Ingredients of Chicken Feed

According to Mississippi State University, successful chicken production depends on a good feeding program. Poultry nutrition experts constantly research to determine the range of vitamins and minerals needed to economically raise the best chickens. Feeding is the highest cost when raising poultry, and a balance in nutrients is necessary to prevent over- and underfeeding. Chicken feed can be either bought ready made, or by hand mixing selected foodstuff.

Pelleted Feed

• Pelleted food usually contains corn, soybean meal and vitamin and mineral supplements. Added to these are antibiotics and other inhibitors to help keep chickens healthy and disease-free. Pelleted food is easy for poultry to consume, so more can be eaten at one time to conserve energy. In fibrous foods, ground shells are often added for grit, as an aid to digestion. Crumbled pellets can be given to smaller birds.

Natural Feed

• A more natural feeding method can contain corn, oats, wheat, barley and vegetable oils such as sunflower oil. It can't contain any artificial additives or preservatives but does not necessarily use organic methods. Chickens in some small environments are allowed to roam free, eating insects, grass and vegetables.

Organic Feed

• The United States Department of Agriculture defines organic as food items that are produced, manufactured and handled using natural means and processes.The feed can be composed of corn, corn gluten meal and soybean meal, with the balance of the diet made up of vitamins and minerals including salt. All must be certified as organic and adhere to strict guidelines.