We're going to show you how to feed chickens in Stardew Valley so that your little coop animals are happy to keep making you a profit. They are a great company to have on your farm and they can bring in a nice amount of money when they start to lay eggs.
Just like the cows, you need to take good care of your chickens, and like with all animals, this mostly comes down to how they're fed.
Before we reveal how to feed chickens in Stardew Valley, check out our other guides revealing how to build a barn and how to repair the community center.
Read More: Stardew Valley character hub
How to feed Stardew Valley chickens
There are a few ways to feed chickens in Stardew Valley, but like with most elements of the farming RPG, this will be dependent on the season you are currently in. Below we take a look at how you can keep your chickens fed and happy all year round.
Let them eat grass
We know, we know, it's tempting to scythe your way through your farm the moment you get the place from your dear old Grandpa. But the grass is an integral part of your farm, especially when you start housing animals and letting them roam free from their coops and barns.
You can feed chickens on a sunny day from spring through to the end of fall by simply letting them go outside the coop to eat grass that is growing on your farm. Chickens are quite happy to roam freely around your farm. To let them do this, you will need to open the coop door and the fence on the surrounding gate (if you have one).
click to enlargeHow to care for chickens
Like with any kind of animal handling, whether in the virtual world or real life, your farm animals in Stardew Valley will need to be cared for so that they can grow big and healthy. Here are a few top tips on how to care for your chickens:
Stardew Valley chickens in winter
When you get to rainy days or the winter season, then you cannot feed chickens with the grass outside. They won't want to leave the comfort of their coop, so instead, you will need to feed them hay. You can store hay once you build a silo on your farm, but if you don't have one, then all you need to do is pay Marnie a visit. You can buy hay from her for 50g. This is a good way of obtaining hay without the need for a silo. Be sure to check our Character Hub to make sure Marnie is available to purchase from!
When you have hay, you need to place it down in the trough inside the coop. The chickens will help themselves to it, but make sure you check it and restock it when it's empty.
What to do if your Stardew Valley chickens are grumpy
When in doubt, feed them! As we mentioned above, their grumpy demeanour is more likely to appear in the Winter season, so just make sure they've got hay in their coop every morning.
Giving them a pet when you greet them is always a surefire way to get you back in their good books, also.
How to buy chickens
Before you can feed and care for chickens you will need to own one. To do this, you will first need to know how to build a coop. Once you have a coop you can go and speak to Marnie (if she is behind the till in her house). When you speak to her, select the "purchase animals" option and you should be able to click on chickens.
Once you click on a chicken, you can then choose which coop you want to house it in. After you have decided where it will live, you will be able to name it and Marnie will deliver the chicken straight to your coop.
Chickens are a great way of earning income in Stardew Valley and as long as you take care of them, they will lay plenty of eggs for you. Growing your farm is hard work so we have put together a few guides that can help. We have an extensive character hub, so you can make sure you're befriending everyone. Additionally, we have another guide that shows you how to get hardwood.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Stardew Valley and Guides page.