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 |
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