known as grubs. This protein-rich ingredient also offers minerals, essential amino acids, and enough calcium to strengthen eggshells. The combined formula contains 16 percent protein, which is an amount well-suited for egg-laying adult hens (age 20 weeks and up), especially those in need of extra protein when molting. Black Soldier Fly Grubs contain 8 to 10 percent calcium on a dry weight basis, which is much higher than mealworms, which contain 0.2 to 0.5 percent calcium. Calcium is essential for chickens' bone health, eggshell formation, and immune function, which is why having grubs as a key source of protein is another reason we feed this brand. 

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