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 |
Source
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?”.
