How Much Feed Does a Chicken Eat?

A common question among poultry owners, especially those new to raising birds, is "How much do my birds eat, so I know how much feed to buy?".  

Below are some general guidelines to go by, keeping in mind that a variety of factors, from weather to other available food sources, can influence the exact amount of prepared feed your birds will consume.

Feeding Amounts for Newly Hatched Birds:

Type of Bird	Feeding period	Total amount of feed
Layer chicks	First 10 weeks	9-10 lbs per bird
Broiler chicks (based on Cornish Game Birds)	First 6 weeks	8-9 lbs per bird
Turkeys	First 12 weeks	72 lbs per bird
Geese	First 8 weeks	53 lbs per bird
Ducks	First 8 weeks	22 lbs per bird
Gamebirds	First 8 weeks	9 lbs per bird

 

Feeding Amounts for Laying Birds:

Type of Bird	Total amount of feed
Chickens	1.5 lbs per bird per week
Turkeys	4 - 5 lbs per bird per week
Geese	3 lbs per bird per week
Gamebirds	1 - 1.5 lbs per bird per week