Best Carbohydrates-Rich Foods for Chickens

Ranked by carbohydrates content among foods safe for chickens in the Creature Feast catalog.

Corn per 100g: 74g carbohydrates (mostly starch) Corn is the primary carbohydrate and energy source in most poultry diets worldwide. The starch in corn is highly digestible for chickens, providing the glucose that fuels body temperature maintenance, foraging activity, and the energy-intensive process of egg formation.

Rice per 100g cooked white rice: 28g carbohydrates Rice provides easily digestible starch that chickens convert to glucose efficiently. Cooked rice is a gentle energy source suitable for hens recovering from illness or stress, and brown rice adds some B vitamins and fiber that white rice lacks.

Oats per 100g dry: 66g carbohydrates Oats deliver complex carbohydrates that release energy more gradually than simple sugars, providing sustained fuel for foraging and egg production. The beta-glucan fiber in oats also supports cecal fermentation, producing short-chain fatty acids that nourish the gut lining.