The 7 Best Chicken Feeds of 2023

Best Overall

Scratch and Peck Organic Chicken Feeds

5

View On Amazon View On Chewy View On Scratchandpeck.com

Our favorite chicken feed has balanced nutrition and high-quality ingredients and comes from a manufacturer with a proven track record.

Scratch and Peck offers 11 varieties of organic chicken and duck feed, as well as several types of poultry treats, supplements, and kits. For most chicken owners, their original Naturally Free Organic Layer Feed is the perfect option.

In addition to the organic grains, flax meal, and other essential vitamins included in their organic feed, Scratch and Peck gets its protein from the black soldier fly larvae, more commonly known as grubs. This protein-rich ingredient also offers minerals, essential amino acids, and enough calcium to strengthen eggshells. The combined formula contains 16 percent protein, which is an amount well-suited for egg-laying adult hens (age 20+ weeks), especially those in need of extra protein when molting.

In addition to its high-quality ingredients, Scratch and Peck maintains high levels of transparency, including certification as a B Corp, which sets rigorous standards for corporate accountability, charitable giving, and supply chain transparency. Even the protein grubs are grown in a sustainable way, with larvae raised on pre-consumer food waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Each bag of feed saves pounds of pre-consumer food waste from entering a landfill.

Scratch and Peck Organic Chicken Feed is also suitable for ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. It is available in 10-, 25-, and 50-pound shipments, with a 5 percent discount offered on repeat-order subscriptions.

_{Primary Ingredients: Organic wheat, peas, flaxseed meal, barley, sunflower oil, grubs︱Sizes: 10 or 25 pounds}

Best Starter Feed for Chicks

Manna Pro Organic Starter Crumbles Chicken Feed

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Chicksagway.com

Chicken starter feed is meant for chicks that are a day old through 8 weeks of age. It generally contains a higher protein content than grower, layer, and broiler feeds. Made with 19 percent protein, Manna Pro Organic Starter Crumbles Chicken Feed is nutritionally complete, which means it's the only feed you'll need for the first eight weeks of your chickens' lives. Make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water and your feeding regimen is complete.

Ingredients in Manna Pro Organic Starter Crumbles include organic corn, soybean meal, barley, wheat middlings, and soy oil. It also has all the necessary vitamin and mineral supplementation, including folic acid, niacin, calcium, riboflavin, and vitamins D3, A, E, and B12.

Manna Pro offers both medicated and non-medicated versions of its starter crumble in 5- and 30-pound bags.

_{Primary Ingredients: Organic corn, soybean meal, oats, barley, wheat middlings, soybean oil︱Sizes: 5 and 30 pounds}

Best Grower Feed for Pullets and Broilers

Grubbly Farms Little Pecks Starter Grower Feed

View On Grubblyfarms.com

The nutritional requirements for broilers (meat birds) are somewhat similar to the needs of pullets (chicks about 8 to 20 weeks old). They need a chicken feed with about 16 to 18 percent protein for quick, robust growth. Lean toward the higher end of the range for broilers.

Like our best overall pick, this feed gets its protein from grubs grown on rescued food waste, with 19 percent minimum crude protein in every bag. Other main ingredients include sustainably harvested vegetables and whole grains. Like a few other brands, this feed is designed to also be appropriate as a starter feed. The manufacturers of this feed recommend that you begin transitioning to adult feed around 18 weeks of age. You can also get 10 percent off when you subscribe to regular deliveries.

_{Primary Ingredients: Wheat, peas, dried black soldier fly larvae, barley, oats, flaxseed, alfalfa meal, sunflower seed, vegetable oil︱Sizes: 30 and 60 pounds}

Best Layer Feed

Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed

View On Amazon View On Chewy View On Smallpetselect.com

Layer feeds are designed to provide healthy, balanced nutrition that also produces fantastic eggs. They tend to have a little less protein than starter and grower feeds but more calcium for strong eggshells. This feed offers an optimal formula with 18 percent protein and 2.5 percent calcium. These high-protein pellets, grains, seeds, and herbs are lightly basted with omega-3 fatty-acid-rich vegetable oil.

Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed is designed to be nutritionally dense, avoiding fillers like soy and corn. Instead, its primary ingredients are peas, followed by wheat, oats, millet, triticale, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and fish meal for protein. The manufacturer prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients.

The Small Pet Select feed is sold in 10-, 20-, and 40-pound bags.

_{Primary Ingredients: Peas, wheat, oats, millet, triticale, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, fish meal︱Sizes: 10, 20, and 40 pounds}

Best Organic

New Country Organics Classic Grind Layer Feed

View On Amazon View On Chicksagway.com View On Greatroadfarmandgarden.com

Classic Grind Layer Feed mash is New Country Organics’ top-selling product and is also available as pellets, crumbles, and corn-free and wheat-free options. It’s made with certified organic grains and has an optimal 17 percent protein and 3.5-4.5 percent calcium. The NCO Classic Grind Layer Feed is a cracked and milled grain supplemented with organic kelp and alfalfa, with extra calcium for eggshell strength. Organic flaxseed increases the omega-3 fatty acid content of the eggs.

Certified organic by USDA certifier SCS Organic Services, New Country Organics puts a high priority on freshly produced feed and building relationships with small, organic farms. Their online tutorials are a great way to plan out an organic strategy for your own chickens.

_{Primary Ingredients: Organic peas, corn, wheat, oats, fish meal, alfalfa meal, flaxseed, dried kelp, yeast, sunflower oil︱Sizes: 25 and 50 pounds and commercial volumes}

Best Crumbles and Pellets

Blue Seal Home Fresh Extra Egg Crumbles and Pellets

View On Chewy View On Tractor Supply Co.

The form of feed you use—mash, crumbles, or pellets—is about what your hens prefer. Whole grain mashes mean picky eaters can eat selectively and miss out on complete nutrition. Pellets are dry, easy to feed, and ensure balanced nutrition. Small chickens might need to peck them into smaller pieces. Crumbles are usually smaller pieces and are easier to eat.

Blue Seal Extra Egg in crumbles and pellets is specifically designed for optimal egg production. They feature 16 percent protein and 3.3-4.3 percent calcium. Vitamin E and selenium support a healthy immune system, and phytase is supposed to increase the availability of phosphorus, calcium, and energy, so your flock is getting the most from their feed. Their claim to fame is their NutriVantage Technology, a proprietary blend of chelating agents and organic acids that promote a healthy gut and optimal nutritional absorption.

There are no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in Blue Seal Home Fresh Extra Egg Crumbles and Pellets, but there are added amino acids formulated to support healthy skin and feathers.

_{Primary Ingredients: Ground corn, soybean meal, vegetable and mineral oils︱Sizes: 25 and 50 pounds}