How Much to Feed Chickens per Day - Guide to How Much Feed Chickens Need
How Much to Feed Chickens per Day - Guide to How Much Feed Chickens Need
A common question for Kiwi chicken keepers is how much to feed chickens each day to keep them healthy and productive.
Generally, chickens need around 120-130 grams of feed daily, but this can vary with their age, breed, and whether they’re for eggs or meat.
Chickens do best when they have unlimited access to food and fresh water to eat and drink as they need. For water details, see our guide to chicken water needs.
Dine-A-Chook feeders make it easy to provide consistent, waste-free access to feed. Available in two sizes, Small Feeder (3.5L) and Large Feeder (4.7L), these feeders are designed to save feed costs and keep food dry, even in changing New Zealand weather.
Daily Feeding Guide for Chickens
On average, adult chickens need:
- 120-125 grams for laying hens to keep up egg production.
- 130 grams for broilers (meat chickens), which consume more as they grow.
For a flock of six, that’s about 700-800 grams of feed each day. The Large Feeder (4.7L) holds enough for multiple days, keeping feed available so your chickens can eat naturally and stay healthy.
For larger flocks, it’s best to get multiple feeders to avoid frequent refilling and to avoid pecking order issues.
Feeding Needs by Age
To better manage costs and health, here’s what to expect in feed needs by age:
- Chicks: From hatch to 8 weeks, chicks need 10-25 grams daily, increasing as they grow.
- Pullets: Between 8-20 weeks, young chickens eat 60-100 grams daily as they develop.
- Laying Hens: Hens need 120-125 grams each day once they start laying.
- Broilers: Meat chickens may eat up to 130 grams daily or more.
These values are averages; keeping feed available all day lets chickens adjust to their needs naturally.
Note: pay attention also to the type of feed you give your chickens at different stages of life. Chicks need chick starter feed and laying chickens do best with layer feed.
Benefits of Having the Right Feeder
Dine-A-Chook feeders are ideal for reducing waste and protecting feed from rain.
Here’s why they’re great for Kiwi flocks:
- Less Feed Waste: The special feed trough stops chickens from scattering feed, saving on costs.
- Weather Protection: Each feeder has a patented rain hood to keep feed dry.
- Right Size for All Flocks: Choose the Small Feeder (3.5L) for chicks or small flocks, or the Large Feeder (4.7L) for larger groups. Each feeder can feed 4-6 chickens for several days.
Feeding Tips for a Healthy Flock
- Check Feed Levels Often: Regular checks make sure food is always available.
- Watch Your Flock’s Behavior: Healthy chickens are active, social, and lay regularly if they’re layers.
- Adapt to the Weather: In colder months, chickens may need extra feed to stay warm.
Why Free Feeding Works for Chickens
Allowing chickens constant access to food has many benefits:
- Reduces Stress: When food is always available, chickens don’t fight over it.
- Supports Growth and Egg Production: Free feeding ensures hens lay steadily and broilers grow well.
With a Dine-A-Chook feeder, free feeding is straightforward, reducing the need for constant refills and keeping feed fresh.
How Much Feed Per Chicken Daily?
For easy planning, allow around 120 grams per chicken daily.
For example:
- 10 chickens: Plan for 1.2 kg of feed each day.
- 20 chickens: Plan for 2.4 kg daily.
Our Small Feeder (3.5L) suits small flocks, while the Large Feeder (4.7L) is ideal for larger groups, making free feeding convenient.
Feed Right with Dine-A-Chook
Feeding chickens properly doesn’t have to be hard.
Knowing their daily feed needs and using a reliable feeder makes poultry care easy and efficient.
Dine-A-Chook feeders are perfect for Kiwi chicken keepers who want a simple, waste-free way to manage feed. For more on how our feeders can make a difference, check out our full range here.
Happy chicken keeping!
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