Poultry Flock Feed Calculator
Knowing how much feed your flock needs helps you plan purchases, manage cash flow, and avoid running out of feed. Enter your flock size, daily feed intake per bird, feed price per pound, and planning period to calculate total feed requirements and estimated cost.
Poultry feed calculation formula
Daily feed (lb) = Flock size x Feed per bird per day (lb)
Weekly feed (lb) = Daily feed x 7
Period feed (lb) = Daily feed x Planning days
Period cost ($) = Period feed x Feed price per lb
Feed consumption per bird per day varies by species, age, breed, temperature, and production stage. Use published extension service values as a starting estimate, then track actual consumption from your records for more precise planning.
Typical daily feed consumption per bird
- Laying hen (mature): 0.25 to 0.33 lb/day.
- Broiler (week 1): 0.05 lb/day; broiler (week 7): 0.55 lb/day.
- Pullet (8 to 18 weeks): 0.12 to 0.22 lb/day.
- Turkey hen (mature): 0.70 to 0.90 lb/day.
- Duck (laying): 0.33 to 0.40 lb/day.
Poultry feed calculator: frequently asked questions
How much feed does a laying hen eat per day?
A mature laying hen eats approximately 0.25 to 0.33 pounds (4 to 5.3 oz) of feed per day depending on breed, body weight, ambient temperature, production stage, and feed energy density. Penn State Extension cites approximately 0.25 lb/hen/day as a practical average for most commercial breeds.
How much feed does a broiler chicken eat per day?
Broiler feed consumption increases as birds grow. At week 1, broilers consume approximately 0.05 lb/bird/day; by week 7 they consume approximately 0.55 lb/bird/day. Cumulative feed consumption over a 6-week production cycle is approximately 10 to 12 lb per bird, giving a feed conversion ratio of approximately 1.8 to 2.0 lb feed per lb of gain.
How much feed does a turkey eat per day?
A mature broad-breasted white turkey hen eats approximately 0.7 to 0.9 lb of feed per day during grow-out. Tom turkeys eat 1.0 to 1.3 lb/day at market weight. Total feed for a 16-week production cycle is approximately 60 to 80 lb per bird.
How do I calculate total feed cost for my flock?
Multiply your daily feed consumption (from this calculator) by the number of days in your period, then multiply by feed price per pound. For example, 100 hens eating 25 lb/day for 30 days at $0.30/lb = 100 x 0.25 x 30 x $0.30 = $225.00 per month in feed cost.
Does feed consumption increase in cold weather?
Yes. Birds eat more in cold weather to maintain body temperature. For each 10 F drop below 60 F, a laying hen's feed consumption increases by approximately 3 to 5 percent. This is a well-documented effect noted in Penn State and Virginia Cooperative Extension poultry management resources.
Official sources
- Penn State Extension: Poultry Management Resources.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Small-Scale Poultry Housing (publication 2902-1085).
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.