Millet Feed: Perfect for Ground-Feeding Birds

Millet has long been a staple in wild bird mixes and poultry diets, especially for birds that feed on the ground. Its small, hard kernels are well suited for pecking and scratching behaviors, making it ideal for quails, chickens, and other ground-feeding birds. In drought-prone regions, millet is valued for its resilience and nutritional reliability.

Well Suited for Ground Feeders

Because millet seeds are small and fall to the ground easily, they naturally appeal to ground-feeding birds like quail, pheasants, and some chicken breeds. Many commercial wild bird seed blends include millet for that reason. Its form and texture encourage natural scratching and foraging behavior in poultry, promoting activity and digestive health.

Nutritional Benefits & Performance

Research has shown that millet can support growth performance in poultry without compromising health. A recent study comparing diets with millet showed that birds maintained comparable growth rates and health markers to conventional grain diets, making millet a viable alternative energy source in poultry rations.

Things to Consider & Best Uses

·       Because millet grains are hard, they digest better when cracked or lightly processed rather than fed entirely whole.

·       In mixes, millet should serve as a component rather than the sole grain—blending with grains like corn or oats ensures balanced nutrition.

·       Millet is especially useful in situations where local grains are scarce or more expensive; being drought tolerant, it can provide feed security in challenging climates.

Final Thought

For poultry keepers and upland game bird producers, millet offers a reliable, bird-friendly feed choice—especially for ground feeders—and can enrich your feed mixes, support active behavior, and contribute to stable production even under harsh growing conditions.