How to Use Chicken Feed Supplements

Supplements are important in a chicken’s diet too! While choosing the right homestead poultry feed goes a long way in promoting health in your flock, adding supplements to your flock’s diet can increase longevity, productivity, and overall health. However, you must learn how to use chicken feed supplements properly in order for them to be beneficial. From deciphering between treats and supplements, to knowing what supplement to use when, learning to use supplements for your flock is not as hard as it sounds! Let’s get started!

Treats vs Supplements

Treats and supplements are terms that are often used interchangeably, but knowing the difference is extremely important. Supplements can easily become treats and treats can easily be used as supplements. Knowing where the difference lies is the key to adding supplements to your flock’s diet. Here are my definitions of treats and supplements:

• treats- occasional food that is given to chickens, typically the same treat is not offered every day
• supplements- food added to a chicken’s diet in a certain amount for a specific purpose over a period of time

The same food that is used as a treat one time can be used as a supplement another time, and vice versa. You should be aware of when you are using a food as a supplement and when you are using it as a treat.

Treats should be offered on occasion and the same treat should not be offered several days in a row. Treats are leftovers or food that we do not want to eat (like bruised apples, leftover meat, carrot peelings, etc..). Supplements however, should be food items that you give your chickens knowing what benefits and nutrients they contain and trying to use those benefits to better the health of your flock. Here are some examples of food items that can be treated as treats and ones that can be used as supplements:

• treats- carrot and apple peelings, leftover meat scraps, bruised fruit, lettuce, etc…
• supplements- kelp, garlic, herbs, whole oats, eggshells, oyster shells, sunflower seeds, probiotics

Supplements are what you add in addition to what you already feed your flock. The main course, so to speak, should be a balanced feed that has been formulated specifically for the age and purpose of the chicken.

Types of Supplements

There are different types of supplements that can be used at certain times. Some supplements are better offered at specific times and can be detrimental if offered at the wrong time. Different scenarios call for different supplements.

Your flock may need one supplement while another person’s flock should have a different supplement. Some supplements can be categorized under several different types depending on what they are being used for. Also, some supplements come in different forms and thus the different forms might be categorized under different types.

Feed Supplements

Feed supplements are supplements that can be added right to a flock’s food. They can be mixed into a whole bag of feed or mixed into only a portion of the feed. Feed supplements are probably the trickiest supplements to use. Adding too many feed supplements to a flock’s diet could be detrimental. As could adding too much of a certain feed supplement. Here are some  examples of supplements that can be added to a flock’s food:

• organic kelp
• brewer’s yeast
• mild herbs
• probiotics
• whole grains
• unsalted seeds

Water Supplements

Water supplements are supplements that can be added to a flock’s drinking water. Adding supplements to a flock’s drinking water is a very direct way to offer supplements. Water supplements are also tricky, as you want to make sure your flock continues to drink enough water even when a supplement is added.

Sometimes the type of waterer you use also plays a role. Fermented supplements should not be used in metal waterers. Probiotics or crushed garlic sometimes plug nipple waterers. Plastic waterers are generally safe to use with most water supplements. Knowing how much of a supplement to add is also important, but we will discuss that later on.

Here are some examples of water supplements:

• fresh garlic
• apple cider vinegar
• probiotics
• fresh mild herbs

Seasonal Supplements

Seasonal supplements are supplements used only during certain times of the year. Because of the properties of certain supplements some supplements can be harmful if offered during the wrong season of the year.

For chicken keepers, there are more than 4 seasons in a year. There is still spring, summer, fall, and winter, but there is also breeding season, hatching season, molting season, and a variety of ‘other’ seasons.

Seasonal supplements can be offered in food, water, or by themselves. Here are a few examples of seasonal supplements.

• fall supplements- pumpkin and garlic
• molting supplements (high protein)– mealworms and black soldier fly larvae
• winter supplements (high energy)– sunflower seeds, whole grains, corn, sprouted grains, and apple cider vinegar
• spring supplements– herbs and flax seeds
• breeding and show season supplements- kelp, seeds, and mealworms/black soldier fly larvae
• chick supplements– probiotics, whole oats, honey
• summer supplements- probiotics and herbal cold teas
• year round supplements– crushed oyster shells and crushed egg shells

Tandem Supplements

Tandem supplements are supplements or pairs of supplements that should be offered together. They benefit each other and sometimes one relies on the other to be effective. These supplements or pairs of supplements should be offered together, whether in the feed, water, or offered free-choice.

Sometimes it’s up to the chickens to eat what they need of each tandem supplement. Tandem supplements can also be paired with certain circumstances or conditions. Certain supplements work better under certain circumstances or are only needed during a certain condition.

Here are a few examples of tandem supplements.

• apple cider vinegar, calcium supplements, and grains
• stress and probiotics
• grit and any grain, protein, or seed supplements

Breed Specific Supplements

Breed specific supplements are supplements that are beneficial for certain breeds of chickens. Because of genetic mutations and adaptations (natural or manmade) different breeds of chickens may thrive better on certain supplements.

There are not a lot of specifically known breed supplement pairs, but there are some common guidelines. If you work with a certain breed you may learn what supplements it needs or what supplements it benefits from.  Breed specific supplements can be offered in feed, water, or by themselves. Here are a few examples of breed specific supplements.

• heritage breeds (Buckeyes, Plymouth Rocks, Sussex)- protein supplements
• fancy breeds (Polish, Sultans, Silkies)– kelp and seeds
• oriental breeds (Malay, Shamo, Aseel)- protein supplements
• high production breeds (Leghorns, Isa Browns, Sex Links)- extra calcium supplements

Chick Supplements

Chick supplements are supplements that are helpful and beneficial for chicks. Not all supplements that are suitable for adult chickens can be offered to chicks. Because of their weak immune systems and developing digestive system, young chicks should be fed supplements very carefully.

As they grow older and stronger, more supplements can be added to their diet as needed. One supplement that should not be offered to young chicks is calcium supplements. Too much calcium at a young age can cause kidney failure and other health issues later on in life.

A supplement that should be provided to chicks in tandem with other supplements is grit. Chick grit (not oyster shells) will help the chicks digest the other supplements. Here are some supplements suitable for chicks.

• young chicks (1 day-1 week)– crushed oats with grit, probiotics, sugar water
• older chicks (1 week onward)– herbs, garlic, and kelp
• heritage breed chicks– protein supplements

Also, check out these Supplements for Chicks for a more in-depth discussion on giving supplements to chicks!

When to Offer Supplements

A lot of supplements are not meant for continuous use over long periods of time. There are some supplements, such as ones that promote overall good health that can be used more frequently and for longer periods of time than others.

Knowing when to supplement your flock’s diet is an important aspect to consider when using supplements. I categorize supplements into four categories: regular use, occasional use, seasonal use, and health use. The same supplement can be categorized under several sections depending on its form or what I plan on using it for.

Supplements are actually more beneficial when they are not used continuously. When a chicken’s body gets a break from a certain supplement, it will respond better to it when it starts getting that supplement again. Even supplements that can be used regularly should still have periods in which you don’t give the chickens that supplement.

Regular Use

Regular use supplements are ones that can be offered almost every day or can be used for long periods of time. These supplements are usually already part of the chickens’ main diet or they promote overall good health with little to no ‘side effects’.

Regular use supplements are often mild and work over a period of time to help keep your flock healthy.

• garlic
• organic kelp
• parsley
• calcium supplements
• fermented feed
• sprouted grains

Occasional Use

Occasional use supplements are ones that should be used every other week. Supplements in this category can also help promote overall good health but they should not be used too frequently or for long periods of time.

Some of these supplements can cause a chicken’s body to get out of balance when they are used for too long or too frequently.

• strong herbs
• brewer’s yeast
• probiotics
• electrolytes
• seeds (sunflower, flax, hemp, etc…)
• whole oats

Seasonal Use

Seasonal use supplements are ones that are best offered during a certain period of time. Many of the seasonal supplements mentioned in ‘types of supplements’ fall into this category as well. These supplements are offered mostly during their specific time period because the special benefits they offer. Mealworms for molting, oats during the winter, and probiotics for chicks are all examples of times you would use seasonal supplements.

Health Use

Health use supplements are ones that are used when a chicken is ailing or has a health issue. These supplements get pulled out of the cupboard for use during a medical emergency. They promote healing, manage infections, and help restore good health. Some of these supplements are so strong, that they may even cure an ailing chicken.

However, not enough research has been done for backyard chickens to know for sure which ones and how much will cure a certain ailment. Health-use supplements should be used with caution, as there is much that could go wrong: miss-diagnosis, too much of a supplement, supplement could take away from other needed nutrients, and offering the wrong supplement.

Do your research before selecting a supplement to offer to a sick or ailing chicken.

• oregano and other herbs
• garlic
• apple cider vinegar
• honey
• blackstrap molasses
• electrolytes
• colloidal silver
• biochar
• elderberry syrup

How to Supplement

Now that you know what a supplement is, what types of supplement there are, and certain times you can offer supplements, you are now ready to learn how to give supplements to your flock!

Offering supplements is not as easy as it sounds. There is not much research based information about giving supplements to backyard chickens, so a lot of this comes from my experience, the experiences of others, and common sense.

Basically there are three ways that I have identified to give supplements to your flock: mixed in the feed, free-choice, or made into treats. Which method you choose will depend on the supplement and what you are using it for.

Mixing into the Feed

Mixing supplements into your flock’s feed should be done carefully and purposefully. The food that you feed your flock should already contain all the essential nutrients and vitamins to keep them alive. The supplements you add are merely for the purpose of maintaining their health or helping them through a health issue. When adding a supplement, have a clear purpose in mind, take into consideration the type of supplement and why you are offering it.

There are different forms of feed that can be fed to chickens. The three common ones include mash (mix of grains, vitamins and minerals), pellets (identical ingredients in each pellet), and crumbles (crumbled pellets). There are pros and cons to all three but I believe mash feed is the best kind to offer your flock. I also believe that mash feed is the best form of feed to add supplements to. Adding supplements to mash feed is basically like adding another feed ingredient to the feed for the chickens to choose to eat.

Supplements that get mixed into a chicken’s food should be mild and have no possibility of causing unwanted health issues. When you are mixing supplements into your chickens’ feed, you are allowing the chickens to eat what they want of the supplement. Some might eat a lot, others might not eat any, that’s why you should be sure that the supplement is safe no matter how much is consumed. Also consider for how long the supplement should be added to the food (see the ‘when to offer supplements’ section).

Free-choice Supplements

Free-choice supplements are ones that are not combined with anything else. You provide your flock with the choice to eat the supplement. Free-choice supplements can be offered in separate dishes or separate feeders. Just about any supplement can be offered free-choice.

Some supplements the chickens will just eat little bits of throughout the day, other supplements, though, will have to be monitored. Flock favorites, like sunflower seeds or oats, will need to be controlled so that the chickens don’t eat too much of the supplement.

I like using the free-choice method for giving my flock supplements. It gives me more control over how much supplements my chickens eat. With favorite supplements, like seeds and grains, I can measure out however much I want to give to my flock, then sprinkle it around their enclosure and watch them enjoy eating it! With other not so favorable supplements, I can just place them in their treat bowl and allow them to eat what they want when they want.

Mixed into Treats

Mixing supplements into treats should be treated in a similar manner as if you were mixing them into the chickens’ feed. Make sure you keep in mind which food item is the treat and which one is the supplement. Know how much of the supplement you are going to mix with the treats as well.

Once again, you don’t know how much of the supplement will be consumed by each individual bird, so be cautious. Use supplements that are mild or ones that can also be treated as treats. Some mild or easy supplements to mix with treats include parsley, garlic, kelp, and other herbs. Supplements that can be treated as treats include oats, sunflower seeds, mealworms, and other whole grains and seeds.

Some examples of mixing supplements into treats might be: adding parsley to a handful of garden weeds, crushing some garlic into a bowl of leftover meat scraps, or sprinkling some kelp on last night’s leftovers. Offering treats that can be supplements too might include bringing out a bowl of soaked oats or sprinkling some sunflower seeds in the run to entertain your flock.

Mixing Supplements

Mixing supplements, or using more than one supplement at a time, can be done as long as you are careful. What you are mixing the supplements into also plays a part, whether its chicken feed, treats, or offering them free-choice. Mixing several supplements into your flock’s feed is okay as long as you follow the guidelines mentioned in “mixing into the feed”.

I prefer to mix only two or three different supplements into the feed at a time. That way my flock is not getting too many supplements at a time. Mixing several supplements into treats would be similar to mixing them into the feed. Remember, when mixing, combining, and adding supplements, use ones that are appropriate for the season, age, and condition of the flock.

Generally most supplements can be offered together, unless two supplements provide the same benefit, then there would be no need to offer them both. I generally like to only provide two or three supplements at a time. That could mean I have one supplement that I add to their water, one to their feed, and another one that they get free-choice. Example:

• water supplement- garlic
• feed supplement- kelp
• free-choice supplement– whole oats

How Much?

Supplements should be treated as supplements, meaning they do not make up more than 10% of your flock’s feed. A healthy chicken’s body should be balanced, without any deficiencies or excesses.

When just a little bit of even a helpful supplement gets introduced, it could either send the body out of balance or the body could compensate for it to regain it’s balance. With chickens, you never know how much is too much. Not enough research has been done for backyard chickens to know how much of a certain supplement to provide.

Keeping that in mind, use common sense and air on the side of caution when figuring out how much of a supplement to give your flock. Some supplements will need to be monitored more carefully then others. Mild supplements can be given in bigger quantities while other supplements should be given in smaller dosages. Knowing the properties and a little bit about the supplement will help you determine how much of a supplement to offer.

If you provide a certain amount of a supplement, and your chickens don’t eat all of it, that’s ok. They probably ate what they needed and, unless you know for sure a certain chicken needs a specific dosage, don’t worry about leftover supplements. Here are some general guidelines to follow when serving up supplements:

• herbs– no more than 1 T. per bird per feeding session (depends on the herb)
• apple cider vinegar– 1 T. per gallon of water
• garlic– 4 cloves per gallon of water (recommended dosage)
• calcium (crushed eggshells or oyster shells)- unlimited access for laying hens

Some supplements will come with instructions on how much to feed your flock. Buy supplements that have been specifically formulated for poultry and follow the dosage recommendations on the label.

Research Supplements

Knowing about a chicken’s proper diet as well as the properties of certain supplements will enable you to use supplements for your flock much safer and effectively. Do your research. If you are considering using a supplement with your flock, research that supplement. Research it specifically for poultry and write down notes about what you learn.

A few things you might want to make a note about include benefits of the supplement, ‘side effects’ of the supplement, the source of your information, and the form of the supplement being  researched.

Benefits and ‘Side Effects’

Typically when you think of supplements for your chickens, you are focusing on the benefits that the supplements will provide. The ‘side effects’ are not always known or taken into consideration.

When I use the term ‘side effects’ I am referring to the potential hazards that a supplement might cause when provided in the wrong way. A supplement’s ‘side effects’ may come into play if the supplement is offered in too big of a quantity, too frequently, or during the wrong time. The ‘side effects’ of supplements vary depending on the supplement. They can range from mild (like diarrhea) to serious (like fatty liver syndrome, which is fatal).

Different groups of supplements are known to have more ‘side effects’ then others. Seeds, for example, have a natural protective coating on them which can inhibit digestion, or grains who have anti-nutritional factors. Almost every supplement can have a ‘side effect’ when it is used wrong. Here are some examples:

• grains- wheat is slow digesting, barley is less palatable, oats are high in fiber with less energy, rye is a growth inhibitor, millet is low in protein (may cause a protein deficiency)
• seeds– sunflower seeds are high in fat, flax seeds can cause liver hemorrhages
• apple cider vinegar– may draw calcium from the chickens’ bones
• proteins– too much protein can cause conditions such as gout

Remember, these ‘side effects’ occur when the supplement is offered in too big of a quantity, too frequently, or at the wrong time. These ‘side effects’ should not occur when the supplement is used properly. Meaning they are used in a certain amount for a specific period during the right time.

Do your research before using a supplement and find out both it’s benefits and it’s ‘side effects’.

Check  the Source

Not a lot of reliable information exists about using supplements for backyard chickens. There are some sites however, that provide research based information about the effects of certain supplements when they were used in the commercial poultry industry. Keep in mind that a lot of the articles will be based from the commercial poultry industry mindset, not a homestead chicken keeper’s mindset. That information can still be helpful though.

When doing your research, always check the source of the information. Poultry forums are not always a reliable source of good information. I also check to see if the author of the article has any credentials.

I also like to see who the author is of the article. If the author has credentials or is known to provide research based information I know I can take their information a little more seriously.

Checking the source of your research will prevent you from using incorrect and potentially harmful information about providing supplements for your flock.

Forms of Supplements

When you are doing your research, make sure you are finding information about the specific form of the supplement you want to use. Some supplements will come in different forms which then causes them to have different benefits or ‘side effects’. Here are some examples:

• herbs- they can be offered fresh, dried, or made into a tea
• grains– whole grains vs chopped, crushed, or processed grains
• garlic- crushed cloves or whole cloves
• seeds– whole seeds, shelled seeds, or ground seeds

One form of a supplement may be more beneficial to offer than other forms. Whole grains will be more beneficial than processed grains. Dried herbs will need to be offered in smaller quantities than fresh herbs. Crushed garlic releases more beneficial nutrients than whole garlic cloves.

Find out the best form in which to offer a supplement to provide the most benefits for your flock!

I like to compare using supplements for chickens to us, as humans, using supplements. We take supplements to help maintain overall good health or to fight off a disease or illness. Supplements for backyard chickens should be treated in a similar way. Some can be used to maintain good health, others should be used when health concerns arise. Knowing about the properties of certain supplements and how to use them will go a long way in maintaining the health of your flock!

Using natural supplements with your flock is a great modern pioneer task! We sharing our homestead and pioneer resources, which you can check out in The Trading Post or by joining our weekly newsletter!

by Alexa

Additional Information

For more information about supplements you might be interested in these posts:

• 8 Natural Supplements for Backyard Chickens
• How to Use Herbs for Backyard Chickens
• 8 Beneficial Herbs for Backyard Chickens
• Picking Out a Homestead Poultry Feed
• Homestead Chicken Treats by Season

I hope this post has been informative and helpful for homestead chicken raisers! Just like you, I am still learning and some of this information may change as I learn more about using supplements for chickens. This information should not be treated as veterinary advice and if you question any of it, please feel free to comment below!