Chickens in Stardew Valley eat hay when they’re inside, and they can also graze on grass when they’re outside on sunny days.

Quick Scoop

  • Inside the coop: put hay in the feeding trough, and each chicken needs one piece per day.
  • Outside in spring, summer, or fall: leave the coop door open so they can eat grass.
  • Winter or bad weather: they won’t go outside, so you’ll need hay.
  • Where to get hay: buy it from Marnie’s Ranch or store it from a silo.

Best setup

  • Build a silo early so you can collect and store hay for later.
  • Plant grass starters near the coop if you want a steady outdoor food source in warmer seasons.
  • Keep some hay reserved for winter, storms, and any day the chickens can’t graze.

Simple rule

If your chickens are indoors, feed them hay. If they’re outside and the weather is good, they’ll eat grass on their own.