Instinct Pet Food Original Kibble Real Chicken Recipe
Dry Extruded · completeHigh meat
Our verdict
Is Instinct Pet Food Original Kibble Real Chicken Recipe a good dog food?
We score it 46/100 (Average). This reflects the ingredient quality, composition and label transparency of the recipe as declared on the label.
Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.
100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for adult dogs
- Grain-free: no grain ingredients listed
- Doesn't list beef, turkey, lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists herring meal
- You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein
These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Find foods that fit your dog.
Ingredients (41)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- meat 43.9%
- additive 15.5%
- veg 11.6%
- oil 11.0%
- carb 10.3%
- fibre 7.7%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 3.2 |
| 2 | Chicken Meal | Dried chicken protein | meat · good | - | 3.2 |
| 3 | Peas | Peas | veg · good | - | 3.1 |
| 4 | Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid) | Chicken Oil and Fat | oil · good | - | 3.1 |
| 5 | Tapioca | Tapioca | carb · medium | - | 3.1 |
| 6 | Herring Meal | Herring Meal | meat · medium | - | 3.0 |
| 7 | Menhaden Fish Meal | Fish Meal | meat · medium | - | 3.0 |
| 8 | Natural Flavor | Flavor | additive · poor | - | 3.0 |
| 9 | Dried Tomato Pomace | Tomato Pomace | fibre · medium | - | 2.9 |
| 10 | Salt | Salt | additive · poor | - | 2.9 |
| 11 | Vitamin E Supplement | Vitamin E | supplement · good | - | 2.8 |
| 12 | Vitamin A Supplement | Vitamin A | supplement · good | - | 2.8 |
| 13 | L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate | L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate | supplement · good | - | 2.8 |
| 14 | Niacin Supplement | Niacin | supplement · good | - | 2.7 |
| 15 | Thiamine Mononitrate | Thiamine mononitrate | supplement · good | - | 2.7 |
| 16 | d-Calcium Pantothenate | Calcium pantothenate | supplement · good | - | 2.6 |
| 17 | Riboflavin Supplement | Riboflavin | supplement · good | - | 2.6 |
| 18 | Pyridoxine Hydrochloride | Pyridoxine hydrochloride | supplement · good | - | 2.6 |
| 19 | Vitamin B12 Supplement | Vitamin B12 | supplement · good | - | 2.5 |
| 20 | Folic Acid | Folic acid | supplement · good | - | 2.5 |
| 21 | Vitamin D3 Supplement | Vitamin D3 supplement | supplement · good | - | 2.4 |
| 22 | Biotin | Biotin | supplement · good | - | 2.4 |
| 23 | Carrots | Carrots | veg · good | - | 2.4 |
| 24 | Apples | Apples | veg · good | - | 2.3 |
| 25 | Cranberries | Cranberries | veg · good | - | 2.3 |
| 26 | Zinc Proteinate | Zinc Proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.2 |
| 27 | Iron Proteinate | Iron Proteinate | mineral · good | - | 2.2 |
| 28 | Copper Proteinate | Copper proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.2 |
| 29 | Manganese Proteinate | Manganese proteinate | supplement · good | - | 2.1 |
| 30 | Sodium Selenite | Sodium selenite | supplement · poor | - | 2.1 |
| 31 | Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide | Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide | supplement · medium | - | 2.0 |
| 32 | Potassium Chloride | Potassium Chloride | supplement · medium | - | 2.0 |
| 33 | Montmorillonite Clay | Clay | additive · medium | - | 2.0 |
| 34 | Taurine | Taurine | supplement · good | - | 1.9 |
| 35 | Choline Chloride | Choline | supplement · good | - | 1.9 |
| 36 | Freeze Dried Chicken | Chicken | meat · medium | - | 1.8 |
| 37 | Freeze Dried Chicken Liver | Liver | meat · good | - | 1.8 |
| 38 | Pumpkinseeds | Pumpkin Seeds | veg · good | - | 1.8 |
| 39 | Freeze Dried Chicken Heart | Heart | meat · good | - | 1.7 |
| 40 | Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product | Dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product | supplement · good | - | 1.7 |
| 41 | Rosemary Extract | Rosemary | veg · good | - | 1.7 |
- 1. Chicken3.2% estimated
- 2. Chicken Meal3.2% estimated
- 3. Peas3.1% estimated
- 4. Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid)3.1% estimated
- 5. Tapioca3.1% estimated
- 6. Herring Meal3.0% estimated
- 7. Menhaden Fish Meal3.0% estimated
- 8. Natural Flavor3.0% estimated
- 9. Dried Tomato Pomace2.9% estimated
- 10. Salt2.9% estimated
- 11. Vitamin E Supplement2.8% estimated
- 12. Vitamin A Supplement2.8% estimated
- 13. L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate2.8% estimated
- 14. Niacin Supplement2.7% estimated
- 15. Thiamine Mononitrate2.7% estimated
- 16. d-Calcium Pantothenate2.6% estimated
- 17. Riboflavin Supplement2.6% estimated
- 18. Pyridoxine Hydrochloride2.6% estimated
- 19. Vitamin B12 Supplement2.5% estimated
- 20. Folic Acid2.5% estimated
- 21. Vitamin D3 Supplement2.4% estimated
- 22. Biotin2.4% estimated
- 23. Carrots2.4% estimated
- 24. Apples2.3% estimated
- 25. Cranberries2.3% estimated
- 26. Zinc Proteinate2.2% estimated
- 27. Iron Proteinate2.2% estimated
- 28. Copper Proteinate2.2% estimated
- 29. Manganese Proteinate2.1% estimated
- 30. Sodium Selenite2.1% estimated
- 31. Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide2.0% estimated
- 32. Potassium Chloride2.0% estimated
- 33. Montmorillonite Clay2.0% estimated
- 34. Taurine1.9% estimated
- 35. Choline Chloride1.9% estimated
- 36. Freeze Dried Chicken1.8% estimated
- 37. Freeze Dried Chicken Liver1.8% estimated
- 38. Pumpkinseeds1.8% estimated
- 39. Freeze Dried Chicken Heart1.7% estimated
- 40. Dried Bacillus coagulans Fermentation Product1.7% estimated
- 41. Rosemary Extract1.7% estimated
Nutrition and feedingProtein 37% · Fat 20%
Declared analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 37% |
| Fat | 20% |
| Fibre | 2.50% |
| Moisture | 10% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids | 0.30% |
| Omega-6 fatty acids | 2.80% |
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
Ideal feeding amounts will vary by age, weight, and activity level so the guide below should be used as an initial recommendation. Divide the cups per day by the number of feedings per day. Be sure to always provide clean, fresh water. Along with dry food, we recommend feeding raw or wet food to help increase the amount of water in your pet's diet.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vitamin E Supplement; Vitamin A Supplement; L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate; Niacin Supplement; Thiamine Mononitrate; d-Calcium Pantothenate; Riboflavin Supplement; Pyridoxine Hydrochloride; Vitamin B12 Supplement; Folic Acid; Vitamin D3 Supplement; Biotin; Zinc Proteinate; Iron Proteinate; Copper Proteinate; Manganese Proteinate; Sodium Selenite; Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide; Choline Chloride
Technological additives
Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid (preservatives in Chicken Fat); Rosemary Extract; Montmorillonite Clay
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-13
Brand and contact: Instinct Pet Food
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-13
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.instinctpetfood.com
Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 0.0/5 · 0 reviews
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
This recipe achieves an overall score of 46 out of 100 based on several key factors. Ingredients without printed percentages contributed -10.6, while the processing format added -6.7 to the total. Additionally, the additive load contributed -4.2, and the additives in the recipe provided +3.3.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.64 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.8% | -0.115 | -0.44 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.9% | -0.092 | -1.47 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 20.4% | 0.163 | +3.33 |
| Recipe graded poor | 15.5% | -0.065 | -1.01 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.4% | 0.060 | +0.50 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Additive penalty | -18.72 | 0.222 | -4.16 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.64 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 3.8% | -0.115 | -0.44 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 15.9% | -0.092 | -1.47 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 2.6% | -0.005 | -0.01 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 20.4% | 0.163 | +3.33 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.012 | +0.00 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.027 | +0.00 |
| Recipe graded poor | 15.5% | -0.065 | -1.01 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 0.0% | -0.179 | +0.00 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 2 | -0.876 | -1.75 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 8.4% | 0.060 | +0.50 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | -18.72 | 0.222 | -4.16 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 45.5
- Final score
- 46/100
Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.
Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 37 | 40.9 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 20 | 22.1 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 2.5 | 2.8 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3) | - | - | 100 |
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 19 nutritional additives on the label
- Vitamin E Supplement
- Vitamin A Supplement
- L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate
- Niacin Supplement
- Thiamine Mononitrate
- d-Calcium Pantothenate
- Riboflavin Supplement
- Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
- Vitamin B12 Supplement
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin D3 Supplement
- Biotin
- Zinc Proteinate
- Iron Proteinate
- Copper Proteinate
- Manganese Proteinate
- Sodium Selenite
- Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide
- Choline Chloride
Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.
This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.
Transparency: what the label discloses
How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) - not on file | 0/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Batch and date labelling).
Safety: recall history
Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.
No recalls recorded in our database.
Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it
The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.
100/100 · moderate — 2 checkable claims: 2 consistent, 0 contradicted.
Consistent with the label
- "Grain-free recipe" — supported by the declared grain-free data.
- "High animal protein" — supported by the declared high protein data.
4 further claims on file that we cannot check against the label.
Moderate: every checkable claim is consistent with the declared label.
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed levels of live, natural probiotics, natural Omegas and antioxidants for digestive health, healthy skin & coat, and immune health (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient – packed with animal protein for strong, lean muscles (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Grain-free recipe (on page) | Free-from | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| Made without - grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, by-product meal, artificial colors or preservatives (on page) | Free-from | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| High animal protein (on page) | High/low level | consistent | Manufacturer assertion |
| The only kibble with the pure, real nutrition of raw on every piece (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.
Alternatives to Original Kibble Real Chicken Recipe
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