Hey there, fellow chicken enthusiasts! I’m thrilled to share everything I’ve learned about proper chicken feeding after raising my backyard flock for years. One of the most common questions I get from newbie chicken keepers is exactly how much to feed their birds It’s a great question because feeding your chickens the right amount is crucial for their health, egg production, and your wallet!
The Quick Answer: How Much Feed Do Chickens Eat?
On average a healthy adult chicken will consume approximately 1/4 to 1/2 pound of feed per day. That works out to about
- 1.75-3.5 pounds per week
- 7-14 pounds per month
- 90-180 pounds per year
But honestly, this is just a starting point. The actual amount can vary quite a bit depending on several factors that we’ll dig into below.
Factors Affecting How Much Your Chickens Eat
Not all chickens eat the same amount! Here’s what influences their appetite
Age of Your Chickens
Baby chicks and adult layers have vastly different nutritional needs:
- Baby chicks (0-8 weeks): Consume about 1-2 pounds of starter feed per chick during this period
- Growing pullets (8-20 weeks): Eat roughly 1/4 pound daily as they develop
- Adult laying hens (20+ weeks): Need 1/4 to 1/2 pound daily to maintain health and egg production
- Meat birds: These hungry fellas can consume up to 2x more than laying breeds!
Breed and Size
Just like with dogs, different chicken breeds have different appetites:
- Large breeds (Jersey Giants, Brahmas): Might eat closer to 1/2 pound daily
- Medium breeds (Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks): Usually eat around 1/3 pound daily
- Bantams and smaller breeds: Often consume 1/4 pound or less per day
Season and Temperature
This is something many people overlook, but chickens’ feed consumption changes with the seasons:
- Winter: Chickens eat more (up to 1.5x their normal amount) to generate body heat
- Summer: They generally eat less when it’s hot
- Spring/Fall: Consumption is usually somewhere in the middle
Activity Level and Free-Ranging
My free-range flock definitely eats less commercial feed than my friends’ confined birds:
- Confined chickens: Rely entirely on what you provide, so they’ll eat the full 1/4 to 1/2 pound daily
- Free-range chickens: May eat 30-40% less commercial feed as they forage for bugs, plants, and other tasty morsels
Egg Production
Laying eggs takes energy! A hen in peak production needs more nutrients:
- Heavy layers: Need the full 1/2 pound daily to support egg production
- Moderate layers: Closer to 1/3 pound daily is often sufficient
- Non-laying or molting hens: Usually need less, around 1/4 pound daily
Different Types of Chicken Feed
Feeding the right type of feed is just as important as the amount:
Starter Feed (0-8 weeks)
This high-protein crumble is designed for baby chicks:
- 18-20% protein content
- Usually fed as a crumble texture
- Can be medicated or non-medicated (I prefer non-medicated myself)
Grower Feed (8-20 weeks)
Once your chickens hit around 8 weeks, it’s time to switch:
- 16-18% protein content
- Helps pullets develop properly before laying
- Available in crumble or pellet form
Layer Feed (20+ weeks)
When your hens start laying, they need calcium for strong eggshells:
- 16% protein content
- Added calcium (around 3-4%)
- Often available as pellets, which I find are less messy than crumbles
Meat Bird Feed
If you’re raising broilers or other meat birds:
- Higher protein (20-24%)
- Formulated for rapid growth
- Fed throughout their entire life cycle
Daily Feeding Schedule Options
There are two main approaches to feeding chickens:
Free-Choice Feeding (My Preference)
I keep my flock’s food and water in the coop with 24/7 access. Here’s why I like this method:
- Ensures all chickens get enough to eat, regardless of pecking order
- Easier for busy chicken keepers (like me!)
- Less stress on lower-ranking hens
- Each hen can self-regulate based on her needs
Scheduled Feeding
Some chicken keepers prefer to feed twice daily:
- Helps control pests by not leaving feed out constantly
- May reduce feed waste
- Forces chickens to clean up all their feed
- Good for folks already on a twice-daily animal feeding schedule
Both methods work great – just pick what fits your lifestyle!
Calculating Feed Costs
Let’s talk money! Here’s a rough estimate of what you might spend on chicken feed:
For a flock of 6 laying hens consuming 1/3 pound each per day:
- Daily consumption: 2 pounds
- Monthly consumption: 60 pounds
- Annual consumption: 730 pounds
At current prices (roughly $20-30 for a 50-pound bag), that’s:
- About $300-450 annually for feed
- Or $50-75 per chicken per year
- Approximately $1-1.50 per dozen eggs in feed costs
Not bad considering store prices for quality eggs these days!
Supplementing Commercial Feed
While commercial feed should make up the majority of your chickens’ diet, supplements can be beneficial:
Healthy Treats to Offer
My chickens go CRAZY for these treats:
- Fruits: apples, berries, watermelon
- Vegetables: carrots, cucumbers, leafy greens
- Grains: corn, oatmeal (in moderation)
- Protein sources: mealworms, black soldier fly larvae
What NOT to Feed Your Chickens
Please avoid these dangerous foods:
- Chocolate
- Avocado pits and skin
- Raw potato and tomato plants
- Foods high in salt, sugar, or fat
- Moldy or spoiled foods
Scratch Grains
I love giving my girls scratch as a treat, but it’s different from regular feed! Think of scratch like chicken candy – they love it, but it shouldn’t replace balanced nutrition.
Products like Happy Tract and Golden Graze make great treats that also offer health benefits, but remember that treats should only make up about 10% of their diet.
Special Feeding Considerations
Integrating Flocks with Different Feed Needs
This is tricky! If you’ve got chicks and adult layers, you’ll need to:
- Keep groups physically separated with their own feed
- Allow them to see/hear each other to get acquainted
- Gradually introduce them while maintaining separate feeding areas
- Slowly transition younger birds to the appropriate feed for their age
Winter Feeding Adjustments
During cold months, consider:
- Increasing feed amounts by 10-25%
- Offering scratch grain in the evening (digesting it generates body heat)
- Making sure water is available and unfrozen
- Providing additional protein to support health
How to Know If You’re Feeding the Right Amount
Keep an eye on these signs:
Signs of Underfeeding
- Weight loss
- Decreased egg production
- Increased aggression at feeding time
- Feather pecking or cannibalism
Signs of Overfeeding
- Obesity (feel their keels to check)
- Excessive waste under feeders
- Pest problems from uneaten feed
- Watery droppings
The “Clean Feeder Test”
Here’s a simple test I use: If your feeder is completely empty before you refill it, you might not be providing enough. Ideally, there should always be a little feed available, but not excessive amounts being wasted.
Feed Storage Tips
Proper storage keeps feed fresh and nutritious:
- Store in airtight, rodent-proof containers
- Keep in a cool, dry place
- Use oldest feed first
- Buy in quantities you’ll use within 1-2 months
- Check for mold or pests regularly
My Personal Experience
In my own flock of 12 mixed-breed hens, I’ve found they consume about 4 pounds of feed daily as a group (averaging 1/3 pound per hen). During winter, this jumps to around 5-6 pounds daily. In summer, when they’re free-ranging extensively, it drops to about 3 pounds.
I’ve found that pellets work best for my adult birds – they’re less messy and there’s less waste compared to crumbles. My chickens protested at first (chickens hate change!), but now they gobble them up just fine.
Final Thoughts
Feeding your chickens properly doesn’t have to be complicated! Start with the 1/4 to 1/2 pound per day guideline, adjust based on your specific circumstances, and watch your flock for feedback. They’ll let you know if they’re getting too much or too little.
Remember, happy, well-fed chickens reward you with delicious eggs, entertaining antics, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re providing excellent care for your feathered friends.
Have any feeding tips or questions? Drop ’em in the comments below – I’d love to hear about your experiences!
Happy chicken keeping!
How Much to Feed Chickens Each Day
Since every breed and every flock is different, it will take some time and observation to figure out your ideal amount of daily chicken feed. However, there is a simple figure to provide you with a solid starting point: 1/4 of a pound per fully grown chicken per day. This means each chicken will eat approximately 1.5 pounds of feed in a week.
This amount will vary based on the age and size of your birds. The best way to determine your flock’s needs is by checking the feeders after they eat their fill. Just note whether any feed is left and adjust the amount up or down the next day. As a rule, it’s better to provide too much feed than too little, as the wasted product is preferable to undernourished chickens.
How Much Feed Do Baby Chicks Eat?
Knowing how much to feed chickens varies depending on a lot of factors, but when it comes to feeding chicks, the process is a little more intricate. Chicks need the right amount of food and nourishment to grow properly.
The answer to how much you should feed your young chickens varies as the chicks grow older. For the first eight weeks, your chicks will eat around one to two ounces of feed a day — that’s about three-quarters of a pound to one whole pound a week.
An important thing to know is that chicks grow quickly and food should always be available for them, as growing chicks do not get fat when fed the proper food. For the first 12 to 15 weeks of their life, you can feed your chicks our 20% Organic Chick Starter / Grower Crumbles.
How much Feed for (30 BROILERS) Chickens
FAQ
How much feed does a chicken consume daily?
Each chicken consumes about 1/4 lb. of feed per day. This amounts to approximately 1.75 lbs (or 1 and 3/4 lb.) of feed per chicken per week. Therefore, one chicken will consume a 50 lb. bag of feed in 200 days, and a flock of 6 chickens will consume a 50 lb. bag of feed in roughly 33 days, or one month.
How much chicken feed should a rooster eat a day?
Typically, the average adult rooster needs approximately 1/4 lb of chicken feed a day, which is roughly 3/4 cups a day. However, I’ve had big roosters that would sometimes eat much more than this amount because they were active in foraging and protecting hens all day long.
How much chicken feed should I Feed my hens?
Of course, this is just a rule of thumb! There really isn’t a hard rule on how much to feed your layers because it depends on the breed, how active they are, and the season. Your hens might need a little less or a little more than 1/4 lb of chicken feed per day.
How much does a Layer chicken eat a day?
Trust me, you’ll get to know how much your chickens eat pretty quickly. How Much Feed Does a Layer Chicken Eat Per Day? Once chickens start laying eggs or are 18 weeks old (whichever comes first), the average hen needs about 1/4 lb (pound) of layer feed (Amazon) a day, which is roughly 3/4 cups a day.
How much protein should a chicken eat?
During this time, chicken feed should contain 14-16% protein. You should consider giving them high-quality pullet grower feed (Amazon). 20 Weeks or Above (Egg-Layers): When chickens start laying eggs, they need lots of energy, calcium, manganese, and other essential nutrients. Chicken feed should contain 15-18% protein.
How much does a flock of 6 chickens eat a month?
A flock of 6 chickens consumes one 50 lb. bag of feed in a month. This equates to approximately $15 to $20 in monthly expenses for chicken feed. In return, this flock of 6 chickens will lay about 5 to 6 eggs daily from spring through fall.
How long will a 50 lb bag of chicken feed last?
How much feed for 12 chickens?
How many chickens does a 50 lb bag feed?
What is the 90 10 rule for chickens?
Our top advice is to follow a 90/10 rule for laying hens: 90% complete layer feed and 10% chicken treats to help provide a balanced diet to your birds.