how many Lbs. of feed needed

[Tim in Pa.]

I'm trying to do some planning on future expenses for feed for my soon to arrive 25 chicks,As I am completely new to this (raised a few hogs and couple cows but never chickens) How many pounds of feed will I approx. need for the 25 a week or a month or whatever time frame you want to break it down to, as chicks and a ballpark amount at older ages? I know this will vary but a rough estimate is all I'm looking for at this time.

Thanks,Tim

 

[ScottK]

I think you'll need 50 lbs for the first 6-7 weeks. Beyond that, I'm not sure since it depends what else they get to eat.

 

[All about the EGG]

I have gone thru almost 50lbs. in 6 weeks, and I have 5 sex links!

 

[panner123]

Once the chickens start laying they will eat about 1/3 pound of food per day each. alittle less if they are free ranged.

 

[ams3651]

my nearly 3 week olds, 8 of them, eat about 5 pounds in 3-4 days (well they spill some and some I have to dump when its almost empty) ...they were out of the 20 pound bags at TSC

hope it helps

 

[kbarrett]

I have 14 chicks, now 6 weeks old and I am to the end of my 3rd 25lb bag of starter. That averages out to 1.8 lb per day.
This of course includes the amounts wasted by them being messy eaters

 

[Tim in Pa.]

Thats everyone ,WOW they eat alot more than I thought! I can just see the future now "Honey sorry no steaks this week we need to buy another sack of feed for the chicks"

 

[WrenAli]

Just like cows and hogs it depends on what breed you are raising. They all have different growth rates and thus different feed needs.

With my first batch this year I have 12 Cornish cross and 3 Barreds and they went through 50 lbs of food in the first 4 weeks. That averages about .84 pounds per bird per week.

Now that I have them moved to grower they are eating a bit more, that or I am just being weirded out by the larger feeder. But it seems that they are eating more. I think it will be about a bag every 2 weeks. Or approx 1.6 pounds a week.

I know that the Cornish are eating far more than my Barred Rocks. But it will give you an idea.

 

[digitS']

Here's a link to info on the University of Missouri, Department of Animal Sciences website. Scroll down to Table 3.

You'll see that a 2 week old chick eats 90 grams of feed per week.
90 grams = .20 lb;
25 chicks x .20 = 5 lbs/week

A 12 week old pullet eats 430 grams each week.
430 grams ~ 1 lb;
25 pullets x 1 = 25 lbs/week

At 24 weeks, a laying hen eats 595 grams of feed each week.
595 grams = 1.3 lb;
25 hens x 1.3 = 32.5 lbs/week

A laying hen's feed requirements peak at 30 weeks at 1.7 lbs of feed weekly. That's right at a quarter pound of feed every day.

These are low-ball numbers - Leghorn type chickens.

Steve

 

[cjeanean]

When my chicks were a week old (I had 10 of them) a 5 lb bag lasted a good week. I got a 50 lb bag after that and it lasted till they were old enough to be outside, about 4 more weeks. Now, I have 28 chickens outside, and they go through about 50lbs of feed in about a week and a half. I'm gonna keep more detailed track when I get my 27 chicks this week.