Can Chickens Eat Goat Feed? Uncover the Hidden Dangers!

Updated: 20 Oct 24

You are not the only poultry keeper who is curious about: can chickens eat goat feed? Cross-species feeding is discussed in every meeting of chicken enthusiasts. They want to understand the nutritional requirements of chickens and goats. They are worried about the potential risks of goat feed for chickens. Offering a well-balanced diet is the prime motive of every flock owner. So, let’s explore the best practices to make goat feed beneficial for our flock.

Table of Content

Can Chickens Eat Goat Feed? Let’s Explore the Truth

Is it Safe for Chickens to Eat Goat Feed?

It depends. Goat feed is not an ideal diet for chicken growth. It is not a favorable choice for egg-laying hens. Chickens can safely munch on goat feed sparingly. Excessive and frequent serving of goat feed is harmful to chickens. It will lead to nutritional imbalance. So, prioritize the nutrient-rich and safe feed for your flock.

Comparison of goat feed vs. chicken feed

Goat Feed
Goat feed is high in protein content. High dietary fiber is available. More complex carbohydrates than grains. It contains calcium and phosphorus. It offers probiotics and minerals. It is available in the form of pellets. Good for growth and lactation Goats are browsers. Goats like to eat plants.

Chickens Feed
Chicken’s feed is also high in proteins. Comparatively lower dietary fiber. It relies on grains to provide energy. It contains lower calcium content. It also offers probiotics. Available in pellets, crumbles, and mash. Good for growth and egg production. Chickens are foragers. Chickens like to eat grains.

Differences in Dietary Requirements between Chickens and Goats:

Protein Needs:

Chickens require 16% to 20% of protein content.
Goats require 15% to 20% of protein content.

Fiber Content:

Chickens require 4% to 5% of fiber content.
Goats require 15% to 20% of fiber content.

Energy Sources:

Chickens require grains like corn and wheat.
Goats require more complex carbohydrates.

Calcium Requirements:

Chickens require 3.5-4% calcium in their total diet.
Goats require lower calcium depending on growth or lactation stages.

Vitamins:

Chickens need vitamins A, D3, and E for better egg production.
Goats require vitamins A, D3, and E.

Mineral Needs:

Chickens need minerals. Phosphorus and salt are crucial for healthy growth.
Goats also need minerals, such as higher levels of copper and selenium.

Feeding Frequency:

Chickens need complete feed 1-2 times daily.
Goats also need multiple small meals daily.

Can Baby Chickens Eat Goat Feed?

No, baby chickens should not eat goat feed. Chicks with their delicate digestive system cannot tolerate the high fiber diet like goat feed. Additionally, chicks require food with a specific nutritional profile for their growth and safety. Goat feed has high fiber and proteins, which can have negative impacts on baby chickens’ health. So, we suggest all chicken owners offer a formulated starter diet to the baby chickens for the first three months.

Does Goat Feed Help Chickens Lay Eggs?

No, goat feed is made to improve lactation, not egg production. Although it contains some healthy nutrients like proteins, calcium and vitamins, it is still not recommended for egg-laying hens. To improve egg quality and egg production, you should prefer a nutrient-rich diet for hens. So, go for something other than goat feed in this scenario.

How to Serve Goat Feed to Your Chickens?

There are some cautions to serve goat feed to the flock. You must carefully follow these steps for backyard animals’ safe and healthy growth. Here are some cautions:

Inspect Ingredients: You should be vigilant to identify if there are any sorts of additives or medications added to goat feed. These are harmful to the chickens.
Introduce in small amounts: You should minimize the frequency and volume of goat feed for the safety of your chickens. Limit it to under 5% of the total diet.
Observe Response: You should analyze the reaction from your flock. You should identify the negative signs and symptoms and consult a professional veterinarian.
Access to fresh water: While serving goat feed to your flock, ensure the availability of clean and fresh water to prevent dehydration and digestion issues.
Appropriate feeding interval: Frequent feeding of goat feed will increase the chances of nutritional imbalance in chickens. So, serve weekly or after ten days.
Never compromise on routine diet: We have suggested goat feed as their secondary diet. So, always maintain the quantity of chickens’ nutritious routine diet.
Consult with a veterinarian: Deciding after careful analysis of the local conditions is mandatory. So, always consult with your nearby veterinarian first.

Can You Feed Goat Feed to Chickens Everyday?

No, you can’t offer goat feed daily to the backyard flock. We have clarified that goat feed is not recommended as the primary source of nutrition for chickens. It can only be served occasionally in limited volume. Excessive use of goat feed is harmful to the growth of chickens. So, daily intake of goat feed will negatively impact chickens’ health and development.

Benefits of Goat Feed for Chickens

Chickens like to have new food in their treat. Goat feed will be a healthy source of nutrients for chickens. Here are some common advantages of goat feed:


Goat feed is an excellent source to provide unique and entertaining food. It will increase fiber content, which is helpful for digestion. Chickens love to enjoy a diversified diet, and goat feed is the best choice. Goat feed is tasty and flavorful for chickens. It is beneficial for chicken’s growth and egg production with proteins. It will reduce the food wastage. Goat feed is more economical than commercial chicken feed. Goat feed will promote foraging behavior in chickens.

Goat feed is an excellent source to provide unique and entertaining food.
It will increase fiber content, which is helpful for digestion.
Chickens love to enjoy a diversified diet, and goat feed is the best choice.
Goat feed is tasty and flavorful for chickens.
It is beneficial for chicken’s growth and egg production with proteins.
It will reduce the food wastage.
Goat feed is more economical than commercial chicken feed.
Goat feed will promote foraging behavior in chickens.

Potential Risks of Feeding Goat Feed to Chickens

Goat feed has nutritional benefits but carries some risks and hazards for the flock. These hazards must be understood and adjusted accordingly. Here are some risks:


Goat feed can cause nutritional imbalance for chickens. Higher levels of fiber can cause bloating and diarrhea. Goat feed has high calcium levels, which can lead to kidney issues. Goat feed can be a source of weight gain in chickens. It can be a source of behavioral changes in chickens. It can cause a reduction in egg quality in egg-laying hens. Some breeds of chickens may show their displeasure with goat feed.

Goat feed can cause nutritional imbalance for chickens.
Higher levels of fiber can cause bloating and diarrhea.
Goat feed has high calcium levels, which can lead to kidney issues.
Goat feed can be a source of weight gain in chickens.
It can be a source of behavioral changes in chickens.
It can cause a reduction in egg quality in egg-laying hens.
Some breeds of chickens may show their displeasure with goat feed.

Signs of Goat Feed Allergy in Chickens

Now, if your flock has signs of allergies after eating excessive amounts of goat feed. It is crucial to take remedial action in the initial stage. For that, you should be familiar with typical signs of allergies in chickens. Here are some signs:

Diarrhea, bloating, and droppings are the result of digestive distress.
Chickens with allergies will show their lack of interest in routine diet.
The flock will show a lethargic response and no physical activity.
Loss of feathers and increased molting are also a sign of allergy in chickens.
Skin rashes, irritation, and redness are seen in allergic chickens.
The affected chickens will show signs of difficulty breathing or coughing.
Allergic reactions will reduce the egg production in hens.
There will be unusual vocals observed in chickens that will show discomfort.

What Type of Goat Feed Can Chickens Eat?

Goat feed has many varieties and dimensions. All of them are not recommended for backyard chickens. Here, we review some famous types of goat feed for chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Goat Pallets?

No, Goat pallets are not recommended for chickens. We have concluded that chickens require a well-balanced diet for healthy growth. So, we have to offer chickens a nutrient-rich diet; goat pallets don’t serve the due nutrition. Goat pallets can lead to nutritional deficiency in chickens. So, we advise you to choose an alternate diet for chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Goat Hay?

Yes, chickens can have Goat hay in limited quantity. Goat hay offers dietary fiber for chickens. It will engage chickens in foraging behavior, which reduces stress. We have understood the nutritional profile of timothy hay, which can be served to chickens. We have recommended goat hay as a small portion of the routine diet of chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Goat Treat?

Yes, chickens can have some goat treats. It must be incorporated in small amounts to prevent nutritional deficiency. It is advised to check the ingredients of goat treats before serving them to chickens. Always prioritize the nutrient-rich diet for the well-being of chickens.

Can Chickens Eat Medicated Goat Feed?

No, chickens should not have medicated goat feed. The medicated feed is tailor-made for goats and is harmful to the flock. It has some drugs or chemicals that can adversely affect chickens’ health. So, avoid using medicated goat feed for your backyard birds.

Goat Feed Alternatives for Chickens

If you are not satisfied with the benefits of goat feed and looking for some alternatives, then consider these options:

Layer Pallets: Layer pallets are made explicitly for egg-laying hens. These pallets contain a balance of nutrients like calcium, proteins and vitamins.
Crumbles: Crumbles are very much identical to pallets but in smaller sizes. They offer better nutritional value and are easier to digest than goat feed to chickens.
Whole grains: Grains are good for diversifying chickens’ diet with high nutritional benefits. Oats, wheat, and corn are energy boosters for chickens.
Fruits: Fruits are good for chickens with their sweet flavor and crunchy texture. Figs, eggplant, apples, bananas, and acorns benefit chickens’ health.
Vegetables: We have always preferred natural and nutrient-rich foods for chickens as their occasional diet. Celery, turnips, and zucchini are healthy foods for chickens.
Alfalfa Hay: If you select goat feed for proteins and fiber, then alfalfa hay is a better choice. It provides loads of proteins and fiber content with digestive support.
Kitchen Scraps: Kitchen scraps can be incorporated sparingly into chickens’ diet. We do not favor onions, garlic, and avocado for chickens.

Conclusion:

Yes, goat feed can appeal to chickens, but some concerns exist. We advise you to serve it occasionally with proper preparation. Moderation is our prime focus when dealing with goat feed for our flock. Excessive intake of goat feed will lead to disastrous outcomes. It can cause nutritional deficiency, digestive issues, and behavioral problems in chickens. So, we suggest you serve a well-balanced diet to your chickens. Some alternatives to goat feed are fruits, vegetables, alfalfa hay, crumbles, and grains.