The Scratch and Treats Problem
You're probably being too generous with treats. Your hens love you for it. Their egg production does not. Here's why the math breaks.
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Feeding Guides
Feeding guides for backyard chickens
Practical answers on feed, molt, production, and everything in between.
Feeding is the single most asked-about, most argued-about, most contradicted-online corner of backyard chicken keeping. Pellets or crumbles. Layer or all-flock. Organic or conventional. Fermented or dry. Free choice or measured. Every keeper who's been at it for more than a year has an opinion. None of those opinions are exactly wrong. None of them are exactly right for your flock either. That's the part the internet skips.
This hub is the orientation layer for everything feeding-related. Not "here's the right answer for chickens," because that answer doesn't exist. More like: here are the variables that change the answer, here's what changes when each variable changes, and here are the specific posts that go deep on the question you're sitting with right now.
If your question is "how much should I be feeding," start at How much feed do chickens need per day. The math is more boring and more useful than most posts on the topic. If you have mixed ages or a rooster, Layer feed vs. all-flock feed is the post that resolves the most common confusion. If you're staring at the bag wondering what the protein percentage actually means, How to read a chicken feed bag translates the label into something useful. And if production has dropped or you're heading into molt, What to feed chickens during molt and Why did my chickens stop laying are the two posts to read in that order.
The "for your flock" part. A keeper with four hens in a small Vermont backyard genuinely has a different optimal feeding setup than a keeper with twenty-five birds and a rooster on two acres in Texas. Climate changes water needs and feed conversion. Flock age mix changes which feed is safe to leave out. Budget changes which premium feeds are worth the upgrade and which are marketing. Goals change everything. A keeper optimizing for deep-orange yolks shops differently than a keeper optimizing for cost per dozen. The articles below get specific about who their answer is actually for. If you want a recommendation wired to your inputs (flock size, age mix, climate, budget, what you're trying to get out of your girls), the feed quiz takes about ninety seconds and gives back a feed plan that names the brands and the math, not "feed your chickens appropriately."
A few things that aren't in this hub but probably should be on your radar. The safety hub covers the short list of things to actually keep out of the run. The scratch and treats problem resolves the single most common feeding mistake, which is using scratch as feed instead of as treat. The 10% rule for treats is a guideline, not a law, but the underlying point holds: balanced feed is the foundation, everything else is decoration.
Here's everything we've covered so far. Start with whichever question is yours right now.
How Much Feed Do Backyard Chickens Need Per Day?
About a quarter pound per hen per day. But how you feed matters as much as how much. Here's the practical breakdown.
ReadLayer Feed vs. All-Flock Feed — Which One Does Your Flock Actually Need?
Layer feed vs all-flock feed depends on who's in your flock. Here's how to decide, and when oyster shell on the side is the better move.
ReadHow to Read a Chicken Feed Bag
The guaranteed analysis panel tells you almost everything you need to know about your chicken feed. Here's what the numbers mean.
ReadWhat to Feed Chickens During Molt
During molt, protein is the whole game. Here's how to bump it, what to cut back on, and how to get your hens through it faster.
ReadWhy Did My Chickens Stop Laying?
Five common reasons your hens stopped laying. Work through them in order and you'll almost certainly find your answer.
ReadRelated on Flock Clock Learn
- All Flock Clock Learn topics the master index
- Safety hub the short list of foods to keep out of the run
- Grains & Carbs where scratch grains actually fit (it isn't feed)
Common questions
How much feed does a chicken eat per day?
Around 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound per adult bird per day, give or take based on breed size, climate, and how much the flock is foraging. A flock of six standard layers averages roughly 1.5 lbs of feed daily, which works out to a 50-lb bag every four to five weeks. The full breakdown, including how to spot when the math is off, is in How much feed do chickens need per day.
Layer feed or all-flock — which one for a mixed flock?
All-flock for any flock that includes roosters, growing pullets, or birds you don't want eating extra calcium. Layer feed has roughly 4% calcium for shell production, which is too high for non-laying birds long-term. Run all-flock and offer oyster shell on the side in a separate container. The layers take what they need, the rest of the flock leaves it alone. Full reasoning in Layer feed vs. all-flock feed.
Is fermented feed actually worth the trouble?
For some flocks, yes. Fermenting reduces feed waste and improves digestibility. Keepers who switch typically notice 20-30% less feed used for the same egg output, and droppings firm up. The trade-off is daily attention. It has to be made fresh every day or two, and it freezes in winter. If you have time and a small flock, it's worth trying. If you're running twenty birds and barely have time as it is, dry feed is fine.
How do I store feed so it doesn't go bad or attract rats?
Sealed metal containers, off the ground, somewhere dry and ideally below 75°F. A 30-gallon galvanized trash can with a tight lid holds about 100 lbs and is the most common keeper setup for a reason. Rats can't chew through it, moisture stays out, and you can scoop with a coffee can. Feed loses nutritional value after about four months, so buy what you'll use in that window rather than stockpiling.
One thing to do today
Open your feed bag and check the date on the tag. If it's older than four months, the protein and vitamins are starting to degrade. Your hens may already be getting less than what the bag claims. Note the date in your phone so you know what your real consumption rate is for next time you buy.
Your flock's diet matters more than any single treat.
Get a feeding plan built for your actual hens — not generic advice from the internet.
Take the Feed Quiz60 seconds · Built by keepers, not marketers.