Quote Originally Posted by heftysmokes
KB, I don't think regular chicken feed from the hardware store is what you want unless you want to eat your pet later on.
If i remember correctly, the feed they have for chickens, turkeys, etc, is a mix made to primarily to fatten the bird up for eating. If you want to keep the chicken around (and not eat it) I'd look at a pet supply store for a feed similar they have for people who keep pigeons. My dad has racing pigeons and if you want I can get in touch with him and ask him what he feeds them.

lmao!! KB, you're gonna have a Tennessee racin' chicken!!

Seriously - laying hens eat lotsa stuff. For a few summers when I was a kid I watched a neighbor's hen house and garden. That garden, especially the okra, was a pain in the ass to keep up with. I threw all the extra produce in with those chickens and they loved it. Hey I fed 'em their other stuff too - I just supplemented their diet.