Backyard Chickens

Backyard chickens are omnivores that get everything they need from a complete layer or grower feed, but mealworms are a well-documented, extension-endorsed treat flocks relish for enrichment and extra protein. Dubia roaches, mealworms, and superworms are not a dietary staple for chickens — treats of any kind should stay a small minority of daily intake so hens keep eating their complete feed.

What to Feed

• Staple: age-appropriate complete feed — starter (0–6 weeks), grower (6–18 weeks), layer (18 weeks+)
• Mealworms: the most common feeder-insect treat for backyard flocks, offered live and whole to adults
• Dubia roaches: soft-bodied, good as an occasional adult-bird protein treat
• Superworms: larger and tougher-bodied — reserve for adult birds, chop for smaller birds
• Keep grit available free-choice whenever hard treats or insects are fed

Feeding Schedule

• Adult layers: roughly 10–15 live mealworms per bird a few times a week is a commonly cited moderate serving (a 500-count bag covers a small flock for weeks); treats should never exceed about 10% of total daily diet
• Chicks (under ~2–3 weeks): avoid whole live/dried mealworms — chop or crush into starter-crumble-sized pieces to prevent choking
• Growing pullets/roosters: keep treats minimal; never substitute high-calcium layer feed or heavy protein treats for an age-appropriate starter/grower feed
• Offer insect treats later in the day, after birds finish their complete feed

Balancing the Diet

The 10% rule is a ceiling that includes every treat offered that day — insects, scratch, produce, scraps — not 10% mealworms on top of everything else. Excess protein from too many insect treats can raise blood urates and stress the kidneys, causing gout. Chickens have no calcium-dusting requirement the way reptiles do; the nutritional logic here is about keeping the complete feed dominant, not supplementing an insect-based diet. Never feed a layer ration (high calcium) to chicks, pullets, or roosters — the same 10%-treat logic applies to insect loads.

Common Mistakes

• Letting treats exceed 10% of the daily diet
• Feeding whole mealworms to very young chicks (choking risk)
• Feeding layer feed or heavy calcium/protein treat loads to chicks, pullets, or roosters
• Not providing grit alongside insect or hard treats
• Treating insects as a dietary substitute rather than a genuine supplement