In Minecraft, chickens eat seeds, including wheat seeds, melon seeds, pumpkin seeds, and beetroot seeds, which can be used to breed them.
Chickens in Minecraft are more than just egg-laying machines – they’re a crucial resource for food, breeding, and even combat strategies. But to keep your flock thriving, you need to know exactly what fuels these feathered friends.
What Chickens Eat in Minecraft
Minecraft chickens have a specific diet consisting of four types of seeds:
- Wheat seeds (most common)
- Beetroot seeds
- Melon seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
These seeds serve two main purposes: breeding chickens and keeping them healthy. Unlike real-world chickens that might eat various foods, Minecraft chickens strictly follow this seed-based diet.
How to Get Each Seed Type
Wheat Seeds
The easiest to obtain. Simply break grass blocks to collect wheat seeds. You can also harvest mature wheat plants to get both wheat and additional seeds.
Beetroot Seeds
Found in village farms or by breaking grass in certain biomes. Once you have some, plant them to grow more beetroots and harvest additional seeds.
Melon Seeds
Found in jungle biome chests or by breaking melon slices. Each melon slice gives 1 seed when crafted.
Pumpkin Seeds
Similar to melon seeds, found in chests or by breaking pumpkins. Each pumpkin yields 4 seeds when crafted.
Breeding Chickens with Seeds
To breed chickens:
- Collect any of the four seed types
- Right-click two adult chickens while holding seeds
- Hearts will appear above their heads
- A baby chicken will spawn shortly after
Baby chickens follow adult chickens naturally, similar to how chickens follow certain items in the game. The breeding cooldown is 5 minutes before chickens can breed again.
Why Breeding Matters
Breeding chickens provides:
- Steady supply of eggs (for cakes and throwing)
- Feathers for arrows and book & quills
- Raw chicken for food
- XP when slaughtering excess chickens
Advanced Chicken Farming Tips
Automatic Egg Farms
Chickens lay eggs randomly (about every 5-10 minutes). Create an automatic farm by:
- Building an enclosed space with hoppers underneath
- Filling it with chickens
- Collecting eggs in chests via hoppers
Chicken Cookers
For automatic cooked chicken:
- Place chickens above lava with a gap
- When baby chickens grow, they’ll fall into lava
- Collect cooked chicken with hoppers
Preventing Despawning
Chickens may despawn if:
- They’re more than 128 blocks from any player
- They’re not named with a name tag
To keep chickens permanently, either name them or keep them within your active chunk radius. This is similar to concerns about moving chickens to new coops in real life.
Historical Changes to Chicken Feeding
Minecraft’s chicken feeding mechanics have evolved:
| Version | Food | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1.4.2 | Wheat | Chickens ate wheat like other farm animals |
| 1.4.2+ | Seeds only | Changed to current seed-based system |
This change made chicken farming more distinct from other animal farming in Minecraft.
Common Chicken Questions
Do Chickens Need to Eat to Lay Eggs?
No. Chickens lay eggs randomly regardless of being fed. Feeding is only required for breeding.
Can You Feed Baby Chickens?
No. Only adult chickens can be fed for breeding purposes.
Do Chickens Eat Other Items?
No. Despite what some players think, chickens won’t eat bread, vegetables, or any non-seed items. This differs from real chickens that might eat various foods, as discussed in our article about what table scraps chickens can eat.
Fun Chicken Facts
- Chickens are the only mob that can slow their fall by flapping wings
- Thrown eggs have a 1/8 chance of spawning a baby chicken
- Chickens make distinct sounds when hurt, idle, or laying eggs
- In snowy biomes, chickens occasionally shake off snow particles
For more on chicken behavior, check out Minecraft’s official site or the comprehensive Minecraft Wiki.