First, an honest reality check
Commercial layer feed is nutritionally complete and is the safe, cheap default for most people. There is no shame in using it. Homemade feed can save a little money and lets you avoid additives, but it only works if it hits roughly 16 to 18 percent protein and you offer calcium free choice. Get that wrong and laying and health drop off.
Transition any feed change over a week or two so the flock adjusts. This recipe is for laying hens, not chicks. Chicks need a higher-protein starter crumble. If your hens stop laying or look unwell, see a vet.
The recipe: a balanced whole-grain layer mix
Measured in parts by weight, this mix lands at roughly 16 to 18 percent protein. Mix the dry ingredients well and store in a sealed, dry bin away from rodents.
| Ingredient | Parts by weight | Why it is in there |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked corn | 4 | Energy |
| Wheat | 3 | Energy and some protein |
| Oats or barley | 2 | Fiber, B vitamins |
| Field peas (split peas) | 2 | Plant protein |
| Sunflower seeds (black oil) | 1 | Protein and healthy fats |
| Lentils | 1 | Protein |
| Mealworms OR soybean / lupin meal OR fish meal | 1 | Protein lift toward 17 to 18 percent |
| Flaxseed | 0.5 | Omega-3 for richer eggs |
| Kelp / seaweed meal | 0.25 | Trace minerals |
Offer these separately, free choice. Do not mix them in:
Shell grit or oyster shell for calcium and strong shells, plus insoluble grit for digestion. Crushed, baked eggshell can supplement the calcium. Hens take what they need from a separate dish. Always provide fresh water.
Feed cost calculator
Work out roughly what your flock costs to feed for a year, what scraps can responsibly trim, and how much to mix for a month. No signup, nothing saved.
Is homemade actually cheaper?
Usually a little, and it lets you avoid additives, but only if you buy your grains in bulk. Small bags from the feed store rarely beat a sack of commercial layer pellets on either price or balance. If saving money is the only goal and you cannot buy in bulk, commercial layer pellets are hard to beat. Where homemade wins is control: you know exactly what is in the bin, and you can lean on a glut of homegrown grain, peas or sunflower heads.
Track your real feed cost and cost per egg
Guesswork only gets you so far. The free Planting Season app and its Poultry module can log eggs, feed and spend over time, so you can see your real cost per egg and whether the flock pays for itself. The numbers on this page are a starting estimate. Your own logs make them true.
Questions people ask
What protein percentage do laying hens need?
Roughly 16 to 18 percent. Below that, laying and feather condition fall off. A whole-grain mix needs protein sources like field peas, sunflower seeds and lentils, plus a protein lift such as mealworms or soybean meal, to reach that range.
How do I keep eggshells strong?
Offer calcium free choice in a separate dish, usually shell grit or crushed oyster shell, rather than mixing it into the feed. Hens self-regulate. Crushed, baked eggshell can supplement it. Fresh water matters here too.
Can chickens live on scraps alone?
No. Scraps are unbalanced and can responsibly cover only about 10 percent of a laying hen's diet. The rest should be a complete layer feed, homemade or commercial, or laying and health will suffer.
Is homemade chicken feed cheaper?
It can be a little cheaper than premium feed, and it avoids additives, but only if you buy grains in bulk. In small bags, commercial layer pellets are hard to beat on price and balance.
Can chicks eat layer feed?
No. This recipe is for laying hens. Chicks need a higher-protein starter crumble, and layer feed has too much calcium for growing birds. Move to layer feed only once they start to lay.
Run your flock from your pocket
Log eggs, feed and spend, and see if your hens really pay for themselves. Free to start.