Chicken Feed Calculator

Quick reference

Common backyard flock sizes

Realistic feed and bag-duration estimates for typical backyard laying flocks. Use these as a sanity check against your own results.

Estimates use about 0.25 lb of feed per laying hen per day. Mixed flocks, bantams, and active free-rangers will differ.

Common feeding questions

Quick answers to feed math questions

• How much feed does one chicken eat per day?

  A standard laying hen eats about a quarter pound of complete feed per day, or roughly half to three-quarters of a cup. Bantams eat less, big breeds like Brahmas eat a little more, and chicks ramp up from very small portions over their first few months.

• How many cups of feed does one chicken eat per day?

  About half to three-quarters of a cup of layer feed per laying hen per day. The exact number depends on feed density, the bird's size, and how much foraging she is doing.

• How much feed do 6 chickens need per day?

  Six laying hens need about 1.5 pounds of feed per day, which is roughly 4 to 5 cups. That works out to about 45 pounds per month, or about one 50 lb bag.

• How long does a 50 lb bag of chicken feed last?

  For 6 laying hens, a 50 lb bag lasts about a month. For 3 hens it lasts roughly 2 months. For 10 hens it lasts about 20 days. Mixed-age flocks and active free-rangers shift the timing.

• How long does a 40 lb bag of chicken feed last?

  Roughly four-fifths of a 50 lb bag. For 6 laying hens that is about 26 to 27 days. For 3 hens, about 53 days.

• Should chickens have feed available all day?

  Yes. Most backyard flocks do best with constant access to balanced feed during daylight hours. Free choice feeding lets each hen eat what she needs without competition stress.

• Can chickens overeat feed?

  Healthy adult chickens self-regulate well on complete feed. Overeating problems usually come from too many treats and scratch grain, not from layer feed. Keep treats under about 10 percent of the daily diet.

• Do bantam chickens eat less?

  Yes. A bantam typically eats about half what a standard hen eats, roughly an eighth of a pound a day. Their feed bills are smaller, but the per-bird math still uses the same complete feed.

• How much should chicks eat?

  Chicks start very small (less than a tenth of a pound a day) and increase steadily through their first few months. Free choice starter feed is the simplest approach. Growth, not a fixed daily ration, is the right thing to track.

• How much should I budget for chicken feed per month?

  For a 6-hen backyard flock at typical 2025 prices, plan on about $20 to $30 a month for layer feed. Larger flocks scale roughly linearly. Buying bigger bags usually lowers the per-pound cost.

• Do treats count toward daily feed?

  Yes. Treats and scratch grain together should stay under about 10 percent of the daily diet. They dilute the balanced nutrition that complete feed provides if they push much higher.

• How much scratch grain should chickens get?

  A small handful per bird in the late afternoon is plenty. Scratch is a treat, not a feed. Use it for training, bonding, and a little cold-weather warmth, not as a meal replacement.