As a farming simulation game, Stardew Valley offers players a delightful escape into a virtual world of farming, mining, and animal care.
Among the various activities in the game, taking care of animals, particularly chickens, plays a significant role in the player’s success. In this article, we’ll show you how to feed chickens in Stardew Valley, ensuring their well-being and productivity.
How to Feed Chickens
Preparing the Coop
Before you can start caring for chickens, you’ll need a coop. Coops can be acquired from Robin’s Carpenter Shop for a reasonable price.
Prepare 4,000g, 300x Wood, and 100x Stone to get a coop, which has a capacity of 4 chickens. Upon requesting to build one, Robin will construct it for 3 days at the designated 6×3 tiles spot on your farm.
Once you have a coop, keeping it clean and in good condition is essential. Regularly removing debris or dirt around the coop will ensure a healthy environment for your chickens.
Obtaining Chickens
To begin your chicken-raising adventure, you’ll need to purchase chickens from Marnie’s Ranch.
Marnie sells one chicken for 800g which can come in white or brown colors, and you will get to name the chicken upon purchase. The chick will then be placed on your farm and will mature after being fed constantly for 3 nights.
Additionally, placing hay in the coop is crucial, as chickens rely on it as their primary food source. Make sure to stock up on hay from Marnie’s Ranch or grow it yourself. Finally, ensure the coop provides enough space for the chickens to move around comfortably.
Feeding Chickens
Feeding chickens regularly is vital for their overall health and productivity. In Stardew Valley [1] the primary food source is hay, which can be obtained from cutting weed or grass on the farm or purchasing it from Marnie for 50g each.
Ensure the coop’s feeding trough is regularly stocked with hay to ensure a steady supply for your chickens. A Silo in Stardew Valley can be purchased to stock the Hay automatically, which is convenient for the winter season.
Putting hay manually per day can be time-consuming. Fortunately, the option to upgrade the coop into a Deluxe Coop, which is the last upgrade, features an Autofeed System that automatically puts hay from the silo directly to the feeding trough daily.
Harvesting Eggs
A significant part of caring for chickens is checking the coop daily for eggs. Chickens will lay eggs inside the coop. White chickens will lay white eggs, while brown chickens lay brown eggs.
Collecting eggs is a simple process: approach the egg on the floor and interact with it to obtain it. To obtain Large Eggs, players must have a high enough friendship level with the chicken, feed them daily, and maintain this state.
Once you have collected the eggs, you can sell them for profit, make Mayonnaise, or use them for various purposes, such as cooking or gifting them to other villagers:
Egg Quality | Egg | Egg Rancher (+20%) | Large Egg | Large Egg Rancher (+20%) |
Base Quality | 50g | 60g | 95g | 114g |
Silver Quality | 62g | 74g | 118g | 141g |
Gold Quality | 75g | 90g | 142g | 170g |
Iridium Quality | 100g | 120g | 190g | 228g |
Like: Alex, Demetrius, Jodi, Kent, Leah, Linus, Marnie, Pierre, Sam, Shane
Neutral: Caroline, Clint, Elliott, Emily, Evelyn, George, Gus, Harvey, Krobus, Leo, Lewis, Maru, Penny, Robin, Sandy
Dislike: Abigail, Dwarf, Haley, Jas, Pam, Vincent, Wizard
Hate: Sebastian
Keep in mind that regularly feeding and petting chickens is crucial to maintain a consistent egg supply with the best quality, and maximize your profits.
Additional Tips for Chicken Care
Beyond the basics, here are some additional tips to ensure optimal care for your chickens in Stardew Valley:
Tip #1: Allow chickens to roam outside in favorable weather.
During sunny days, consider opening the coop’s door to allow your chickens to explore the farm. Just make sure they’re back inside for the night with the door closed, and that the farm is securely fenced to protect them from wandering off or potential predators.
Tip #2: Protect chickens from predators.
Invest in a fence or build a coop with a sufficient perimeter to keep your chickens safe. Predators may threaten your chickens, so it’s essential to ensure their safety.
Tip #3: Upgrade the coop to accommodate more chickens.
As you progress in the game and expand your farming operations, you might want to increase the number of chickens you own.
Consider upgrading your coop to provide ample space for new additions, ensuring a comfortable living environment for all your feathered friends.
Conclusion
Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can provide your chickens with a healthy and balanced diet, resulting in increased productivity and happiness.
Remember to check the coop for eggs regularly, utilize the variety of food options available, and implement additional care tips to optimize your chicken-raising experience.
