How much feed does a chicken eat per day?
A standard laying hen eats about ¼ pound of feed a day, around 110 to 120 grams. That is the number behind every feed budget. Here is what it adds up to and what changes it.
Feed per hen
| Period | Standard hen | Bantam | Large or heavy breed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per day | ¼ lb · 115 g | ⅛ lb · 60 g | ⅓ lb · 150 g |
| Per week | 1¾ lb · 0.8 kg | 0.9 lb · 0.4 kg | 2.3 lb · 1.05 kg |
| Per month | 7.5 lb · 3.4 kg | 3.8 lb · 1.7 kg | 10 lb · 4.5 kg |
| Per year | 90 lb · 41 kg | 45 lb · 20 kg | 120 lb · 55 kg |
Feed per flock, per month
| Standard hens | Feed per month | 50 lb bags | At $22 a bag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 23 lb | 0.5 | $10 |
| 4 | 30 lb | 0.6 | $13 |
| 6 | 46 lb | 0.9 | $20 |
| 8 | 61 lb | 1.2 | $27 |
| 12 | 91 lb | 1.8 | $40 |
Your own numbers, in pounds or kilos and your currency, are a few taps away in the feed calculator.
By flock size, with the bag math done: 4 chickens, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 20 chickens.
What changes the number
- Cold. Up to a third more in winter.
- Laying. A hen in full lay eats more than one resting through molt.
- Pasture. Good foraging in spring and summer trims bagged feed by 10 to 20 percent. Bare dirt trims nothing.
- Feed form. Pellets waste less than crumbles, which waste less than mash. Pellets are the default for adult layers.
- Waste. This is the big one. An open trough or a feeder on the ground can lose 10 to 20 percent of every bag to spillage, wild birds and rodents at night.
Cutting waste, which is cutting cost
- Raise the feeder to the height of the hens' backs so they cannot scratch in it.
- Use a treadle feeder, which closes when the hens step off. It stops rats and sparrows cold.
- Store feed in a sealed metal can. Plastic gets chewed, and open bags go stale and attract pests.
- Buy the bag size you can finish in six to eight weeks.
- Keep grit and oyster shell in separate dishes, not mixed into the feed, so nothing gets flicked out hunting for them.
A sealed metal can keeps the bag dry and away from rodents. The feed itself is usually cheaper at your local feed store.
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What to feed, in one paragraph
Chick starter (20 to 22 percent protein) to about 8 weeks, grower (16 to 18 percent) to the first egg, then layer feed (16 percent protein with added calcium) for life. Oyster shell free-choice for eggshells, grit free-choice if they do not have access to small stones, clean water always. Treats under 10 percent. That is the whole plan for a backyard flock.
Common questions
How long does a 50 lb bag of chicken feed last?
About 33 days for six standard hens at a quarter pound each per day, 40 days for five, and two months for three. Feed goes stale around two months after opening, so match the bag size to the flock.
Can chickens eat only kitchen scraps?
No. Scraps and foraging stretch the feed bill but do not replace layer feed, which provides the 16 percent protein and the calcium eggshells need. Keep treats and scraps under about 10 percent of the diet.
Should feed be available all day?
Yes, for laying hens. Free-choice layer feed in a feeder they cannot scratch out of, fresh water, and grit and oyster shell in separate dishes. Hens regulate themselves; the waste comes from the feeder design, not from the hens overeating.
Do chickens eat more in winter?
Yes, noticeably. Staying warm takes energy, and there is nothing to forage. Expect the same flock to go through a bag 10 to 30 percent faster in cold months even while laying fewer eggs.
Run your own numbers. The free chicken feed calculator calculator does this math for your flock in a few seconds. Nothing is saved.