Coop & flock
How much feed will my flock eat?
About a quarter pound per standard bird per day, turned into bags per week, month and year, with a cost.
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How this works
A full-size layer eats about ¼ lb of feed a day (1¾ lb a week — Penn State and Alabama extension figures); bantams about half that. Mixed flock? Fill in both counts. Buy a month at a time — feed goes stale and draws mice past six weeks.
Questions people ask
How much feed do 10 chickens eat a month?
Roughly 75 pounds, so about a bag and a half of 50 lb. Cold weather pushes it up and good foraging pulls it down.
Does free-ranging cut the feed bill?
Some, in the growing season, commonly 10 to 20 percent. Pasture does not replace feed for laying hens, and a flock relying on it lays worse.
Should I feed differently in winter?
Same feed, more of it - birds burn calories staying warm. Scratch late in the day is a treat rather than a ration; it dilutes the protein they need.