Chickens can be very messy eaters. For survival, it is instinctual behavior for a chicken to scratch at the ground for their food. Even if feed is hanging nicely in a feed container, they will do their best to scratch at it and scatter the feed all over the ground, wasting a fair amount. This article will show you how to reduce chicken feed waste.

1. Add Fresh Nesting Herbs to Keep Feed Clean and Hen-Calm

2. Don’t Mix Chicken Feed with Treats

Chickens are like children (and many adults). If you give them a choice between eating their vegetables or a treat, they will choose to eat the treat. They would fill up on the treat and not want to eat their vegetables.

Don’t mix your chickens main feed with treats. If you feed them layers pellets, feed them this first. This feed contains the proper amount of nutrients that your flock needs.

After they eat their regular feed, then it’s ok to give them some treats. Just make sure that their treats are not more than 10% of their daily diet.

3. Ration the Chicken Feed

Each chicken should eat about 1/4 lb of chicken feed (layers pellets or crumbles) per day. This can vary slightly and can depend upon the size, breed, type of feed and if you allow your chickens to free-range.

Signs You Need to Ration Your Chickens’ Feed (Overfeeding)

Sign	What It Means
More than 1/4 lb feed per chicken per day	Your flock is consuming more than the healthy daily average, leading to waste and obesity.
Feed left on the ground at the end of the day	Excess feed encourages pests, spoilage, and unnecessary spending.
Obese chickens	Overfed hens often struggle with mobility and overall health issues.
Change in laying patterns	Overfeeding can disrupt hormone balance and reduce egg production.
Change in egg quality	Nutrient imbalance from excess feed can affect shell strength and yolk quality.
Lethargic chickens	Obesity and poor nutrition from overeating lead to lower energy levels.

4. Put Food Away Every Evening

If you choose to let your chickens graze on chicken feed throughout the day, make sure you bring it in at night. Leaving it out throughout the night is an open invitation for overnight grazers to make their way into your chicken coop. Not only for the chicken feed, but also eggs and your chickens too!

Don’t let the smell of leftover chicken feed be a reason to entice nighttime chicken predators to break into the coop and attack your chickens.

Protect Against Nighttime Chicken Predators

Predator	Why They’re a Threat
Raccoons	Clever and strong, they can open latches and reach through fencing.
Opossum	Scavengers that eat eggs and sometimes attack smaller chickens.
Fox	Quick hunters that can take multiple birds in one night.
Coyote	Strong predators that can dig under fences to reach chickens.
Owl	Silent flyers that swoop down on smaller or roosting birds at night.
Mice	Not a direct threat to hens but steal feed and attract larger predators.
Rats	Eat eggs, attack chicks, and chew through coop materials.
Bear	Strong enough to break into coops and destroy structures for food.
Snakes	Steal eggs and may swallow small chicks whole.

Other sources of food that will attract nighttime chicken predators are leftover cat and dog food and water as well as wild bird feeders.

5. Add Cooling Herbs Near Feeders During Hot Weather

6. Place Chicken Feed Up Higher

It is natural chicken behavior to peck and scratch for food and this includes food that is in a feeder. You can help to stop them from scratching their feed by raising the feeders up a few inches. This will help to keep them from scattering the seed all over the ground.

Because chickens are natural grazers when it comes to food, I like to make it a point to scatter some daily treats out in the field or chicken run, such as scratch, to satisfy their urge to peck and scratch.

7. Change the Type of Chicken Feed

There are 3 common forms of chicken feed; mash, crumbles and pellets. It’s common to start baby chicks off with either chick mash or crumbles and when they are closer to 16 weeks or laying, change them over to layers crumbles or pellets.

I have found that once I switch my chickens over to pellets they create a lot less mess and waste quite a bit less too.

8. Ferment the Chicken Feed

Fermenting chicken feed involves soaking and stirring chicken grains in distilled water for 3 days before draining and serving to your flock. Because it unlocks up to 50% additional nutrients for you chickens, they will eat less feed.

Benefits of Fermenting Chicken Feed

Benefit	Why It Matters
Decreased Feed Waste	Chickens eat more of what’s offered since fermented feed is softer and easier to consume.
Increased Probiotics	Fermentation boosts gut health, improving overall digestion and immunity.
Increased Eggs	Healthier hens with better nutrition often produce more eggs.
Tastier Eggs	Many chicken owners notice richer flavor and brighter yolks.
Thicker Eggshells	Stronger shells reduce breakage and protect against bacteria.
Increased Nutrients	Fermentation makes vitamins and minerals more bioavailable.
Decreased Poop	Better digestion means less waste and a cleaner coop.
Better Digestion	Improved gut flora helps chickens absorb nutrients efficiently.
Decreased Feed Cost	Less waste + better absorption = lower overall feed expenses.
Healthier Chickens	Stronger immune systems, shinier feathers, and more active birds.

9. Sprout Chicken Grains

Sprouting chicken grains is another way to help reduce chicken feed waste. My chickens go absolutely crazy over sprouted grains when I serve it to them. There isn’t a sprout wasted. You would think I was serving them candy!

Sprouted grains contain up to 50% more nutrients. These nutrients become available to your chickens once the grain sprouts.

10. Serve Chicken Fodder

What is the difference between sprouts and fodder?

“Sprouts and fodder both start out as grains. They are called sprouts when you harvest them between 1/2″-2″ and anything taller than 2″ is known as fodder. If you are feeding the fodder to your chickens, it is best to feed it to them no longer than 4″ in length. Any longer than this and it increases the chances of it developing an impacted crop.”

Are Sprouted Grains Better for Chickens?

Serving fodder is an excellent way to be able to provide greens for your chickens all year round. Just like grains, fodder is loved by my chickens and every bit of it is usually devoured by them.

Fodder is filled with nutrients, so you will notice that your flock will not need to eat as much feed.

+2 BONUS METHODS!

11. Keep Feed Storage Containers Secure

Keep your chicken feed stored in containers that are secure so animals and predators can’t get into it.

Securing your feed storage containers also involves using the right type of container to store your chicken feed in.

Raccoons can very easily open gates with latches and lift a lid off a simple garbage can. Cats, dogs, rats, mice, opossum and raccoons can easily gnaw through chicken feed bags for a midnight snack.

Best Way to Secure Chicken Feed

Metal garbage cans with a 2-step lid on it will deter most animals and predators from being able to get to your chicken feed.

2-step locks require multiple steps in order to open. These have worked great for me to deter rodents, raccoons and opossums. I have seen raccoons, opossums, rats and mice at night in my neighborhood, but they have not been able to get into my metal garbage cans with a 2-step lid on it.

12. Keep Chickens Entertained

Bored chickens are likely to get into things that they shouldn’t. This includes spilling, scattering and wasting their everyday chicken food. Chickens need to have access to peck and scratch for their food (at least some of the time) and explore their surroundings. They can easily get bored if they are not exposed to new things.

Best Ways to Entertain Bored Chickens

Best Ways to Entertain Bored Chickens	Details & Benefits
Toss Dried Mealworms	A protein-packed snack that chickens love to chase and eat.
Add a Roosting Bar	Encourages natural perching behavior and keeps them active.
Give Used Christmas Tree	Provides entertainment, shelter, and pecking fun.
Offer Old Jack-o-Lantern	Chickens love to peck at pumpkin flesh and seeds.
Feed Sprouted Grains or Fodder	Boosts nutrition and gives them fresh greens to forage.
Supervised Free Ranging	Allows natural scratching, pecking, and bug hunting.
Spend Time With Them	Chickens enjoy human interaction and attention.
Hang Fruits & Veggies	Encourages movement while pecking for treats.
Make a Dust Bath	Mix in Nesting Box Herbs for Chickens to relax hens and deter pests.
Scatter Crickets	Encourages natural hunting instincts and activity.
Add Cooling Herbs	Use Cooling Herbs for Chickens in water or treats on hot days.
Boost Winter Wellness	Offer Winter Wellness Herbs to support immune health in cold months.

Conclusion – Smarter Feeding, Happier Hens

Chicken feed waste is one of those sneaky challenges that drains both your wallet and your flock’s health. From fer­mented feed and sprouted grains to secure feeders and fun distractions—each tip you’ve read helps reduce waste, support nutrition, and keep your coop cleaner.

Remember: feed conservation isn’t just about cutting waste—it’s about boosting your hens’ well-being.

• When feed is better absorbed and less left behind, hens eat just what they need, saving you money and reducing waste.
• Happier, calmer hens lay more, lay better, and feel their best.

Level up your flock care naturally
After you fine-tune your feeding, add a sprinkle of help from nature:

• Use Nesting Box Herbs in nesting areas or around feeders to reduce stress, deter pests, and keep your chickens calm while eating.
• On warm days, introduce Cooling Herbs into their dust baths or water—cooler hens focus on eating, not scrambling.

Combining thoughtful feed strategies with herbal support is a simple yet powerful way to elevate both your chicken-keeping routine and your hens’ health.

Here’s to smarter feeding, stronger eggs, and a season full of happy hens!

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