Keeping The Chickens In Your Coop Well Fed

So you’ve decided that you’d like to build a chicken coop. You’ve researched plans, priced out lumber and cracked your hammer out of storage. You’ve even sourced a local supplier of healthy young chickens. You should be proud of yourself. It’s not the easiest thing in the world nor is it the hardest but building a chicken coop is without a doubt a rewarding experience. You’re ready.

Something that a lot of people overlook in their excitement about actually building a chicken coop is the dietary needs of their chickens.

So what the heck does a chicken eat?

The staple food for a chicken is something called layers mash (or pellets). When mixed with warm water, it is not unlike a thick porridge and it supplies all the nutrients necessary for healthy egg production. It is possible to buy organic feed (resulting in organic eggs) for around $10/kg. That would be enough for a month’s supply for 3 or 4 chickens.

Can I give my chicken treats?

You first need to consider what constitutes a treat for a chicken. Lettuce, tomato or corn are all fine as are a few grapes. Be careful not to feed anything other than mash or pellets in the morning otherwise your chickens will fill up on the less nutritious stuff.

Are there any other dietary requirements?

Water! A little known fact is that chickens can’t actually swallow. They drink by tilting their necks back and sort of letting the liquid run down. However they need water like us humans and must have constant access to a fresh supply.