What should I feed adult chickens?

Chickens are monogastric omnivores, they have simple, single stomachs and will eat almost anything!  As hens start to lay they should move to layers pellets and the number of treats should be limited.  Poor nutrition will lead to a reduction in egg laying and egg quality.   There are DEFRA regulations regarding feeding chickens which stating that it is illegal to feed kitchen scraps, leftovers or catering waste to poultry as it may have the potential to spread notifiable or other diseases. ​  It is also inadvisable to feed wild bird food to chickens, due to the risk of the chickens entering the human food chain.

For more information on the DEFRA Regulations please see the following link: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/documents/surveillance/diseases/backyard-poultry-guidance.pdf