Chicken feed per day.

Worked example

Ten hens at 0.25 lb: 10 × 0.25 = 2.5 lb a day, 75 lb a month. A 50 lb bag lasts 50 ÷ 2.5 = 20 days. At $28 a bag (an example price) that is 1.5 bags and $42.00 a month, 18.3 bags and $511.00 a year.

How it works

Feed per day = hens × pounds per hen × (1 + extra percent / 100). Bag life = bag size ÷ feed per day. The default 0.25 lb comes from Backyard & Small Poultry Flock Management Series: Feeding the Laying Hen (Alabama Cooperative Extension System): a laying hen eats between 100 and 150 grams of feed a day, roughly 0.25 pounds, so 10 hens use a 50 lb bag in about 20 days. The same guide says a gallon of water a day covers roughly 16 laying hens, which is the water line here. Treats, free range, breed, age, season and molting change intake; the extra field is yours, not a published figure.

Sources (opened 2026-10-08): Backyard & Small Poultry Flock Management Series: Feeding the Laying Hen (Alabama Cooperative Extension System).

FAQ

How much feed does a chicken eat per day?

Alabama Extension says a laying hen eats between 100 and 150 grams of complete feed a day, roughly 0.25 pounds.

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

For 10 laying hens at 0.25 lb each, about 20 days.

How much water do hens need?

The same extension guide says a gallon of water a day is enough for roughly 16 laying hens, and that clean water must always be available.

Does this work for meat birds or chicks?

No. It is for adult laying hens fed a complete layer feed. Chicks and meat birds eat differently.