🐔 Feeding your chickens well without waste: the complete guide

Feeding your chickens may seem simple, but it's essential to do it wisely to ensure their health, avoid waste, and limit the attraction of pests like rats or pigeons. Here's our practical guide to feeding your chickens properly without waste , while optimizing your costs and time.

Why is food waste a real problem for chickens?

• 💸 Food waste : Chickens scratch, spill, or let food spoil.
• 🐀 Appearance of pests : rats, pigeons, mice are attracted by grain remains.
• 🦠 Health risk : food soiled by droppings or humidity = development of bacteria.

👉 The right equipment is therefore essential to ensure the well-being of the hens , the cleanliness of the henhouse and control of your food budget .

🥣 What are the best practices for feeding your chickens without wasting food?

Here are 5 key tips to follow:

1. Choose a suitable and balanced diet

• A mixture of cereals, supplemented with vegetable proteins (peas, sunflower).
• Supplements: oyster shells, minerals, fresh vegetables.
• Limit table scraps to permitted foods (no meat, no sweet or salty products).

2. Feed at fixed times

Chickens are animals of habit: feed them 1 to 2 times a day at regular times. This prevents them from scattering or neglecting their food.

3. Adjust the quantity

Allow 120 to 150g of grain per day per hen on average. Observe their consumption and adjust according to the season (more in winter, less in summer).

4. Use a no-waste feeder

A hanging or closed hopper feeder prevents chickens from scratching and scattering seeds.
This also prevents contact with droppings and ground moisture.
A pest-proof feeder prevents rats or pigeons from accessing it.

👉 The Cocobol model, for example, is designed to limit waste and prevent rodents from climbing up to the food thanks to its smooth, suspended body and its feeding mouth inaccessible to pests.
🛒 Discover our anti-waste and anti-rodent chicken feeder made in France .

5. Clean regularly

A clean feeder prevents the growth of mold and bacteria. Take the opportunity to check that there is no accumulated or soiled food.

🧠 Tip: Observe your chickens

Every hen has slightly different feeding behavior. Observing their feeding behavior allows you to:

• detect a sick hen (less appetite),
• see if some dominate and prevent others from eating,
• identify abnormal waste.

✅ Conclusion: Feeding smart means feeding sustainably

By adopting good practices and equipping yourself with a well-designed anti-waste feeder , you guarantee your chickens:

• healthy food,
• a clean chicken coop,
• and less wasted or stolen grain.

🛠️ To go further, discover our range of Cocobol feeders, designed and manufactured in France to facilitate poultry farming with complete peace of mind .

❓ FAQ – Feeding your chickens well without waste

How much food should you give a chicken each day?

On average, a hen consumes between 120 and 150 grams of grain per day. This amount can vary depending on breed, activity, and season.

What foods should I avoid giving my chickens?

Avoid sugary, salty, moldy foods, leftover meat, dairy, or processed products. These can be harmful to your health.

How to prevent rats and pigeons from accessing food?

Use a hanging feeder with an opening that's inaccessible to pests. Our Cocobol feeder is specially designed to prevent pests from entering.

Why do my chickens waste food?

Chickens tend to scratch around the feeder or spill grain if the feeder is not properly fitted. A no-waste feeder greatly reduces this behavior.

How often should the feeder be cleaned?

Ideally, clean it every week to avoid mold, dirt or clumps of soiled grains, especially in humid conditions.