Measuring and monitoring your laying hen and meat bird feed intake will ensure they are attaining optimal production with minimal input. If you weigh and measure common crumble layer or grower feed, you’ll find that small laying hens need 1/3 cup (1 Tbsp) of feed per day, medium-sized hens need 3/4 cups, and large chickens need 1 cup (2 Tbsp) of layer ration per day.
Broiler chicken’s required feed increases on average, 3 Tbsp every week, with the greatest jump occurring during the first 4 weeks. A 4 week old Cornish cross will consume 1 cup of feed per day, and a 9 week old meat bird will consume close to 2 cups of feed each day.
It can be hard to figure out how much chicken feed to give your flock every day, especially if you are new to keeping chickens. How much feed your chickens need depends on a number of things, such as their breed and age, the weather, and whether they are free range or not. There are a lot of different situations where the right amount of food to give your chickens each day is broken down in this useful guide.
Key Factors That Determine Feed Intake
When deciding how much to feed your chickens, consider the following key elements
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Chicken breed and age – Standard breeds need 1/3 to 1/2 cup per bird daily Bantams and chicks require less Meat chickens need more,
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Egg production: Hens that lay a lot of eggs need more food, up to 1/2 cup per bird.
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Free-ranging – Chickens that forage outdoors require 25% less feed.
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Cold weather – Increase feed by 10-15% in winter to meet added calorie needs.
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Feed type – Pelleted feeds are more dense than crumbles or whole grains. 1/4 lb of pellets is around 1/2 cup.
Monitoring your flock’s appetite, egg production, and weight will help fine-tune their feed amounts over time. Now let’s look at some specific feeding guidelines.
Laying Hens
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Average – 1/3 to 1/2 cup of 16-18% protein layer feed. Offer calcium supplements.
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High producing – Up to 1/2 cup per hen. Ensure calcium levels meet demand.
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During molt – Increase to 1/2 cup per bird to meet protein needs.
Free-choice oyster shell and grit should be available at all times. Limit scratch grains to occasional treats.
Meat Birds & Broilers
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Meat chickens – 3/4 to 1 cup of high-protein grower feed per bird daily.
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Broilers – Provide high-calorie feed with minimum 3,200 kcal/kg. Limit intake to optimize growth.
Rapid growth requires dense nutrition. Avoid overfeeding which can reduce weight gain.
Chicks & Pullets
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Day-olds – 1 to 1.5 cups of 20% protein chick starter feed per bird daily.
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2-5 weeks – Slowly increase feed as chicks grow. Offer starter feed free choice.
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At 5 weeks – Switch to 16% grower feed. Provide 2-2.5 cups per pullet daily.
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At 18-20 weeks – Transition to layer feed before first eggs arrive.
Ensure starter feed nutrients support baby chick development. Adjust amounts based on appetite and growth rate.
Other Feeding Considerations
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Increase feed during cold weather to meet added calorie requirements.
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Reduce feed up to 25% for free-range chickens who forage for extra nutrients.
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If leaving for under 3 days, use an automatic feeder with measured portions.
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Store feed in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Keeping an eye on your flock while you make small changes to their food is key to making sure they stay healthy and productive. As a starting point, use these guidelines. Then, change the amounts to meet the needs of your flock. You’ll get your chickens to eat just the right amount every day after some trial and error.
My chickens seem hungry, should I feed them more?
Chickens will constantly be active; scratching and foraging for food, this does not necessarily mean that they are hungry. It is their instinct.
If you give them self-mixed feed, you might need to check your feed ratios to make sure they are getting the right amount of protein and nutrients.
The best way to know if your hens are getting the appropriate amount of feed is to monitor egg production on a regular basis. If production seems to be dropping and you are getting fewer eggs, you might want to start giving them more food—just over 1 cup of food per bird.
These feeding recommendations are based on a dry feed, balanced diet with the appropriate percent protein, mineral, and vitamin content for broiler birds such as the Cornish cross.
Ration from commercial feed mills will contain all of the necessary elements to raise healthy birds, but it is possible to mix your own feed or supplement commercial feed to reduce costs.
- Chick Starter: Day 1- 14 days
- Grower/Finisher: Day 15 – harvest
Some products suggest feeding chick starter for the first 28 days, use your own judgement.
Commercial feed with supplemental grains mixture for layers
The following is a simple recipe combining the vitamin and mineral benefits of the commercial layer crumble, with common local grains :
With these recipes, you can make 25 kg (55 pounds) of feed, which is the same as one regular-sized bag from the feed store.
For adult laying hens
- Example 1
- 20% of the layer ratio is 3.7 cups, which is about 2.2 of a five-gallon barrel.
- 50% wheat= 92. 5 cups (equal to one five-gallon pail and one ice cream pail)
- 25% barley equals 2046 cups, which is about 203/4 of a five-gallon barrel.
- 5% calcium is equal to 9 cups, which is about 21/2 of an ice cream cone.
- Example 2
- 20% of the layer is made up of 3.7 cups, which is about 2.2 percent of a five-gallon barrel.
- 20% barley= 37 cups ( ” ” )
- 20% oats= 37 cups ( ” ” )
- 25% wheat equals 2046 cups, which is about 2034/4 of a five-gallon barrel.
- 5% calcium is equal to 9 cups, which is about 21/2 of an ice cream cone.
Note: Legumes (excluding Faba beans) can be substituted for 20% , canola up to 10%, and rye up to 20% (but only for adult chickens, as young birds cannot digest rye).
It is recommended to put hard grains through a roller or mix mill, however, a chicken’s crop will strengthen and they will be able to crush and digest the whole grains.
Gradually increase the whole grain content from 5% up to 50%. It is good practice to roll the remaining 50% to ensure optimal absorption of nutrients.
Soaking your grains over night or fermenting for up to 3 days, would be a good alternative to rolling the grain. This will also reduce the amount of feed your chickens will consume due to the added nutrient density of the fermentation process and absorbed water content.
How Much Feed Do My Chickens Need?
FAQ
How much should I feed my chickens?
An average hen will eat around ½ cup of feed per day. In addition to their feed, you should limit treats to about 10% of their daily intake. You should feed this amount to each chicken. You can start by weighing the feed, but you will get used to the amount they need after a while.
How much food should a chicken eat a day?
Usually, chickens eat about 3/4 cup of feed every day, but there is a recommended range from 80 g to 150 g. Based on standard commercial crumble ration, this is equal to 1/2 cup (1 tablespoon) to 1 cup (2 tablespoons) of feed per chicken per day. Week 1 -4: 3 Tbsp of chick starter per chick per day.
How much chicken feed does a rooster need?
The average rooster needs approximately 3/4 cups (1/4 lb) of chicken feed a day. But I’ve had big roosters that would eat a lot more than this because they were out all day looking for food and keeping the hens safe. Please Note: Roosters need feed that contains less calcium (Amazon) compared to what egg-laying hens need.
How much chicken feed is in a 50 lb bag?
A 50 lb bag of chicken feed typically contains between 150 and 200 cups of feed. This range can vary slightly depending on the brand and type of chicken feed. The average adult chicken needs about 3/4 cup of feed per day, so a 50 lb bag of chicken feed would be enough to last one chicken approximately 200 to 266 days.
How much feed does a broiler chicken eat a day?
Broiler chicken’s required feed increases on average, 3 Tbsp every week, with the greatest jump occurring during the first 4 weeks. A 4 week old Cornish cross will consume 1 cup of feed per day, and a 9 week old meat bird will consume close to 2 cups of feed each day.
How much water do chickens need per day?
Laying hens typically drink twice as much water as they eat, equating to 1 cup of fresh, clean water per day per bird. Chickens will require much more fresh water on hot days, nearing 4 cups per chicken. Mature meat birds (6 weeks) require at least, 1 cup of water per bird per day 13.
How many cups of feed should a chicken eat a day?
Most commonly, chickens will consume 3/4 cups of feed per day, although there is a window of recommendation from 80 g- 150 g. Weighing and measuring standard commercial crumble ration, this equates to 1/2 cup + 1 Tbsp through to 1 cup + 2 Tbsp of feed per chicken per day.
What is the 90/10 rule for chickens?
The “90/10 rule” for chickens refers to a feeding guideline that recommends 90% of a chicken’s daily diet should be a complete feed, while the remaining 10% can be treats.
How much should I feed my 12 chickens a day?
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.
How many cups of chicken should I eat a day?
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern recommends the average person eat 26 ounces of poultry (including chicken) per week. Per day, this would be roughly the same as eating 3.5 ounces of chicken breast.