What to Feed Chickens at Every Life Stage
Kourtney DubayShare
From fluffy chick to productive layer — fueling your flock the right way.
Stage 1: Chicks (0–8 weeks)
Day-old chicks have big nutritional needs packed into tiny bodies. They need chick starter feed — a high-protein crumble (20-22% protein) that fuels rapid feather and muscle development.
- Feed: Chick starter (medicated or unmedicated)
- Protein: 20–22%
- Form: Fine crumble — easy on small beaks
- Fresh water: Always available, shallow enough to be safe
- Grit: Not needed if feeding only starter; introduce if offering treats
- Treats: Keep minimal — their gut is still developing
Medicated vs. unmedicated starter? Medicated feed contains amprolium to help prevent coccidiosis, a common and potentially fatal intestinal disease in young chicks. If your chicks were vaccinated for coccidiosis at the hatchery, use unmedicated.
🛒 Shop it: We carry both Heim Milling 20% Chick Starter-Grower Crumble (Medicated) and Heim Milling 20% Chick Starter-Grower Crumble, plus Luxemburg's 22% Non-GMO No Corn/No Soy Starter Mash for specialty diets from day one.
Stage 2: Pullets (8–18 weeks)
Your chicks are growing fast and starting to look like real chickens. Protein needs drop slightly as the focus shifts from rapid growth to building a strong frame.
- Feed: Grower or pullet developer feed
- Protein: 18–20%
- Form: Crumble or pellet
- Calcium: Keep low — too much calcium before laying can damage kidneys
- Grit: Offer free-choice if they have access to anything other than feed
This is also a great time to start introducing your pullets to the outdoors (weather permitting) and letting them forage. Foraging supplements their diet naturally and supports gut health.
🛒 Shop it: The Heim Milling Starter-Grower Crumble works well through this stage — no need to switch feeds until your pullets are ready to lay.
Stage 3: Laying Hens (18+ weeks / first egg)
Once your first egg arrives, it's time to switch to layer feed. The key difference: calcium. Eggshells require a significant calcium draw from your hen's body every single day.
- Feed: Layer pellet or crumble
- Protein: 16–18%
- Calcium: 3.5–4.5% (critical for strong shells)
- Form: Pellet or crumble — your preference
- Oyster shell: Offer free-choice on the side so heavy layers can supplement as needed
- Grit: Always available if they free-range or eat treats
Don't switch too early. Feeding layer feed before 18 weeks (or before laying begins) can overload young kidneys with calcium. When in doubt, wait for that first egg.
🛒 Shop it: Heim Milling 16% Chicken Layer Pellets is a solid everyday option, or step up to the Heim Milling 18% Chicken Layer Egg Boost Mash Pellets for production-focused flocks. Prefer non-GMO? Luxemburg's Feed Service has you covered — choose from their 17% Layer Mash in standard, No Soy, or No Corn/No Soy formulas to match your flock's dietary needs.
Year-Round Tips for All Stages
- Fresh water is non-negotiable — egg production and health drop fast without it, especially in summer heat and Minnesota winters
- Treats should be ≤10% of diet — scratch, mealworms, and kitchen scraps are fun but nutritionally incomplete
- Scratch is not a feed — it's a treat and supplement, not a replacement for balanced feed
- Molt support — during fall molt, many keepers temporarily switch back to a higher-protein grower feed (or add a protein supplement) to help feathers regrow faster