Chickens are some of the most popular backyard animals, loved for their eggs, quirky personalities, and surprisingly efficient pest control. But if you’ve ever wondered what do chickens eat, you’re not alone. Their diet is more diverse than many people think, ranging from grains and seeds to insects, fruits, vegetables, and even small amounts of protein they forage naturally. Understanding their diet is key to keeping chickens healthy, productive, and happy.
In this guide, we’ll explore everything from what chickens eat in the wild to what you should feed them at home, their feeding habits by age, and even what foods to avoid.
What Do Chickens Eat
Chickens are omnivores, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diet is surprisingly varied depending on whether they are free-range, in a backyard coop, or raised on commercial feed. In nature, chickens spend most of their day scratching the ground for insects, seeds, and greens, while supplementing with grains or feed provided by caretakers.
When you ask what do chickens eat for food or what do chickens eat to survive, it’s important to recognize that their diet isn’t just about filling their bellies, it supports their growth, egg production, and overall health.
What Do Chickens Eat in the Wild
In the wild, chickens forage constantly. They are opportunistic eaters and will consume almost anything that provides nutrition. This includes:
- Bugs chickens eat, like beetles, ants, and grasshoppers
- Insects chickens eat for protein, including mealworms and other small larvae
- Worms found while scratching soil
- Seeds and grains found naturally in their environment
- Leaves, small plants, and occasional fruits
By eating this diverse diet, wild chickens get the protein, fiber, and micronutrients they need. What do chickens eat naturally often depends on the environment and season, but insects remain their primary source of protein.
What Do Chickens Eat at Home or in a Backyard
Backyard chickens rely on a combination of free-range foraging and human-provided food. If they have access to a yard, they will naturally scratch for bugs, worms, and seeds, but supplementing their diet with commercial feed ensures they get all essential nutrients.
Key things backyard chickens eat include:
- Scraps of grains like cracked corn, oats, and wheat
- Vegetables chickens eat, such as leafy greens, cabbage, or carrots
- Fruits chickens eat, like apples or berries
- Occasional insects they find in soil or compost
For backyard flocks, what do chickens eat in a backyard largely mirrors their natural diet but is often more balanced with feed to support egg production.
Chicken Diet by Life Stage
Chickens’ diets change as they grow. What a chick eats is very different from what an adult hen or rooster requires. Understanding chicken feeding stages ensures healthy growth and maximum productivity.
What Do Baby Chickens Eat
Baby chickens, or chicks, are particularly delicate and need high-protein diets to support rapid growth. Their diet typically includes:
- Starter feed, specially formulated for chicks
- Tiny insects and mealworms for protein
- Small amounts of grains like finely cracked corn
Chicks spend their early weeks nibbling constantly. What do baby chickens eat and what do chicks eat ensures they develop strong bones, feathers, and immune systems.
What Do Adult Chickens Eat
Adult chickens have different nutritional needs, especially if they are laying eggs. Their diet consists of:
- Layer feed to support egg production
- Grower or scratch grains for energy
- Bugs chickens eat for natural protein
- Fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals
Adult hens and roosters still scratch and forage if outdoors, supplementing their feed with insects and small plants. What do adult chickens eat can vary seasonally, but grains and protein sources remain the core of a healthy diet.
Feed & Grain-Related Foods
Grains are a staple of most chickens’ diets, whether they are free-range or kept in coops. They provide carbohydrates for energy and help maintain body condition.
Common grains include:
- Scratch grains
- Cracked corn
- Wheat
- Barley
- Oats
Using starter feed, grower feed, and layer feed ensures chickens at different life stages get the nutrients they need. Many backyard keepers provide supplemental grains as treats, but the majority of calories should come from formulated feed.
Protein & Natural Foods Chickens Eat
Protein is essential for muscle development, feather growth, and egg production. Chickens are natural hunters, and in a free-range setting, insects form a large portion of their diet.
Some of the bugs chickens eat include:
- Mealworms and other larvae
- Grasshoppers and beetles
- Ants and small worms
Even in a backyard setting, allowing chickens to forage for insects can improve their health and reduce the need for artificial supplements.
Fruits, Vegetables & Greens
Chickens also enjoy plant-based foods, which provide essential vitamins and fiber. Safe options include:
- Leafy greens for chickens, such as lettuce, kale, or spinach
- Vegetables chickens eat, like cabbage, carrots, or peas
- Fruits chickens eat, including apples, berries, and melon
Kitchen scraps for chickens can be useful, but it’s important to avoid harmful foods. Vegetables and fruits should be fresh, washed, and cut into manageable pieces.
Many backyard keepers ask can chickens eat lettuce, can chickens eat cabbage, can chickens eat carrots, and can chickens eat apples, the answer is yes, but in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
Free-Range & Backyard Feeding
Free-range chickens often get the healthiest diet because they combine foraging with supplemental feed. A free range chicken diet includes:
- Insects and worms from soil
- Seeds and grains from feed or scattered scratch
- Occasional fruits and vegetables from garden scraps
What do free range chickens eat may vary by season. In spring and summer, insects are plentiful. In fall and winter, they rely more on grains and leftover produce.
Backyard chicken feeding strategies often combine both approaches—letting chickens forage while ensuring a balanced diet through feed and grains.
Seasonal Feeding Adjustments for Chickens
A chicken’s diet isn’t static, it changes with the seasons. Understanding what do chickens eat in summer, fall, winter, and spring helps ensure they remain healthy year-round.
Summer Diet
During warm months, insects are abundant, making summer the peak for natural protein intake. Chickens will scratch and forage for:
- Mealworms, beetles, and grasshoppers
- Ants and other small bugs
- Seeds and grains found outdoors
Supplement with layer feed to maintain egg production, and offer fruits and vegetables like berries, melons, and leafy greens. This ensures chickens get what do chickens eat daily to stay productive and hydrated.
Fall Diet
As insect populations decline, chickens rely more on grains and plant-based foods. Offer:
- Scratch grains, cracked corn, and wheat
- Leafy greens and root vegetables
- Leftover garden produce
Free-range chickens will still forage, but their diet shifts toward calorie-dense feed to prepare for colder weather.
Winter Diet
Winter can be the most challenging season for chickens. Foraging opportunities are limited, so they rely heavily on:
- Layer feed and grower feed
- Stored grains like oats and barley
- Occasional kitchen scraps that are safe
Providing chicken feed daily is critical. Frozen water can prevent proper hydration, so always ensure chickens have access to clean, unfrozen water, which is part of what do chickens eat and drink.
Spring Diet
Spring brings fresh vegetation and an increase in insect populations. Chickens will resume foraging for:
- Insects and worms
- Fresh greens and garden shoots
- Seeds scattered or naturally growing
Spring is also a time of higher activity and egg-laying, making a balanced diet crucial for maintaining energy.
Water and Feeding Habits
Water is just as essential as food for chickens. Even if their diet is perfect, a lack of hydration can cause health problems.
- Do chickens drink water? Yes—they require constant access to fresh water.
- Chicken hydration supports digestion, egg production, and overall activity.
- The average adult chicken drinks about 0.5 liters per day, though this can vary with temperature and diet.
- Feeding routines should ensure chickens receive their daily grains, proteins, and greens alongside clean water.
Free-range chickens often get some moisture from dew and juicy insects, but supplemental water is still necessary to maintain consistent health.
Foods Chickens Should Avoid
Not everything in your kitchen or garden is safe for chickens. Some foods can be toxic or cause serious health issues. What chickens should not eat includes:
- Chocolate
- Avocado (especially the pit and skin)
- Onions and garlic in large amounts
- Raw beans or green potato skins
- Salty, processed, or sugary foods
While some backyard keepers wonder why it’s illegal to feed chickens kitchen scraps, the reason is primarily to prevent contamination, disease spread, and accidental poisoning. Safe kitchen scraps include small amounts of vegetables and fruits, but anything potentially harmful should be avoided entirely.
How Much Do Chickens Eat Daily
Understanding how much do chickens eat per day helps keep your flock healthy without overfeeding:
- Adult chickens eat about 0.25–0.33 lbs of feed daily, depending on size and activity.
- Free-range chickens supplement this with foraged insects, seeds, and greens.
- Chicks and young chickens eat smaller portions but require higher protein content.
Feeding schedules are best set twice daily: a morning portion and an afternoon portion, allowing for foraging in between.
Common Questions About Chicken Diets
What Does a Chicken Eat?
Chickens are omnivores. They eat a combination of:
- Grains like wheat, oats, barley, and corn
- Insects such as beetles, ants, worms, and mealworms
- Vegetables and fruits including leafy greens, carrots, cabbage, and apples
- Safe kitchen scraps in moderation
What Is a Chicken’s Favorite Food?
Most chickens love protein-rich foods. Their favorites include:
- Mealworms and other insects
- Cracked corn
- Certain fruits like berries or small apples
- Leafy greens like lettuce and spinach
Protein is particularly important for growth, feather development, and egg production.
What Can’t You Feed Chickens?
Toxic or harmful foods include:
- Chocolate, avocado, and raw potato skins
- Excessively salty or processed foods
- Onions and garlic in large amounts
- Moldy or rotten scraps
Feeding these can cause illness or death, so it’s crucial to know what chickens should not eat.
Why Is It Illegal to Feed Chickens Kitchen Scraps?
In some areas, local regulations restrict feeding chickens kitchen scraps to prevent:
- Spread of bacteria and disease
- Contamination of eggs or meat
- Accidental poisoning from harmful foods
Safe scraps, such as small vegetable pieces or fruit, are allowed, but caution is always advised.
Tips for a Healthy Chicken Diet
- Offer a mix of grains, proteins, and fresh produce.
- Provide constant access to clean water.
- Adjust feeding according to life stage: chicks need high protein, adults need layers feed.
- Allow free-range foraging whenever possible to supplement their natural diet.
- Avoid toxic foods and limit kitchen scraps.
- Monitor seasonal changes and adjust diet accordingly.
By combining natural foraging, high-quality feed, and safe treats, you can ensure your chickens stay healthy, happy, and productive year-round.
