Providing the correct diet is one of the most important parts of keeping chickens healthy. A balanced diet supports egg production, strong immune systems, and overall wellbeing.
However, poultry keepers in the UK must also follow strict feeding regulations designed to prevent the spread of animal diseases.
Under UK law, certain foods are not permitted to be fed to poultry, particularly food that has been through a domestic kitchen.
This guide explains:
In the UK it is illegal to feed poultry kitchen scraps or catering waste.
This includes:
These rules exist to help prevent serious animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease.
Even if the food is vegetable-based, once it has entered a kitchen environment it is classed as catering waste and cannot legally be fed to poultry.
The safest and most reliable way to feed chickens is with a complete commercial poultry feed.
Layers Pellets
For laying hens, the most common feed is layers pellets.
Layers pellets contain the correct balance of:
This balanced nutrition supports healthy hens and strong eggshells.
Layers mash contains the same nutrition as pellets but in a softer, crumb-like form. Some poultry keepers prefer mash because it encourages slower feeding.
Young chickens that have not yet started laying should be fed growers pellets or growers mash.
This feed supports healthy development without excessive calcium.
Chickens also require grit to help digest food.
Insoluble grit helps grind food inside the gizzard, which is essential because chickens do not have teeth.
Chickens must have access to clean fresh water at all times.
Water containers should be checked daily and kept clean to prevent contamination.
In hot weather, chickens may drink significantly more water.
Oyster shell grit provides additional calcium, which is important for producing strong eggshells.
Many poultry keepers offer oyster shell grit in a separate container so hens can consume it as needed.
Chickens naturally eat a wide range of foods when foraging.
In outdoor environments they may eat:
Allowing chickens to forage naturally can provide enrichment and additional nutrients. However, any additional feed given by keepers should still follow UK feeding regulations.
Certain foods are unsafe or unsuitable for chickens.
These include:
Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to many animals including poultry.
Alcohol can be extremely harmful and should never be given to chickens.
Excess salt can be dangerous for poultry.
Mouldy or spoiled food may contain toxins that can cause serious illness.
These can contain solanine, which may be harmful to chickens.
Under UK regulations, poultry must not be fed catering waste.
This includes:
Even vegetable scraps become illegal to feed once they have entered the kitchen environment.
These rules apply whether you keep a few backyard chickens or a large flock.
Allowing chickens access to outdoor areas enables them to forage naturally.
Chickens enjoy searching for:
Foraging provides mental stimulation and supports natural behaviours such as scratching and pecking.
However, a complete poultry feed should still remain the main part of the diet.
An average laying hen typically consumes around:
100–120 grams of feed per day
This can vary depending on:
Chickens generally regulate their own intake when provided with balanced feed.
To maintain healthy birds, poultry keepers should:
Good feeding practices support strong egg production and healthy birds.
Following proper feeding guidelines helps protect both your chickens and the wider poultry industry.
UK feeding regulations exist to reduce the risk of serious animal diseases spreading between farms and backyard flocks.
Responsible feeding practices ensure that poultry remain healthy and that national biosecurity standards are maintained.
Educational Disclaimer
This guide is intended for general educational purposes. Poultry keepers should always follow current UK regulations and seek advice from DEFRA or qualified poultry professionals if unsure about feeding practices.
