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Most chickens get all the protein they need from a complete feed made for their age: about 18-20% protein for chicks, 15-16% for growing pullets and about 16% for laying hens. Extra protein mainly helps during the annual molt, when hens regrow their feathers. This guide covers the numbers, the common protein sources and the risk of overdoing it.
Key Takeaways
- Chick starter is usually 18-20% protein, grower 15-16%, developer 14-15% and layer feed about 16%.
- Bantams and large fowl have similar nutrient needs; age and purpose matter more than breed.
- Treats and scratch should be limited to what the flock eats in about 20 minutes (roughly 10-15% of daily intake).
- Molting hens can benefit from a higher-protein feed or a small protein supplement such as mealworms.
- Excessive protein is a recognized cause of gout in chickens.
Correction: an earlier version of this article gave inaccurate protein levels for laying hens and growing birds, included an invented protein table by breed, described corn as a decent protein source, and made unsupported claims about protein allergies, feather colour and bone density.
Why chickens need protein
Protein supplies amino acids, the building blocks for muscle, eggs and feathers. Chickens cannot make nine of these amino acids themselves, including lysine and methionine, so they have to come from the diet.
Feathers are a big reason protein matters. Chicken feathers are more than 85% crude protein, mostly a tough protein called keratin. That is why protein needs rise when hens replace their feathers during the molt.
How much protein chickens need at each age
Commercial feeds are formulated for each stage of life, and the label shows the protein level. Typical values for egg-laying chickens are:
| Feed | Age | Typical protein |
|---|---|---|
| Chick starter | Hatch to about 6 weeks | 18-20% |
| Grower | About 6 weeks to laying | 15-16% |
| Developer (optional) | About 14 weeks to laying | 14-15% |
| Layer | About 18-20 weeks or first egg | About 16% (at least 14%), plus 3-4% calcium |
Meat-type chickens grow much faster and get higher-protein feeds: broiler starter is about 20-23% protein for the first four weeks. Meat-bird starter is not recommended for young layer-type chicks, because the extra protein is neither necessary nor desirable for them.
Breed makes little difference. Bantams and large fowl, and white and brown egg layers, all have similar requirements for protein and other nutrients.
Do not feed layer feed to chicks or growing pullets. Its high calcium level can cause growth problems, kidney damage or death in young birds. Our chicken feed guide explains the feed types in more detail.
Common protein sources in chicken feed
Most poultry feeds combine a grain for energy with a protein meal. In the US that usually means corn and soybean meal.
- Soybean meal: about 44-48% crude protein, with an amino acid profile that complements corn.
- Corn: mainly an energy source. It averages about 7.5% crude protein and is low in methionine, so it cannot be the main protein source.
- Mealworms and other insects: protein-rich, but the amount varies with what the larvae were fed; one study measured 36-74% protein on a dry-matter basis.
Never feed raw soybeans. They contain a trypsin inhibitor that interferes with digestion; roasting or commercial processing destroys it, which is why feed-grade soybean meal is heat-treated.
Treats, scratch and protein supplements
A complete feed already contains the protein, vitamins and minerals chickens need, so supplements are not necessary for healthy adult birds. The bigger risk is diluting a balanced feed with too many extras.
Scratch grains are low in protein and high in energy or fiber. Oregon State University Extension suggests giving only as much scratch as the birds can eat in about 20 minutes, or about 10-15% of what they eat in a day, and applying the same limit to table scraps and greens combined. For ideas that fit that limit, see our homemade chicken treats.
Protein during the molt
Most adult hens molt once a year, usually in fall, and reduce or stop laying while their energy goes into growing new feathers. University of Arizona Extension advises making sure molting birds have free access to a balanced diet and considering extra protein during this time.
- Switch to a higher-protein layer feed for the duration of the molt, or
- Offer a small daily top-dress of a high-protein supplement such as mealworms.
Go back to the normal layer feed once new feathers are in and laying resumes. For more on feather care, see our chicken feathers guide and tips for molting chickens.
Can chickens get too much protein?
Yes. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists excessive dietary protein as one cause of gout, a condition in which urate deposits build up in the joints or internal organs. Feeding more than 3% calcium to non-laying chickens is another cause, which is one more reason not to give layer feed to young birds.
The safest approach is to feed a complete ration made for your birds’ age and purpose, keep treats modest, and add extra protein only for a specific reason such as molting.
Free tools
- Molt Tracker: see which molt stage your hen is in
FAQs
How much protein does a laying hen need?
Layer feed usually contains about 16% protein. Extension guidance says layer diets should contain at least 14% protein to keep hens laying.
Is cracked corn a good protein source for chickens?
No. Corn averages about 7.5% protein and is low in methionine. It is useful for energy but should not replace a complete feed.
Are mealworms good for chickens?
Mealworms are a protein-rich treat and can help molting hens. Keep them within the treat limit so they do not dilute the complete feed.
Do bantams need a different feed?
No. Bantams and large fowl have similar nutrient requirements, so they can eat the same feed for their age and stage of production.
Should molting hens get extra protein?
It can help. Feathers are mostly protein, and extension guidance suggests considering a higher-protein layer feed or a supplement such as mealworms while hens regrow feathers, then returning to the normal ration.
Conclusion
Choose a complete feed that matches your chickens’ age, and let it supply their protein. Keep treats to about 20 minutes’ worth a day, give molting hens a temporary protein boost, and avoid overfeeding protein, which can contribute to gout.
Sources
- Oregon State University Extension (PNW 477): How to Feed Your Laying Hens
- Extension Foundation (poultry.extension.org): Feeding Chickens for Egg Production
- Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Nutrition for Backyard Chicken Flocks
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Nine Common Reasons Your Hens Aren’t Laying
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Urate Deposition (Gout) in Poultry
- Extension Foundation (poultry.extension.org): Corn in Poultry Diets
- Extension Foundation (poultry.extension.org): Soybeans in Poultry Diets
- Mississippi State University Extension: Feeds and Nutrition
- PMC (2025): Current Understanding of Feather Keratin and Keratinase and Their Applications in Biotechnology
- PMC (Insects, 2023): Influence of Dietary Protein Content on the Nutritional Composition of Mealworm Larvae
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional Requirements of Poultry
Checked September 2026. Labels change, so always read the label on the product you buy. See our editorial policy for how we research health articles.
