To truly understand what your hens need today, it helps to take a look back at how wild chickens fed themselves, how humans historically nourished flocks, and how modern feeding practices can blend the best of both worlds.

A Glimpse into the Past: What Wild Chickens Eat

The ancestor of all domestic chickens is the Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus), native to Southeast Asia. These birds are omnivores and opportunistic foragers, surviving in dense forests by scratching through the leaf litter for food. Their natural diet includes:

• Insects and worms

• Seeds and grains

• Shoots and tender greens

• Fruits and berries

• Occasional small reptiles or amphibians

Wild chickens eat a little bit of everything, balancing their diet instinctively. Protein from insects builds feathers and muscle. Greens and seeds provide vitamins and fiber. This varied foraging diet evolved to support occasional egg-laying — jungle fowl might lay 10 to 15 eggs per year, mainly during the spring.

Traditional Chicken Feeding: From Scraps to Science

As humans domesticated chickens over 8,000 years ago, their diet changed. In ancient and pre-industrial societies, chickens were largely free-range foragers supplemented with kitchen scraps and grain when available. Farmers fed them:

• Table scraps and leftovers

• Cracked corn or whole grains

• Garden waste and peels

• Dairy products, stale bread, or meat bits (in some regions)

While this worked for small, hardy flocks, it wasn’t balanced. Nutritional deficiencies often led to thin-shelled eggs, poor laying during winter, or health problems.

By the 20th century, the poultry industry began to understand specific nutritional needs, leading to scientifically formulated feeds. These rations could support hens that lay over 250 eggs a year — far beyond what a jungle fowl ever produced.

What Laying Hens Need Today (And Why It Matters)

Modern laying hens are prolific egg producers. The nutrients they need support not only their own bodily function but the creation of an entire egg nearly every day. Here's what they require — and why:

1. Protein (16–18%)

Why it matters: Protein provides the amino acids needed for egg white production, tissue repair, and feather health. A hen producing eggs daily has high protein demands, especially during molting or growth.

Sources: Soybean meal, fish meal, insects, legumes, and alfalfa are common protein components in feed.

2. Calcium (3.5–4%)

Why it matters: Each eggshell requires about 2 grams of calcium. If dietary calcium is low, hens will pull it from their bones, leading to brittleness or laying issues.

Sources: Limestone, oyster shell, and crushed eggshells. Always provide free-choice oyster shell even if your hens eat layer feed.

3. Phosphorus

Why it matters: Works with calcium to support strong bones and eggshells. Without enough phosphorus, calcium absorption falters.

Sources: Grain by-products, meat meals, and dicalcium phosphate.

4. Vitamin D3

Why it matters: Essential for calcium absorption. Hens with insufficient vitamin D may lay soft or misshapen eggs.

Sources: Sunlight exposure, supplemented in commercial feeds.

5. Energy (Carbohydrates and Fats)

Why it matters: Energy fuels egg production, foraging, movement, and heat during colder months. Without enough energy, hens will stop laying altogether.

Sources: Grains like corn, wheat, barley, and healthy oils.

6. Vitamins and Trace Minerals

Why it matters:

• Vitamin A: Supports immune health and reproductive function.

• Vitamin E and selenium: Prevent cellular damage and promote fertility in breeding hens.

• B vitamins: Necessary for metabolism, feathering, and egg formation.

• Zinc, iron, and manganese: Support eggshell quality, blood function, and tissue growth.

Sources: Most of these are provided in complete feeds, but supplemental greens and occasional treats can add natural variety.

What to Feed Your Laying Hens

For optimal results, offer your hens a complete layer feed from about 18 weeks of age or once they lay their first egg. This is specially formulated to meet all the needs outlined above.

Best practices:

• Use a commercial layer feed with 16–18% protein and adequate calcium.

• Offer oyster shell free-choice in a separate dish to support strong eggshells.

• Provide fresh, clean water at all times. Even short periods of dehydration can disrupt laying.

• Allow free-ranging or access to forage for added variety, grit, and enrichment.

• Supplement with treats sparingly — limit to 5–10% of their diet. Good choices include mealworms, leafy greens, squash, or sunflower seeds.

Feeding in Different Seasons

• Winter: Hens may need more calories to stay warm. Offer scratch grains in the evening, and ensure water doesn’t freeze.

• Summer: Keep feed dry and cool. Provide fresh fruits like watermelon or cucumber for hydration.

• Molt: When hens lose and regrow feathers (usually in the fall), increase protein to support feather regrowth.

Balancing Instinct and Science

While your hens no longer roam the forests of Southeast Asia, their nutritional needs still reflect those wild roots. Today’s feeding strategies aim to mimic nature’s variety while meeting the demands of modern egg-laying.

A good layer diet isn’t just about eggs — it’s about healthy birds, vibrant plumage, and strong immune systems. When you feed your hens right, they’ll reward you not only with eggs but with vitality, longevity, and personality.