Backyard Chicken Care: Essential Guide for Happy, Healthy Hens

Learn how to take care of a Chicken, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

Baby Chick Care: Food, Habitat & Health for Happy, Healthy Chicks

Learn how to take care of a Chick, recommended diet and habitat setup. Find the right food, supplies and equipment at your neighborhood Petco.

Updated on April 9th, 2026

What to Feed Chickens: Safe Fruits, Veggies & Treats for Happy Hens

Do you have questions about what to feed your chicken(s)? Petco has the answers! Visit us to learn about chicken dietary needs.

Updated on October 23rd, 2025

Bird Food & Diet: What to Feed & Avoid for Your Bird's Best Health

Learn some quick tips for getting your fussy bird to eat full and varied diet that could include birdseed, fruits and vegetables.

Updated on October 23rd, 2025

Gift Ideas and Top Presents for Pets

Use Petco’s guide to shop for the perfect gift for your furry, feathered, or scaly friend!

Updated on December 19th, 2025

Best ways to keep chickens warm and what to feed them in winter?

If you are concerned about your birds getting cold you should keep them in a wind-proof enclosed shelter and provide them additional heat with a heat lamp. The feed you described is appropriate provided they are in cold weather. You should not feed corn if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees celsius.

Bird food has mouse droppings. What can I feed my bird temporarily?

If the food is full of mouse droppings it is best to purchase new food ASAP. While treats can be given, they are not a balanced diet, and a new food should be purchased and given as soon as possible to avoid any illness or GI upset. In the future, placing their food in an airtight storage container made from plastic can help prevent rodents from getting to it.

What's the best healthy food to feed my backyard hens and roosters?

Choose a commercial pelleted diet labeled as "all flock" or "flock raiser". This is a complete diet for most chickens. For the hen, you will need to supplement calcium, especially if she is a layer. You can offer her crushed oyster shells freely. Do not use a layer diet for both. The calcium levels would be too high for the rooster leading to potential health issues for him. The website www.backyardchickens.com is an excellent resource for information regarding the husbandry and feeding of domestic chickens.

My female bird is laying eggs. What care and feeding tips do I need?

Feed a good quality pelleted diet (Harrison's, Roudybush, Lafeber, Pretty Bird or Exact) supplemented with a fortified seed mix and fresh greens and vegetables. Provide a cuttlebone or mineral block. Always have fresh water available. Provide an appropriately sized nesting box and suitable nesting material (straw, Aspen shaving, shredded newspaper, etc.).

Why is my chicken disoriented, not eating, and acting confused?

Hello. It is very common to see reproductive disease in chickens including salpingitis & egg yolk peritonitis. If you could bring her indoors where it is a bit cooler, feed her nutritious foods such as cornbread, cooked eggs, even a bit ( not much ) of canned cat food & see if she perks up. Many of these birds are actually in quite a bit of pain, so if there is any way to have her seen by a vet, this would be best. X-rays are often taken in these cases to evaluate the internal organs or see if she is actually egg bound. There is a lot we know about chickens, but sometimes not much we can do to save them. Hope you can have her evaluated soon. Thanks for using Boop by Petco.