Raising backyard chickens for eggs is becoming increasingly popular. However, many first-time chicken owners wonder – how much feed does a laying hen eat each day? Understanding the daily nutritional requirements of your flock is key to keeping your chickens healthy and maximizing egg production.
The Basics of Layer Chicken Feed Intake
On average, a laying hen eats about 1⁄4-pound of feed per day or 1.5 pounds of feed per week If you’re buying a 50-pound bag of feed, it would feed your chicken for about 33 weeks If you have four hens in your flock, eating about 6 pounds of feed a week, you’ll go through a 50-pound bag of feed about every 8 weeks.
However, feed intake can vary quite a bit depending on factors like:
- Age of the chicken
- Egg production level
- Weather and season
- Diet composition
- Feed quality
For example, younger pullets that are not yet laying will eat less than mature hens. Hens laying 5 eggs per week will eat more than hens laying only 2 eggs per week. Chickens eat more in cold weather to generate body heat. And low-quality feed with less protein and nutrients may cause chickens to overeat to meet their nutritional needs.
Feed Requirements by Age
The feed requirements of chickens change as they mature:
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Chicks (0-6 weeks): Chicks will consume about 1 pound of starter feed per week. Provide starter feed free-choice.
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Pullets (7-18 weeks): Pullets eat 1.5-2 pounds of grower feed per week. Again, allow free-choice feeding.
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Laying Hens (19+ weeks) Feed consumption jumps to around 1⁄4 pound per day as hens start laying eggs. Give layer feed free-choice.
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Non-Laying/Senior Hens: Feed intake drops off for hens not actively laying eggs. Limit feed to prevent obesity.
Tips for Feeding Your Flock
Here are some tips for managing feed intake for your backyard laying flock:
- Provide fresh feed and clean water daily.
- Use high-quality layer feed appropriate for your hens’ age.
- Allow hens to free-range and supplement their diet.
- Adjust rations based on egg production, weight gain/loss, and season.
- Prevent waste by using well-designed feeders.
- Store feed properly to maintain nutrition.
- Calculate costs annually and per dozen eggs.
Monitoring how much your chickens are eating on a daily and weekly basis will help you refine their diet. Learn your hens’ normal feeding habits so you can quickly identify any changes that could indicate a health or nutrition issue. With proper feeding management, your homegrown eggs will continue filling those cartons!
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!
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.
7 Surprising Rules for Feeding Chickens
FAQ
How long does a 50 lb bag of chicken feed last?
That means a 50-pound bag contains about 200 daily servings for a single hen. That same bag lasts about 40 days for five chickens—just under six weeks.Mar 4, 2025
How many bags of feed for 100 layers per day?
One layer chick eats 2kg of mash feed feed from 0 to 8 weeks multiply by 100 layer chicks divided by 50 to convert to number of bags= 4 bags 2. One layer eats 5kg of mash grower from 9 to 18 weeks that is to the point of lay multiply by 100 divided by 50 to get the number of bags = 10 bags.
What is the 90 10 rule for feeding chickens?
90/10: The chicken feed rule to follow
To prevent nutrient dilution, provide complete feed for at least 90 percent of the bird’s diet. The remaining 10 percent can be filled with chicken treats, table scraps or scratch grains.
How many cups of feed per laying hen?
When common crumble layer or grower feed are weighed and measured the results are as follows: Small laying hens require 1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp of feed per day, …Jun 2, 2025
How much feed does a Layer chicken eat a day?
The average quantity of feed consumed by a layer from day 1 to point of lay. What is this? How much feed does a layer chicken eat daily? A healthy laying chicken will consume or eat an average of 115 grams (0.115 kg) of feed per day under the most suitable environment and production system. How much feed per layer chicken in her lifetime?
How much feed should a chicken eat a day?
Once chickens start laying eggs or are 18 weeks old (whichever comes first), the average hen needs about 1/4 lb of layer feed (Amazon) a day, which is roughly 3/4 cups daily. 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.
How much feed does a layer eat?
A layer will consume a total of 69 kg of feed in her lifetime. How to calculate feed intake in poultry? This is done by dividing the quantity of feed eaten or consumed by the number of chickens served.
How long does a Layer chicken last?
A layer chicken can last up to 2 years and would have consumed nearly 69 kg of feed from day old until 2 years old of age. 3. How to calculate feed intake in poultry? You can easily calculate feed intake by dividing the quantity to feed consumed by the number of chickens served. 4. How do you feed layers from day old?
How much do laying hens eat a day?
On average, a laying chicken consumes approximately 1/4 to 1/3 pound of feed per day. However, individual requirements may vary, so monitor their appetite and adjust accordingly. Can I feed my laying hens kitchen scraps?
How many GMs can a chicken eat a day?
Each chicken can eat up to 105 gms a day. For 1000, the daily feed needed would be 105,000 gms or 105 kgs. Then, by multiplying the number of days by the quantity, you will get the feed required to feed layers. This stage has 350 days so, 350 days x 105kg equals 36750 kgs. Therefore, the feed bags required would be about 1470.