Are you wondering exactly how much feed your laying hens should be munching on each day? You’re not alone! As a small flock owner myself, I’ve spent countless hours trying to figure out the perfect amount of feed for my feathered ladies.
Feeding your layer chickens the right amount is super important – not just for your wallet but for keeping those eggs coming regularly! In this article I’ll break down everything you need to know about layer chicken feed consumption, from day-old chicks to mature laying hens.
The Quick Answer
A mature laying hen typically consumes approximately 110-115 grams (0110-0115 kg) of feed per day under optimal conditions. That’s about 1/4 pound of feed daily per bird!
But there’s more to the story than just this single number. Let’s dive deeper…
Feed Consumption Changes Throughout a Layer’s Life
Layer chickens don’t eat the same amount throughout their lives, Their feed requirements change as they grow and develop Here’s a breakdown of how feed consumption changes with age
Starter Phase (0-6 weeks)
- Week 1: 14.5 grams per day
- Week 6: 39 grams per day
Grower Phase (7-18 weeks)
- Week 7: 42 grams per day
- Week 12: 64 grams per day
- Week 18: 85 grams per day
Layer Phase (19 weeks onward)
- Week 19: 88 grams per day
- Week 24: 108 grams per day
- Week 30 and beyond: 110-111 grams per day
As you can see, feed consumption starts low for chicks and increases steadily until it plateaus around 30 weeks of age at about 110 grams per day.
Factors That Affect Daily Feed Consumption
The amount of feed your layers eat isn’t just determined by their age. Several other factors come into play:
- Breed and size: Larger breeds naturally eat more than smaller ones.
- Environmental temperature: Chickens eat more in cold weather and less in hot weather.
- Production level: Hens laying at high rates need more nutrients.
- Housing system: Free-range chickens might consume less commercial feed if they forage.
- Feed quality: Lower quality feeds may require higher consumption to meet nutritional needs.
- Health status: Sick birds often eat less than healthy ones.
The Three Phases of Layer Chicken Feeding
According to the feeding guides from Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Livestocking, layer chicken feeding programs are typically divided into three main phases:
1. Chick Starter Diet (0-6 weeks)
- Protein content: At least 18%
- Average daily consumption: 14.5-39 grams
- Purpose: Support rapid growth and development
2. Grower Diet (7-18 weeks)
- Protein content: 16-17%
- Average daily consumption: 42-85 grams
- Purpose: Support bone and muscle development before egg production
3. Layer Diet (19 weeks to end of lay)
- Protein content: 16-18%
- Calcium content: 3-4%
- Phosphorus content: 0.4-0.5%
- Average daily consumption: 88-111 grams
- Purpose: Support egg production and maintenance
Calculating Feed Needs for Your Flock
Wanna know how much feed your whole flock needs? Here’s a simple calculation:
For 10 laying hens at peak production:
- Daily feed per hen: 110 grams (0.25 pounds)
- Total daily feed: 10 hens × 110 grams = 1,100 grams (2.5 pounds)
- Weekly feed: 7 days × 1,100 grams = 7,700 grams (17.5 pounds)
- Monthly feed: 30 days × 1,100 grams = 33,000 grams (75 pounds)
This means a 50-pound bag of feed would last your 10 hens about 20 days, which aligns perfectly with recommendations from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Water Consumption for Laying Hens
Don’t forget about water! Chickens typically drink twice as much water as the amount of feed they consume. According to the layer feeding charts:
- A mature layer drinking approximately 190-195 ml of water daily
- Week 1 chicks drink about 25.5 ml per day
- Water requirements increase with age and egg production
Always provide clean, fresh water daily – especially in hot weather when consumption increases.
Lifetime Feed Consumption of a Layer Chicken
Ever wondered how much feed a layer chicken eats in her entire lifetime? According to the data from Livestocking, a layer will consume approximately 69 kg of feed in her lifetime (assuming a productive life of about 2 years).
This breaks down as follows:
- From day old to point of lay (17-18 weeks): about 6 kg
- From point of lay to end of production: about 63 kg
Common Questions About Feeding Layer Chickens
How do I know if my layers are eating the right amount?
Monitor their body weight against standard growth charts. For mature layers, they should maintain a relatively steady weight of about 1.9-2.0 kg. Also watch egg production – underfed hens will lay fewer eggs.
Should I feed my layers once or twice daily?
Layer chickens can be fed using one of two methods:
- Free-choice feeding: Feed is available at all times (most common for small flocks)
- Meal feeding: Feed is provided once or twice daily for 30 minutes to 1 hour
For most backyard flocks, free-choice feeding is simplest and ensures all birds get enough to eat.
What about treats and scratch grains?
While chickens love treats, they should make up no more than 10% of the total diet. The Alabama Extension specialists make a great comparison: treats are like ice cream for chickens. If kids were offered ice cream at every meal, they’d eat it with gusto but wouldn’t get proper nutrition. Same with your chickens!
Do roosters eat the same amount as laying hens?
Roosters actually require fewer nutrients than laying hens since they don’t produce eggs. However, in most backyard flock situations, roosters can be fed the same diet as the hens. Just make sure to provide adequate feeder space to prevent fighting.
Practical Tips for Feeding Your Layers
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Choose the right feeder: Provide enough feeder space for all birds to eat simultaneously (about 4-6 inches per bird).
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Feeder height matters: Keep the bottom of the feeder at about the height of the birds’ backs to minimize waste.
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Monitor feed consumption: Keep track of how much feed your flock consumes weekly to spot potential problems early.
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Feed quality: Choose a complete, high-quality commercial layer feed as your hens’ primary nutrition source.
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Store feed properly: Keep feed in a cool, dry place in rodent-proof containers. Feed should ideally be used within 3 months of purchase.
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Calcium supplements: While not always necessary with complete commercial feeds, providing oyster shell free-choice can help hens that are heavy egg producers.
Conclusion: Feed ‘Em Right for Better Eggs!
Understanding how much feed your layer chickens need each day is crucial for maintaining healthy, productive birds. A mature laying hen will eat approximately 110-115 grams (1/4 pound) of feed daily, but this varies based on age, breed, environment, and production level.
Remember to always provide a complete, balanced diet formulated specifically for layers, and ensure your birds have access to clean, fresh water at all times. With proper nutrition, your hens will reward you with a bounty of delicious, nutritious eggs!
Have you noticed differences in feed consumption among your laying hens? Do your birds eat more or less than the averages mentioned here? Share your experiences in the comments!
PS: Don’t forget – these are averages! Your individual birds might eat a bit more or less depending on their specific needs. Always keep an eye on your flock’s body condition and egg production to make sure they’re getting just the right amount of nutrition.
How Much Feed Per Chicken
When it comes to the amount you should feed chickens, its important to consider their nutritional needs in order to maintain their health and maximize productivity. On average, a healthy adult chicken will consume around 1/4 to 1/2 pound of feed per day.
However, this amount can vary depending on factors such as age, weight, breed and activity level. For example, young chicks develop quickly, so their feed requires more amino acids, higher protein and higher phosphorus levels to support their growth. Once your hens start laying eggs, they’ve reached sexual maturity and need to be switched to layer feed. They also may need a higher calcium intake to support eggshell development. I use Chicken E-lixir as an added calcium supplement to support eggshell quality.
Best Practices to Feed Chickens
There are many chicken owners who only put the feed outside twice a day. This is actually a really great way to feed your chickens while cutting down on the pest population. By keeping food and water out of your coop, you’ll likely keep mice, rats, and other pests out of your coop. I love this idea especially for people who are in the habit of feeding their farm animals twice a day. This is not what I do, however. I keep my flocks food and water in the coop, and they have access to it 24/7. This is what works for me.
I have a large flock, and I’m worried that if I only fed them twice a day, not everyone would get what they need. This way, the higher up in the pecking order birds usually get to eat first. Then, the lower hens still get to eat. If the weather is nice, they always get their snacks, treats and leftovers outside. ‘
In the winter, I’ll put leftovers pan out and give them their treats in the coop. I’ll also throw their scratch down on their bedding and they turn their bedding for me. It’s a win-win for everyone!