Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain-Free Chicken Review

Intro

I'm The Pet Dude — a pet parent and gear nerd who spends more time than I'd like to admit reading labels and talking to dog owners. Today I'm sharing a hands-on style deep dive into Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain Free Chicken dry dog food (24-lb bag). I'll walk the ingredients and claims that matter, what I saw in everyday feeding, safety points to check, and which dogs seem to get the most benefit.

What it is / first look

Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain Free Chicken is a grain-free dry kibble sold in a 24-pound bag. The product title includes "All Life Stages," though the listing's Age Range Description is "Adult." According to the listing copy, U.S. farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient, and the formula is positioned as a high-quality, nutritionally balanced option that contains marine-sourced EPA and DHA, Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, and a "superfood blend." The kibble is labeled as free of gluten ingredients, corn, wheat, and soy, and it's advertised as containing no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The listing also calls out carrot as a special ingredient and notes benefits such as supporting brain health, immune function, skin & coat, and strong bones.

Bag specs and logistics from the listing: the one included component in the listing is a single 24-pound bag, with product dimensions listed as 4 x 16 x 24.4 inches and an item weight of 24 pounds. The model number and manufacturer are listed as Natural Balance / Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc.

In daily use

Here’s how this food fit into day-to-day feeding in the examples I tracked.

Palatability and acceptance

Across the feedback that I compiled, dogs tended to like the taste — owners reported that their dogs ate it readily and often called it a favorite. In practice, expect good palatability: several long-term feedings were described as the dog "eats it readily and happily," and one owner noted their dog had eaten Natural Balance since eight weeks old and still prefers it years later.

Coat, skin, and digestion notes

One of the clearest patterns in my notes was improvement in coat condition and reductions in digestive upset for certain dogs. Multiple people reported smoother, nicer fur after switching to this formula, and a few owners specifically said it helped a dog with chronic stomach problems stop vomiting. Another owner noted quicker, more regular bowel movements after the switch. Those are meaningful outcomes for pet parents who chase better coat condition or digestive stability.

Long-term feeding experiences

There are accounts of dogs eating this for many years; for example, one owner reported feeding it since puppyhood through to 12 years old with continued health, and another said their senior dog (almost 16) has eaten it for most of his life. That's not a controlled study, but it does indicate there are owners who use it long-term without obvious problems.

Price and perceived value

There was at least one note about cost: a mixed piece of feedback called the product "way too expensive" for what it delivered. The listing's price field is present on the product page, but I won't quote prices here — if cost is a sensitive factor, expect some owners to view this formula as a mid- to premium-priced option and to shop around for deals.

Materials & build quality

For a dry food I interpret "materials & build" as ingredient quality, sourcing claims, and formulation transparency. Here's what the listing and product copy spell out:

• First ingredient: U.S. farm-raised chicken is listed as the #1 ingredient.
• Fatty acids: The kibble contains marine-sourced EPA and DHA plus Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids, which the manufacturer says help support brain health and skin & coat.
• Grain-free & gluten statements: The formula is labeled "Grain-Free" and the copy says it contains no gluten ingredients, corn, wheat, or soy.
• No artificial flavors/colors/preservatives: The listing explicitly says the food is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
• Superfood blend & carrot: The product calls out a superfood blend and carrot as a special ingredient.

Those are the concrete formulation and sourcing points in the listing. Kibble size, calorie content, guaranteed analysis by percentage, and feeding guidelines are not included in the specification block I reviewed, so I can't report on them here.

Safety considerations

Safety comes first — here are the concrete safety-related details and practical checks I recommend based on the listing and the owner feedback I aggregated.

Allergens and ingredient exclusions

The listing's Allergen Information field lists chicken meat. The product copy also highlights that it contains no gluten ingredients, and that it is corn-, wheat- and soy-free. If your dog has a known chicken allergy, this product lists chicken as the primary protein and would not be appropriate. If you are managing grain-related allergies, the grain-free and "no gluten ingredients" claims are relevant.

Artificial additives

The product is listed as free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. For owners trying to avoid synthetic additives, that's an explicit claim from the manufacturer.

Digestive sensitivity and transitions

The owner feedback I collected shows that this kibble has helped some dogs with digestive upset — with reports of less vomiting and more regular stools after switching. That said, any diet change can cause temporary digestive shifts; the listing doesn't include step-by-step transition instructions or feeding amounts, so if your dog has a sensitive gut or a history of food reactions, consult a qualified professional before switching and follow a gradual transition plan.

Life stage labeling to double-check

There's a labeling inconsistency you should be aware of: the product title includes the phrase "All Life Stages," but the listing's Age Range Description is set to "Adult." If you're feeding a puppy, a nursing dog, or have a dog with special life-stage needs, double-check the packaging or contact the manufacturer before feeding — the listing itself does provide conflicting signals on this front.

Packaging and storage

The listing specifies a 24-pound bag as the included component, but it doesn't state whether the bag is resealable or include any storage/shelf-life guidance. For freshness, store opened bags in a cool, dry place and consider transferring to an airtight container if you have concerns; the listing doesn't include official storage instructions.

Who this is for / who should skip

Translate the claims and the owner results into real-world matchups:

Good fit if...

• Your dog likes chicken protein and doesn't have a chicken allergy — chicken is the first ingredient and the product lists chicken meat under allergens.
• You're looking for a grain-free formula that avoids gluten ingredients, corn, wheat, and soy — the listing explicitly calls those out as excluded.
• You want a dry food marketed toward general health benefits like skin & coat support (Omega fatty acids), brain support (EPA/DHA), and immune support (superfood blend and antioxidant vitamins/minerals) — these features are spelled out in the product copy.
• You have a dog that historically does well on kibble formulas and you're after a mid-to-premium option; several owners reported good long-term acceptance and improved coat/skin in practice.

Maybe skip or verify if...

• Your dog has a confirmed chicken allergy — chicken is the primary protein mentioned in the listing.
• You're feeding a puppy or need assurance it's puppy-safe — the title references "All Life Stages" but the Age Range Description lists "Adult," so verify the bag labeling or contact the manufacturer before feeding puppies or nursing mothers.
• Budget is the primary driver — at least one owner described the formula as "way too expensive," so price-conscious buyers should compare value across similar grain-free formulas.

Verdict

Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain Free Chicken presents as a grain-free dry kibble with U.S. farm-raised chicken listed as the first ingredient and explicit claims around Omega fatty acids, marine-sourced EPA/DHA, and an antioxidant "superfood blend." In the real-world feedback I gathered, dogs generally accepted the kibble well, and several owners reported meaningful improvements in coat condition and digestion. The main practical caveats are a labeling inconsistency around life stage (title vs the Age Range Description) and the fact that chicken is the primary protein, which makes it a non-starter for dogs with chicken allergies.

Check before you buy (quick checklist)

• Confirm the life-stage labeling on the bag if you're feeding a puppy or nursing dog — the product title says "All Life Stages," but the Age Range Description lists "Adult."
• Make sure your dog is not allergic to chicken — allergen information in the listing lists chicken meat.
• Decide whether a grain-free formula fits your dog's needs — the listing calls the product "Grain-Free" and says it contains no gluten ingredients, corn, wheat, or soy.
• Compare price vs competitors if budget is a concern — there is at least one note in the feedback about perceived high cost.
• Plan a gradual diet transition and consult a qualified professional if your dog has a known digestive sensitivity — the listing doesn't include transition instructions.

Colors available

Packaging colorways are not specified in the product facts. Based on the listing materials and image filenames, the listing doesn't specify colorways. What appears in the images is not described in the listing copy, so I can't verify specific color names.

• the listing doesn't specify colorways

Final thoughts

If you want a grain-free chicken-first kibble positioned for general health support (coat, brain, immune, bones), Natural Balance Original Ultra Grain Free Chicken checks those boxes on paper and performed well across a range of real-world feedings I examined — dogs accepted it, some showed improved coat and digestion, and there are long-term use examples. The two practical issues I keep repeating are worth your time: verify the life-stage labeling if you're feeding puppies, and don't overlook that chicken is the main protein if your dog has protein-specific allergies. For many adult dogs that tolerate chicken and for owners targeting coat and digestive improvements, this is a legitimate option to consider. For strictly puppy feeding or chicken-allergic dogs, follow up with the manufacturer or a professional first.