How Much Does a Chicken Eat per Day? Feed Amounts & Costs
A standard laying hen eats about a quarter pound (4 ounces) of feed a day. That is about 7.6 lb a month and about 91 lb a year. Bantams eat a little over half as much, and chicks eat far less, about 0.08 lb (1.3 oz) a day on average over their first 8 weeks.
Daily feed by age and type
| Bird | Feed per day | Feed per month | Feed type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laying hen (standard size) | about 0.25 lb (4 oz) | about 7.6 lb | Layer, 16% protein |
| Rooster | about 0.25 lb (4 oz) | about 7.6 lb | All-flock, or layer |
| Bantam | about 0.14 lb (2.2 oz) | about 4.3 lb | Layer |
| Pullet (8–18 weeks) | about 0.2 lb (3.2 oz) | about 6.1 lb | Grower |
| Chick (0–8 weeks) | about 0.08 lb (1.3 oz) | about 2.4 lb | Chick starter |
The chick figure is an average. A day-old chick eats only a pinch, while a 7-week-old eats close to what a pullet does.
What changes how much a chicken eats
- Cold weather: hens eat more to stay warm. Expect the bag to empty faster in winter.
- Laying: a hen in full lay eats more than one that has stopped for the season.
- Molt: regrowing feathers takes protein, and appetite often rises during a molt.
- Free-ranging: birds that forage on good pasture eat less from the feeder, though how much less depends on the season and the ground.
- Waste: feeders that let hens flick feed onto the floor can lose a surprising share. A deeper trough or a treadle feeder helps.
- Treats: keep kitchen scraps and treats under about 10% of the diet so the balanced feed still does its job.
How long does a 50 lb bag last?
| Laying hens | Feed per day | A 50 lb bag lasts | Bags per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.75 lb | about 67 days | about 5.5 |
| 6 | 1.5 lb | about 33 days | about 11 |
| 10 | 2.5 lb | about 20 days | about 18 |
| 20 | 5 lb | about 10 days | about 36.5 |
What it costs
At $22 for a 50 lb bag, one laying hen eats about $3–4 of feed a month. A flock of 6 hens eats about 45.6 lb a month, about $20 in feed. If those 6 hens lay 4 eggs a day between them, the feed cost works out to about $1.98 a dozen. Your price per bag, your flock and your egg count will move that number, so run your own figures in the calculator.
How to feed
Most keepers leave feed available all day in a hanging or treadle feeder, and let hens eat as much as they want. Healthy chickens are good at eating to their needs as long as the feed is a complete ration for their age. Offer oyster shell on the side for laying hens, and make sure clean water is always available: a hen without water soon stops eating and laying.
Common questions
How much feed does a chicken need per week?
About 1.75 lb a week for a standard laying hen (0.25 lb a day × 7 days). Six hens eat about 10.5 lb a week.
Can you overfeed chickens?
With a complete feed, most chickens regulate themselves well. Problems usually come from too many treats, scraps or scratch grains, which fill them up without the protein and calcium they need.
Figures are typical values from university extension and breed-association guidance. Estimates only. Individual animals vary — confirm pregnancy and health questions with your veterinarian.