What to feed chickens
Growing chicks need plenty of protein. There is a special formulation of chick feed that provides the appropriate ratio of protein in the diet. You can choose medicated or non-medicated food based on if the chicks were vaccinated, the number of chicks you are raising, and other concerns.
When the chicks are about 3 weeks old you can begin introducing other foods. Their beaks are still small so they can only eat small pieces of food. They love tiny pieces of lettuce, kale, and other greens. As they get bigger that can handle larger and larger leaf pieces until they are able to rip a tear of lettuce right off a large leaf. Once you starting feeding them food other than chick starter crumbles, you will need to provide grit. Grit is finely crushed granite that they need to help digest all of these new foods. You will continue to provide grit when they are older unless they are free range and can forage their own grit.
When they reach laying age around 4-6 months for most breeds, you can switch them to a layer feed. Layer feed is formulated to have enough protein for egg production and contains calcium for healthy shells.
Continue to supplement their food with your leftovers. Chickens enjoy most fruit and veggie garden and kitchen scraps. My chickens particularly like everything in the brassica family. Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, they love it all. I throw leaves that are wilted or buggy straight from the garden beds. Any cooking scraps go straight into the run after dinner. Examples include carrot tops, celery leaves, melon rind, etc. Chickens also love seafood scraps. We feed ours shrimp tails and shells, salmon skin, and lobster shells.
Chickens also enjoy munching on weeds. Clover and chickweed are their favorites in my yard. I let them roam around and nibble what they want, but I also throw any weeds I pick into the run. Anything they don’t eat creates a fresh layer in the run and composts with time.
Chickens love bugs. Aphids, grasshoppers, grubs, and worms. They will eat them all. Toss them any caterpillars you pick out of your garden and they will be very happy girls. The only bugs mine seem to dislike are pill bugs and tomato horn worms. My chickens go nuts for dried soldier fly larvae. Great for training or corralling them back into the coop; they will do almost anything for these dried bugs.
There are a few things you shouldn’t feed to your chickens. Avoid plants from nightshade family, which include tomato leaves, potato leaves, pepper plants, eggplant leaves, etc. Other toxic foods include chocolate, avocado pits, avocado skin, and potato skin. Never give them moldy or spoiled food.
