I have enjoyed my chickens this year. Started out with 15 and fed 7 to the raccoons. Now when I get home from work I let them out of fort Nox to go catch bugs and scratch around. By early evening my two neighbors and I really enjoy sitting in lawn chairs and feeding the 8 chickens a few slices of bread. They seem to really love Sara Lee multi grain. My cat is old and sick and doesnt eat all of his food so they will eat whats left over as well. Plus old rice, they like to pick at corn on the cob. My chickens get grower pellets or layer pellets, and any other food item that I might other wise put in the composte pile. Regular garbage disposals!