Best chicken feed

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Backyard chickens can lay 150 to 260 eggs a year, although high-production breeds often bred for commercial egg laying, like Golden Comets, can produce significantly more. Providing your flock with the best chicken feed from hatching through their laying years ensures the healthiest chickens and the most eggs.

For this guide to the best chicken feed, I consulted two academic poultry welfare specialists and evaluated dozens of feeds based on factors like balanced nutrition for specific ages and how to minimize chicken feed waste. My top pick is NatureWise Layer 17% Protein Pellet. Its balanced nutrition for laying hens was developed by a team of veterinary nutritionists for optimal bird health and egg quality. It also features Aztec marigolds for vibrant egg yolks. Below, I recommend seven high-quality chicken feeds, plus the best chick grit. Some options I've personally fed to my chicks and hens, and all have been rigorously researched.

This guide focuses on optimal nutrition for egg-laying hens. If you're raising meat or dual-purpose birds, they may have different nutritional needs.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Our top picks for the best chicken feed

Best overall: NatureWise Layer 17% Protein Pellet - See at Chewy

Best starter feed: Scratch & Peck Feeds Organic Starter Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best grower feed: Scratch & Peck Feeds Organic Grower Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best starter/grower feed in one: Kalmbach Feeds 20% Organic Starter Grower Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best medicated chick feed: Purina Start and Grow Medicated Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best organic layer feed: Kalmbach Feeds 17% Organic Layer Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best budget layer feed: Kalmbach Feeds All Natural 17% Layer Crumbles - See at Chewy

Best grit: Manna Pro Chick Grit - See at Chewy

Best overall

Laying hens require feed with 16% to 18% protein and 3.5% to 4.5% calcium — that's three to four times the amount of calcium found in feeds for pullets (young chickens). Feeding layer feed to chicks under 16 weeks old can lead to serious health issues and even death. Commercial chicken feeds often achieve the nutritional balance needed for adult laying chickens using corn and soy as top ingredients, says Richard Blatchford, an associate specialist in poultry science at the UC Davis Department of Animal Science.

NatureWise Layer 17% Protein Pellet takes the top spot for the best chicken feed thanks to its nutritious blend of corn, soybean, and wheat, plus Aztec marigold extract for deep, vibrant yolks. While darker yolks are often associated with superior nutrition, yolk color is actually a matter of pigmentation, Blatchford says. The more red, yellow, and orange pigments a hen consumes, the richer their yolk color.

The addition of five probiotic strains and a beneficial essential oil herbal blend also sets this feed apart. Research suggests that certain probiotic strains help support a balanced gut microbiome in poultry, which may play a role in improving egg-laying performance and maintaining flock health. The featured blend of essential oils may support digestive health and egg quality. Oregano, in particular, may support increased egg production in cold weather, while rosemary has been shown to increase the yolk-to-egg-white ratio, which may result in a richer-tasting egg with a fuller texture. This feed comes in pellets, which reduce waste compared to crumbles. However, the size may be too large for smaller fancy breeds like Silkies. If you have a mixed flock ranging from petite Silkies to giant Brahmas, this feed is also available in crumbles.

Nutrena, a Cargill brand with over 100 years of experience in animal feed and agriculture, employs full-time veterinary nutritionists and collaborates with universities on research. Having an on-staff veterinary nutritionist is a strong indicator of a brand's commitment to producing high-quality feed, and it helped solidify Nutrena as a top pick.

Best starter feed

Starter feeds are for chicks from hatching through their first six to eight weeks of life. This pick from Scratch & Peck Feeds prioritizes chick nutrition while using high-quality, sustainable ingredients. It's formulated with wheat, barley, fish meal, and black soldier fly larvae meal to meet young chicks' nutritional needs.

Chicks require more protein (around 20%) for rapid growth and have lower calcium needs (around 1%) than adult chickens. This USDA-certified organic, non-GMO starter feed is formulated in collaboration with a veterinary nutritionist to meet these exact needs. We like that the brand uses black soldier fly larvae in particular. It's a high-protein food for chickens that can be raised on organic waste, reducing the amount of land and resources needed for traditional chicken feed protein sources like soybeans. 

The crumbled form of this feed is ideal for chicks' tiny beaks and ensures they get a balanced diet in every bite. Despite the brand name, the starter feed is not scratch, which is a mix of whole grains, seeds, and other small pieces. Blatchford says chicks can pick out their favorite bits from scratch feeds, leading to nutritional deficiencies and waste.

Best grower feed

Around 6 to 8 weeks old, chicks' rapid growth phase slows down. To meet their changing needs, they'll transition to grower feed until laying age, typically around 18 weeks. This grower feed from Scratch & Peck meets chicks' changing needs with less protein (around 17%) compared to starter feed. It still has less calcium than what is needed for a laying hen.

This grower feed from Scratch & Peck is formulated with USDA-certified organic and non-GMO ingredients in collaboration with a veterinary nutritionist. The major upside of feeding organic to chickens is that their food is free of synthetic pesticides and antibiotics. Still, there's no conclusive evidence that chicks who eat organic feed are healthier than ones who do not. 

Scratch & Peck Feeds is a certified B Corporation, which means it prioritizes social and environmental responsibility alongside quality chick nutrition. All of the ingredients are also sourced from North American farmers, supporting local agriculture.

Best starter/grower feed in one

Starter-grower feeds provide complete nutrition for chicks from hatch all the way to laying age, around 18 weeks. These feeds can be fed to fancy chick breeds (not meat birds) as long as the protein content is around 18% to 20%, says Darrin Karcher, an associate professor of animal sciences and poultry management at Purdue University College of Agriculture.  

Providing dedicated starter and grower feeds is ideal for meeting the specific nutritional needs of chicks as they grow. A combined starter-grower can be a practical option if you're unable to transition your chicks according to their life stage or if you have picky eaters. Additionally, with more starter-grower options available compared to separate starter and grower feeds, you now have a wider selection of all-in-one choices, like Kalmbach Feeds Organic 20% Protein Starter Grower Crumbles. This USDA-certified organic feed provides complete nutrition from hatch to laying age. Added prebiotics and probiotics may offer some digestive benefits, but research on their effectiveness in feed is ongoing.  

Kalmbach has been producing quality livestock feeds since 1963. The family-owned and operated company employs a veterinary nutritionist who helps ensure the recipes meet chicks' nutritional needs. 

Best medicated chick feed

Chicks are susceptible to the protozoa coccidia and the disease it causes, coccidiosis. So you may want to choose a medicated starter-grower feed, Blatchford says. Purina Start & Grow Medicated Crumbles are formulated by veterinary nutritionists with 18% protein and are suitable for chicks from hatch to laying age. The feed includes amprolium, a defense against coccidiosis that's not an antibiotic, so it won't harm the beneficial bacteria in chicks' guts. 

Coccidiosis causes diarrhea, sometimes bloody, and can be fatal. While some chicks are already vaccinated against coccidiosis before you bring them home, feeding a starter grower with anticoccidials, such as amprolium, can prevent the disease. Amprolium disrupts the development of coccidia protozoa, preventing the disease. When transitioning from a medicated feed to a non-medicated feed, slowly switch chicks to regular feed over 10 days. This helps them develop resistance to coccidia, according to Michigan State University.

Our pick from Purina includes corn and soy for optimal chick nutrition. It also has added lysine and methionine, which are amino acids required for healthy growth and physical well-being.

Best organic layer feed

With more consumers prioritizing environmentally conscious purchases, it's no surprise that the demand for organic chicken feed is growing. Our top organic chicken feed pick, Kalmbach Feeds Organic 17% Layer Crumbles is a crumble recipe that's made in the US and is non-GMO and USDA-certified organic.

The base of this crumble recipe is corn and soy. It also includes a Kalmcach's YolkProud blend, a USDA-certified organic blend of natural flower and vegetable extracts that help give egg yolks their vibrant color. The small crumble size suits chickens of all sizes and works well in most feeders. 

If you're looking for organic pellet chicken feed, Nutrena Nature Smart Organic Layer Feed is a good option. It's made with USDA-certified organic and non-GMO ingredients like ground wheat, wheat middlings, ground corn, and soybean meal. It's also slightly more affordable than our organic crumble recommendation. However, it might not be ideal for small-breed chickens with little beaks, as they may have difficulty eating large pellets.

Best budget layer feed

Raising chickens for fresh eggs doesn't have to cost a fortune. Kalmbach Feeds All Natural 17% Layer Crumbles offers a budget-friendly option, especially when purchased in bulk. A 50-pound bag costs around 50 cents per pound. Just be sure to store excess feed in an airtight container secure from pests and moisture.

This nutritious feed, made with corn and soy like many of our top picks, includes probiotics for gut health and Aztec Marigolds for vibrant egg yolks. Blatchford says layer feeds such as this option are suitable for all chickens over 18 weeks old, including roosters and hens who are past laying age.

This recipe also includes canola meal, a good source of essential minerals for poultry. However, too much canola meal in chicken feed can add a fishy flavor to brown eggs. In speaking with the brand's staff nutritionist, they say the amount of canola meal included in Kalmbach poultry feeds is carefully monitored to ensure it stays well below levels that might cause this issue. Happily, customer reviews don't mention any problems in eggs laid by hens fed this recipe.

Best grit

Chickens lack teeth and instead grind their food in a muscular organ called the gizzard, Karcher says. When foraging outdoors, they naturally consume dirt and small stones that aid in this process. However, Blatchford says that young chicks who don't yet have access to the outdoors need a chick grit supplement. Grit is made from tiny, specially-sized stones and mimics what they'd eat free-ranging. 

More budget-friendly than competitor chick grits, Manna Pro Chick Grit provides essential support for your chicks' digestion with insoluble crushed granite, probiotics for gut health, and small, easy-to-eat pieces designed specifically for young chicks. Packaged in a convenient 5-pound bag, this chick grit is ideal for small to medium flocks, so you won't end up with any that goes to waste.

While Manna Pro Chick Grit provides essential support for your chicks' digestion, it's not a replacement for a complete and balanced chick feed, as some reviewers have mistakenly thought. Rather, it should be sprinkled into chick food or offered alongside chick feed as a supplement.

What to look for in chicken feed

According to our experts and in-depth research, you'll want to keep the following factors in mind when choosing the best chicken feed.

Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label shows the minimum and/or maximum percentages of important nutrients, including protein and calcium. For instance, a grower feed might guarantee a minimum of 0.75% calcium, but the actual amount could be higher, up to the listed maximum. "The nutritional requirements of the birds change over time, so that is why we would purchase a starter, grower, and layer diet for laying hens or chickens that are producing eggs," Karcher says.  

• Chicks: From hatching to 8 weeks of age, chicks require the most protein (around 20%) and low calcium (around 1%). Their protein needs then lower slightly to about 17% around 8 weeks until they begin laying eggs, around 18 weeks. You can also opt for a starter-grower feed that's around 18% to 20% protein, suitable for chicks from hatching until 18 weeks. 

• Adults: Laying hens require feed with 16% to 18% protein and 3.5% to 4.5% calcium. This supports their overall health and produces eggs with durable shells. Layer feed can also be fed to adult roosters and hens who are no longer laying.

Feed type: There are four main types of feed to consider for your chicks and chickens: 

• Scratch is a treat for chickens, not a complete diet. It's a mix of grains like corn, wheat, and barley that they love to peck at, but it lacks essential nutrients. Blatchford says you could think of it like candy for chickens. 
• Mash is a ground-up complete and balanced feed that has larger pieces of corn or other ingredients. Karcher says the disadvantage of mash is that chickens can pick out their favorite ingredients, leaving behind important nutrients and leading to waste. However, mash can be fermented. To ferment the mash, submerge the feed in water for a few days. This introduces naturally occurring microbes that eat the sugars and starches. Fermenting feed may break down complex carbohydrates in the feed, making it easier for chickens to digest and potentially leading to better nutrient absorption.
• Pellets are compressed forms of mash feed, offering complete nutrition in every bite. They also minimize waste because chickens can't pick out their favorite food bits and produce minimal feed dust. Pellets may be too large for chicks and chickens with small beaks to eat. 
• Crumbles are crushed pellets. They offer complete nutrition like pellets but are easier for young and small breed birds to eat. 

Ingredients: Most commercial chicken feeds use corn and soy as top ingredients. There are also specialty feeds available that are corn or soy-free. These alternative ingredients provide the necessary nutrients, but Blatchford says the long-term benefits are not as well-researched as traditional corn and soy feeds. Feeds may also include marigolds or other red, yellow, or orange-pigmented ingredients to promote vibrant egg yolks. 

Price: You can find high-quality chicken for as little as $0.51 per pound, such as Kalmbach Feeds All Natural 17% Layer Crumbles. In general, specialty diets such as organic and corn or soy-free are more costly.

How we selected the best chicken feed

As a fellow chicken keeper who has raised chicks from hatch, I understand the importance of choosing the right feed to nurture a healthy flock that produces delicious eggs. To select the best chicken feed, I based my selections on the guidance in the "what to look for" section above as well as the below criteria.

Expert interviews: For this guide, I consulted two poultry experts familiar with the nutritional needs of backyard chickens: Richard Blatchford, PhD, an associate specialist in poultry science at the UC Davis Department of Animal Science, and Darrin Karcher, PhD, an associate professor in animal science and poultry management at Purdue University College of Agriculture. 

Ingredients: Chickens have specific dietary needs based on their age and purpose. This guide focuses on feeding chicken breeds raised for egg production, not meat. Meat chickens (broilers) and dual-purpose birds have different nutritional requirements. 

Quality control and brand reputation: I prioritized brands that employ veterinary nutritionists and actively engage in animal feed research, often collaborating with universities. My recommendations are also highly rated by shoppers and are readily available at major retailers.  

Nutritional claims: I reviewed all nutritional claims and fact-checked them against expert insight as well as the most up-to-date research. 

Chicken feed FAQs

What is the best feed for chickens?

Karcher and Blatchford says the best chicken food depends on the ages and needs of your chicks and/or chickens. Commercially available options like starter, grower, starter-grower, or layer feeds are all formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition. "Chickens are extensively researched in terms of nutrition, and commercial diets are formulated to meet all their nutritional needs," Blatchford says. He adds that scratch feed is an exception and shouldn't be a primary source of nutrition. For mixed-age flocks with chicks and laying hens, chick feed can work. However, laying hens will need additional calcium to support eggshell production. You can provide crushed oyster shells as a calcium supplement.

What is the best high-protein food for chickens?

Chicken protein needs vary by age. Chicks under 8 weeks require the most protein, around 20%, to support rapid growth. As they mature, protein requirements decrease. By laying age (around 18 weeks), most chickens only need 16% to 18% protein, even during molting. Blatchford says that while a high-protein chicken diet may help grow feathers back faster, excess protein can cause health problems. "Not all birds molt at the same time so unless you can feed each bird separately, I typically tell backyard flock owners to just continue the layer diet," he says. Instead, consider tossing your flock occasional high-protein treats when molting, such as Flygrubs Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae.

What is the best diet for chickens to lay eggs?

For the most eggs with durable shells, hens need a diet with 3.5% to 4.5% calcium. Commercially available layer feeds are specifically formulated to meet this need. They often include calcium and/or carbonate sources such as limestone, oyster shells, or meat and bone meal.

Is corn and soy-free chicken feed better?

No scientific evidence proves corn and soy-free chicken feed is better than traditional corn and soy options. However, some chicken owners and consumers look for corn and soy-free feeds or eggs laid by hens who eat the specialized diet for their own dietary preferences. These preferences might result from soy allergies or a desire for eggs lower in omega-6 fatty acids. Blatchford says that the nutritional makeup of corn and soy-free feeds has been less studied compared to traditional corn and soy-based options.

What do you feed hens to get orange yolks?

Some brands may claim their feed is so nutritious, your hens will lay eggs with vibrant orange yolks. However, Blatchford says yolk color doesn't reflect the nutritional quality of a feed or the egg. "Yolk color is simply a pigment issue," he says. "Feeding hens food with lots of red, yellow, or orange colors will help produce darker eggs." Marigolds are often used as yolk pigment in commercial layer feed diets. This also explains why backyard chickens who forage a wide variety of pigmented plants and insects often lay eggs with darker yolks compared to commercially raised hens on a corn-based diet who do not free-range.

What is the best calcium supplement for hens?

If you're feeding a commercial layer feed, your hens shouldn't require extra calcium, Karcher and Blatchford say. However, there might be times when extra calcium is necessary, such as if you notice a pattern of thin eggshells or soft-shell eggs. Calcium supplementation is also needed if you have a mixed flock of chicks and hens. While they can all eat grower feed, for example, your hens will need extra calcium to continue laying. Karcher recommends offering flaked oyster shells or oyster shell flour, limestone, or crushed egg shells. "If you're using dried egg shells from your broken eggs, crush them to not look like an egg," she says. "Otherwise, you can promote egg-eating behavior and have a major problem."