How much does a chicken eat?
A standard laying hen eats roughly 0.25 lb (about ¼ lb, or 113 g) of complete feed per day — the figure poultry feed labels and extension services converge on. From there, the calculator adjusts for your reality:
| Bird type | Feed per day | Feed per month |
|---|---|---|
| Standard laying hen | ~0.25 lb | ~7.5 lb |
| Heavy / dual-purpose | ~0.30 lb | ~9 lb |
| Bantam | ~0.13 lb | ~4 lb |
| Chick (0–8 weeks) | ~0.07 lb avg | ~2 lb |
- Foraging genuinely offsets feed — good pasture in the growing season can replace 15–30% of purchased feed. In winter, expect consumption to climb back to the full amount (and a bit beyond, since birds burn calories staying warm).
- Waste is the silent budget-killer. Open troughs and ground-scattered feed routinely lose 20% to spillage, wild birds, and rodents. A treadle feeder often pays for itself within a year for flocks of 6+.
What "cost per dozen" tells you
Enter your weekly egg count and the calculator shows your feed cost per dozen — the single most useful number in backyard economics. Typical backyard flocks land between $2 and $5 per dozen in feed alone, depending on feed prices, waste, and how well the flock is laying. If your number looks high, the usual culprits are aging hens (production drops each year), winter molt, hidden waste, or feeding more treats than the 10% rule (treats should never exceed ~10% of daily intake — they dilute the balanced nutrition of complete feed).
Ways to cut the feed bill (that actually work)
- Fix waste first. Switching from an open feeder to a treadle or port feeder is the highest-ROI change available.
- Buy the big bag. Per pound, 50 lb bags usually cost 30–40% less than small bags — just store feed in a sealed metal can to keep out moisture and rodents.
- Match feed to the bird. Layer feed for layers; unmedicated grower for mixed ages with a separate oyster shell dish. Feeding layer feed to non-laying birds wastes money and excess calcium.
- Let them forage where predators and gardens allow. Even an hour of evening ranging trims consumption.
- Cull the freeloaders — a hen past her laying years eats exactly as much as a productive one. Whether she stays is a lifestyle choice, not an economic one; the calculator just makes the cost visible.
FAQ
Does this include oyster shell, grit, and treats?
No — it estimates complete feed only. Oyster shell and grit are cheap (a few dollars per flock per month, offered free-choice). Treats are up to you; keep them under 10% of intake.
Why does my flock eat more in winter?
Cold birds burn calories to stay warm, forage is gone, and daylight feeding hours are shorter, so they eat more per visit to the feeder. Budget roughly 10% extra in cold months.
Is it cheaper to mix my own feed?
Rarely, at backyard scale. Buying grains and balancing amino acids, vitamins, and calcium usually costs more per pound than commercial complete feed unless you have bulk-grain access. Where DIY wins is fermenting purchased feed — it can stretch consumption modestly and improves digestibility.