The expression “my eyes were bigger than my stomach” doesn’t apply to chickens. As it turns out, chickens' eyes are exactly as big as their stomach — well, not in literal terms, but when it comes to how much they’ll eat. Chickens will rarely, if ever, overeat, instead eating exactly as much as they need to thrive. So, when you’re feeding them, you never have to worry about putting out too much food. 

Chickens can, however, be underfed — and there’s quite a bit to know about their nutritional requirements. Read on to learn everything you need to know to feed your chickens at every stage of development. 

How much should I feed my chickens?

How much you feed your chickens will depend on their breed and stage of life.

Fully grown chickens

In this guide we’re focused on two types of chickens: meat chickens (also called broiler chickens) and egg chickens (the ones that you raise to lay eggs, also called layer chickens). There are plenty more breeds of chickens, and there are variations within those two categories, but for feeding purposes, this is specific enough. 

The general rule is that fully grown chickens will eat 4 ounces, or ¼ lb, of food per day or 1 ¾ lbs of food per week. That may increase slightly for broiler chickens, which tend to be larger than egg chickens. 

To meet this requirement, you’ll need to buy a 50-pound bag around every seven and a half months for a single chicken. For two chickens, you’ll need a 50-pound bag every four months. For four chickens, about every two months, and so on and so forth. 

Chicks and growing chickens

For meat and egg chicks, there’s a bit more specificity in how much feed each one needs. Egg-laying chicks require less food for a longer period of time, whereas meat chicks will need to start eating more food sooner. 

Both egg and meat chicks should start out eating about an ounce of starter feed (that’s feed with about 20% protein) a day. Egg chicks should stay on this diet for six weeks, while meat chicks will only remain on this diet for two. Starting on week three for meat chicks and week seven for egg chicks, you should switch from starter to grower feed (this is feed with about 18% protein) and push them up to three ounces a day. 

Egg chicks will stay on grower feed until week sixteen, at which point they should start laying eggs and be switched to layer feed. Meat chicks will stay on grower feed for about eight weeks and need around fourteen pounds of feed. 

Here’s a brief schedule for how to feed your chicks: 

Meat chicks

• Begin with one ounce of starter feed per day for two weeks. 

• At week three, switch to grower feed and increase the volume to up to three ounces per day. 

• In eight weeks, or at week 10, these birds are ready for adult chicken feed, at a quantity of about 4 ounces per day

Egg chicks

• Begin with one ounce of starter feed per day for six weeks. 

• At week seven, switch to grower feed and increase the volume to up to three ounces per day.

• In ten weeks, or once the birds are 16 weeks old, you can introduce layer feed and increase to 4 ounces per day. 

When your egg chickens begin laying eggs, you can also consider adding additional calcium to their diet, as this will support strong, sturdy eggshells. 

How often should I feed my chickens?

Chickens are masters of moderation, so you really never have to be too worried about overfeeding them. However, they do prefer to eat several times a day, as opposed to just one meal, so you should consider feeding them small amounts two to four times per day. 

If you’d rather not venture to the backyard coop for feeding times, you can also set up an unlimited feeder — or any vessel that can hold a lot of chicken feed at once. That way, your chickens can decide when they’re hungry and eat when they’re ready, whether you’re there or not. If you have a larger coop with many chickens, you should consider placing two feeders in it. Chickens higher in the pecking order will often eat first, meaning smaller chickens might miss out on the meal — multiple feeders mean more space for them to spread out so everyone can eat. 

Be aware that these types of feeders can also attract unwanted guests into the chicken coop. So, if you do have a feeder, make sure that there’s no way for rodents or other wildlife to make their way in to have a snack, too. 

How much water do chickens need?

Typically, chickens will drink roughly one quart of water per pound of food they eat, meaning they drink twice as much as they eat. And, just like humans, chickens tend to drink more water when they’re hot, so if you live in a warmer climate, make sure to keep them well-hydrated. There’s no downside to having a large water source for your chickens in the coop. 

What type of food should I feed my chickens?

If you choose to feed your chickens store-bought feed, look for organic, non-GMO formulations.

If you’d like to have more control over what your chickens are eating, you can make your own chicken feed. Making homemade chicken feed ensures that your food is high quality and free of preservatives. It can also create an opportunity to give some of your uneaten food a new life — with the help of a Mill food recycler. Mill takes all your food scraps, dries, and grinds them overnight — all while conserving the nutrients the food had prior to being recycled. In the morning, you can add fresh, dry grounds to supplement your chicken feed or sprinkle them on it as a treat. According to the EPA, feeding animals is the second best use for food that won’t be eaten by humans. A win-win!

Sources:

1. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment: “How Much Will My Chickens Eat?” December, 2012. https://publications.ca.uky.edu/files/ASC191.pdf

2. RCR Organic Feed Store: “Poultry Feed Charts.” https://www.rcrorganicfeedstore.com/Poultry-Feed-Charts

3. United States Environmental Protection Agency: “Wasted Food Scale.” September 27, 2024. https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/wasted-food-scale