If you've ever wondered what chickens can eat besides feed, the good news is plenty — grains, seeds, leafy greens, kitchen scraps, and whatever they forage in the run all make great additions to your flock's diet. The key is balance: a complete commercial layer feed should stay the foundation of the diet, while natural feeds work as supplements that add variety, cut costs, and keep your hens busy and happy.
Short answer: Keep a balanced layer feed available at all times for protein, calcium, and vitamins, then offer grains, seeds, greens, and treats on top — ideally keeping treats under about 10% of the total diet.
Why a Complete Layer Feed Should Stay the Foundation
A good commercial layer feed is formulated to give laying hens the exact balance of protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals they need to produce strong-shelled eggs and stay healthy. Natural feeds are wonderful extras, but on their own they rarely deliver that complete balance. The smart approach is to keep a quality layer feed available free-choice, then build variety on top of it with the alternative chicken feeds below. If you'd like a refresher on the different products available, see our guide to the different types of feed for your chickens.
As a rule of thumb, keep grains, seeds, scraps, and treats to no more than about 10% of what your flock eats each day. That way the supplements stay supplements — adding interest and nutrition without diluting the balanced feed your hens rely on.
What Can Chickens Eat Besides Feed? Top Natural Options
Looking to add variety and boost your flock's enrichment? Here are some of the best natural chicken feeds and how they fit alongside a complete layer feed.
Grains and Seeds for Chickens
Grains, seeds, and legumes form the bulk of commercial poultry feed, so it's no surprise chickens love them. They're affordable, store well, and can be grown in most climates. Sprouting grains and seeds unlocks extra nutrients and makes them easier to digest — a great way to turn pantry staples into a fresh, healthy treat.
Sprouted Fodder for Chickens
A sprouted fodder system is a cost-effective way to add fresh greens and nutrition to your flock's day, especially in winter or when grass is sparse.
- Choose a grain – Barley, wheat, oats, and legumes like peas and beans all work well.
- Soak – Soak grains in cool water for at least 12 hours.
- Drain and spread – Spread grains no deeper than 1/2 inch in shallow trays with drainage holes.
- Provide light and water – Keep them in a well-lit spot (60–75°F) and rinse a few times a day.
- Harvest in 6–7 days – Once the sprouts reach about 6 inches, they're ready to feed.
A 2-pound batch of barley produces 12–15 pounds of fodder, offering great value. Rotating a few trays gives you a daily supply of fresh greens. If your chickens have limited access to grass, sprouted fodder is a fantastic way to encourage darker, healthier yolks.
Feeding Dry and Soaked Seeds
Seeds can be fed whole, rolled, or ground, but soaking improves digestion and adds hydration. Mixing soaked seeds into a porridge with your regular layer feed encourages hens to eat everything you offer rather than picking out their favorites.
Preparing larger batches of soaked-seed porridge is an easy way to stretch your feed a little further while boosting its nutritional value — handy for bigger flocks or anyone looking to streamline their feeding routine. Just remember the layer feed still does the heavy lifting; the soaked seeds are there to add variety and interest.
How to Ferment Chicken Feed
- Choose your feed: Use your regular layer pellets, crumble, or whole grains.
- Add feed to a container: Fill a non-metal container (a bucket or glass jar) about ⅓ full to leave room for expansion.
- Add water: Pour in dechlorinated or filtered water until the feed is submerged by at least an inch.
- Stir and cover: Stir well to remove dry spots, then loosely cover with a lid or towel so gases can escape.
- Let it ferment: Keep it in a warm spot for 2–3 days, stirring once daily. Bubbles are a good sign.
- Check consistency: When it has a sour, yeasty smell and a slightly mushy texture, it's ready.
- Drain and serve: Scoop out what you need, drain off the excess, and feed it to your flock. Keep the process going with daily top-ups.
Fermenting can boost digestibility and support gut health — all while helping your feed go further.
Safe Grains, Seeds, and Legumes for Chickens
Grains: Barley, wheat, oats, quinoa, millet, rye, spelt, rice, corn
Seeds: Sunflower, pumpkin, flax, hemp, sesame, chia, sorghum
Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, peas, mung beans, soybeans (always cooked — never raw)
One important note: raw dried beans (kidney beans, soybeans, and other raw legumes) contain natural compounds that are toxic to chickens. Always cook beans thoroughly before offering them, or skip them in favor of the grains and seeds above.
Safe Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs
Chickens love fresh produce, which makes homegrown fruits, veggies, and herbs a great supplement and a fun source of enrichment.
Fruits: Berries, melons, apples, pears, bananas, pineapple, grapes, papaya, cherries, kiwi
Vegetables: Carrots, beets, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, brassicas (broccoli, kale, cabbage)
Herbs: Basil, oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, mint, dill, calendula, clover
To make feeding more engaging, hang veggies in bunches, string them into an edible garland, or place them in a mesh feeder to keep them clean. Offering scraps and produce in the run, rather than inside the coop, also helps keep the bedding clean and dry.
Insects and Natural Proteins
Chickens are natural omnivores. Free-ranging birds eagerly hunt down worms, bugs, and beetles as they scratch around the run. Black soldier fly larvae and mealworms are also excellent treats, offering protein that supports feather growth and overall condition. For more ideas on the bugs your flock will love, see our roundup of chicken-safe insects for your flock to feast on.
Foraging in the Run
Here's where natural feeding really comes into its own. Remember that a coop is your hens' bedroom — overnight roosting and egg-laying quarters — not where they spend their day. Chickens spend daylight hours outside in the run or free-ranging: scratching, foraging, dust-bathing, and stretching their legs. A generous, well-stocked run (aim for 8–10+ sq ft per bird) gives them room to find bugs, peck at greens, and behave like the natural foragers they are. The more time they spend foraging, the more variety they add to their own diet — for free. If you're setting up or upgrading your space, our guide to the best place for a chicken coop can help you make the most of the run.
An Easy Chicken Feed Recipe: Quick Protein-Packed Chicken Mash
Ingredients (for 4–6 chickens):
- 1 cup barley (energy and fiber)
- ½ cup cooked lentils (protein)
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds (healthy fats)
- 1 grated carrot (vitamin A)
- A handful of chopped kale (vitamins and antioxidants)
- ½ chopped apple or a few berries (natural vitamins)
- Optional: a pinch of parsley or mint
Steps:
- Soak the barley overnight, then drain. Cook the lentils thoroughly.
- Mix all the ingredients into a moist mash.
- Serve fresh as a healthy treat alongside (not instead of) their layer feed.
A mash like this is a fun, vitamin-rich supplement — just keep treats like this to around 10% of the daily diet so the balanced feed stays in charge.
Free-Choice Grit and Calcium
Two supplements deserve their own spot, offered free-choice (in a separate dish hens can visit as they please):
Grit: Chickens don't have teeth, so they need insoluble grit in their gizzard to grind down grains, seeds, and forage. Birds with full free-range access often pick up enough naturally, but if your flock eats a lot of whole grains or scraps, offer flint grit free-choice.
Calcium: Laying hens need plenty of calcium for strong eggshells. Most layer feeds include calcium, but offering crushed oyster shell — or baked, crushed eggshells — free-choice lets each hen top up as she needs to. For more on diet and egg quality, see our guide on what to feed your hens for high-quality eggs.
Foods to Avoid
Some foods are toxic, risky, or simply not worth offering. Steer clear of:
- Moldy or spoiled food – Mold can produce toxins that are dangerous to chickens. When in doubt, throw it out.
- Avocado – The persin in the skin, pit, and leaves is harmful.
- Raw or dried beans – Contain compounds toxic to chickens; always cook beans thoroughly first.
- Salty, sugary, or heavily processed scraps – Chips, candy, and salty leftovers offer no benefit and can do harm.
- Long grass and hay – Can cause crop impaction.
- Citrus fruits – High acidity may upset digestion and calcium absorption.
- Rhubarb – Contains toxic oxalic acid.
- Unripe or green potatoes and tomatoes – Contain solanine, a harmful compound.
- Fruit pits and seeds – Apple, cherry, peach, and apricot pits contain cyanogenic compounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can chickens eat besides feed?
Chickens can eat a wide range of natural feeds alongside their layer feed: grains and seeds, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, herbs, cooked legumes, insects like mealworms, and whatever they forage in the run. Keep these treats to about 10% of the diet, with a complete layer feed making up the rest.
Can chickens live on natural feed alone without commercial feed?
It's very difficult to meet a laying hen's exact protein, calcium, and vitamin needs with natural feeds alone. A balanced commercial layer feed is the most reliable foundation; grains, seeds, greens, and scraps are best used as supplements on top of it.
How much of a chicken's diet should be treats?
Aim to keep grains, seeds, scraps, and other treats to no more than about 10% of the daily diet. Too many treats can dilute the balanced nutrition in their layer feed and affect egg quality.
Do chickens need grit and extra calcium?
Yes. Offer insoluble grit free-choice so hens can grind down grains and forage, and provide crushed oyster shell or baked eggshells free-choice so laying hens can top up the calcium they need for strong shells.
Final Thoughts
Offering a diverse diet benefits your flock's health, reduces feeding costs, and adds enrichment to their day — just keep a complete layer feed as the foundation and treat grains, seeds, and scraps as the supplements. Pair that with a spacious run where your hens can forage to their hearts' content, and a secure, easy-clean chicken coop to roost in at night, and you'll have happier, healthier hens laying beautiful eggs.
