Feeding Chickens -- How Much?

[Sunny-Side Up]

So... It's chicken fever season and I'm going crazy to get my new chicks! I'm getting everything ready, including calculations for costs. In previous years, I've always found one specific handy chart that was really helpful to tell me how much food I needed, but I can't find it! Luckily I have you guys . Could any of you give me a chart or guide for how many pounds of feed per chick per week for the first 18 weeks? If not, something similar. Thanks in advance!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My best advice is to keep feeders full all waking hours. They won't overeat chicken feed.
They are ravenous eaters and will fill their crop with something if feed isn't available.
Restricting feed, unless growing broilers or raising commercial egg farm layers, isn't recommended.

 

[Sunny-Side Up]

Thanks! I'll do that, I was just wondering how much feed I'll need to buy so that I can calculate the expenses. Do you know?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

About 1/4 to 1/3 pound per bird per day. A bag of feed for six birds will last a month.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It can vary a lot depending on the type of feeder, how much is wasted, age, type and breed of chicken. A serama will eat less than half what a Jersey Giant or, heaven forbid, a Cornish X will eat.
A light breed may eat 30 grams per bird by 4 weeks while a heavy breed may eat up to 100 grams. A 20 week light breed will eat about 0.15 lbs a day while a heavy/meat bird will eat a half pound.
As you can see, it is quite variable. A chicken is a chicken but their intake will vary tremendously.

 

[Folly's place]

I 'guesstimate' about three pounds of feed per pound of gain for most breed types when I'm buying feed for chicks. Just so I don't overbuy and have stale feed, although that's never happened here!
So, ten chicks who will weigh in at six pounds each as adolescents might need about 180 pounds of feed to get to that size. Guessing.
Mary