Backyard chickens can be fed a variety of different foods:
- Feed a combination of a specially formulated commercial diet and fresh natural foods such as green feed
- Table scraps may be fed such as fruit, vegetables, and meat but make sure scraps don't contain anything that is high in fat or salt, and avoid feeding anything that is rancid or spoiled
- Provide a constant supply of coarse shell grit ad lib
- Provide access to earthworms and burrowing insects in leaf litter and compost
- Provide access to garden plants including pulled weeds (beware and avoid any poisonous plants)
- A weed lawn instead of a monoculture lawn is recommended for free range hens
- Take care that the birds do not choke on commerical 'mash' feeds
- Access to clean fresh water at all times
- Do not feed lawn mower clippings (as these can become mouldy quickly) or bones (neither raw nor cooked)
The NSW DPI has a handy information sheet which provides further details: Small-scale Poultry Feeding.pdf
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