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Feeding
Browse 18 in-depth Feeding guides from Chicken Keeper Guide. Our editorial team researches and writes each one to give you clear, practical answers, current as of September 2026. The newest are shown first.
Best Herbs for Chickens: Boost Health and Egg Production
My first flock was three Buff Orpingtons and a production Rhode Island Red who was, frankly, kind of a bully. …
Nipple Drinker Chickens: Setup, Benefits, and Best Practices
Most chicken keepers switch to nipple drinkers and immediately wonder why they waited so long. Then they watch …
Free Range Chicken Feeding: What to Feed for Best Health
My first flock of free rangers looked fat and happy all summer, and then October hit and I found myself …
Chicken Scratch Grains: Choosing the Best Pecking Mix
Most chicken keepers buy their first bag of scratch without really knowing what it is. I did. I grabbed a …
Fermented Chicken Feed: 60% Better Digestion Results
Fermented feed cut my flock’s feed consumption by roughly 20% within the first three weeks. I …
Apple Cider Vinegar for Chickens: 0.5% Solution Guide
Most of the chicken-keeping internet will tell you apple cider vinegar is practically magic. A few contrarian …
Boost Chicken Health With Mealworms: A Feeding Guide
My chickens would do anything for mealworms. Truly, anything. I once accidentally dropped a bag near the coop …
The Best Chicken Treats Your Flock Will Actually Eat
Most chicken keepers I know started giving treats with the best intentions and accidentally turned their flock …
Best Organic Feed Options For Healthier Backyard Chickens
Organic chicken feed costs more than conventional. Sometimes a lot more. And if you’ve just bought your …
Oyster Shell vs Limestone: Which Feeds Your Hens Better
You crack open an egg from your backyard flock and the shell crumbles in your fingers before you can even get …
When To Switch Your Chickens From Starter Feed
You picked up a bag of feed at the farm store, tossed it in the car, and drove home feeling like you had this …
Which Chicken Feed Should You Choose? A Backyard Guide
Most new chicken keepers walk into a feed store for the first time, stare at a wall of bags labeled …
Feed Your Backyard Chickens Right: The Complete Guide
Most new chicken keepers walk into the feed store, grab whatever bag has a chicken on the label, and call it …
The Right Daily Feed Amount For Backyard Chickens
A flock of six hens can eat through a 50-pound bag of layer feed in about three weeks. Most new chicken …
Keep Your Backyard Flock Safe: Toxic Foods To Avoid
You’re standing at the kitchen counter with leftover guacamole in one hand and the chicken run in sight. …
How Much Water Do Your Backyard Chickens Really Need?
A chicken can go without food for several days and survive. Without water? You’re looking at 24 hours …
Why Your Chickens Need Grit and How to Feed It
You crack open an egg from your backyard flock and notice something wrong: thin shells, brittle, cracking …
Feed Your Chickens Kitchen Scraps the Right Way
Most backyard chicken keepers figure out the same thing in their first few weeks: those birds will eat almost …