How much feed chickens eat daily, monthly costs, and the differences between cage, free-range, and pasture-raised eggs from a seasoned homesteader's journey.
Our Chicken Journey: From Weasel Woes to Egg Empire
It was 2009, three years into our marriage and new land, and two kiddos at my hip. Matt and I were wide-eyed newbie homesteaders with dreams and a chicken tractor with Freedom Rangers (Rudd Rangers). We were all set for our great chicken adventure—free-ranging. I mean, if you’re going to raise chickens, go big or go home, right?
Well… Matt left the chicken tractor door open. Just once. The weasel didn’t hesitate. Let’s say that night was a hard lesson in the importance of secure coops. The weasel won. Our broiler flock, unfortunately, did not.
We took a break from chickens for a bit after that. But anyone who has tasted a fresh, bright-yolked egg from a backyard hen knows you never really quit chickens. You... take a pause. So we paused. We learned. We grew. And they guys trapped the predators on our land to manage.
Fast-forward to 2022. Pregnant with baby number six and with far more dirt under my nails and homesteading wisdom under my belt, we dove back in. We built a more secure system (no more weasel drive-thrus) and mapped out a plan to raise layers that would feed our family, especially during the infamous egg shortage (remember that?!).
I never expected chickens to be such a pivotal part of our homestead. But now, in 2025, we’ve grown from breakfast eggs to a wholesale egg business, a whole breeding program for our farm only, and one of the largest flocks in our region.
And with that journey has come a LOT of chicken feed.
So… how much do chickens eat? And how much do they cost? Grab your favorite cup of tea or coffee, because I’m laying it all out (pun 100% intended).
How Much Feed Do Chickens Eat?
Let’s start with the golden question and the beginning of chicken math.
You're staring down a 50-lb bag of layer feed and thinking, How long will this last me?
Here's the quick breakdown:
- Laying hens (standard size): eat about ¼ to ⅓ pound of feed daily.
- That’s roughly 1.5 to 2 pounds per week per hen.
- For a flock of 10 hens, 15 to 20 pounds a week.
- This means that one 50-pound bag will last 2.5 to 3 weeks.
- Feed Cost: $18 a bag for conventional and $25 a bag
Of course, this is an average. The actual amount will vary depending on:
- Breed (larger breeds = larger appetites)
- Age (chicks eat less, meat birds eat more)
- Season (in winter, chickens eat more because they’re not grazing)
- Whether they free range or are confined (free rangers eat less feed)
We let our birds forage when the season allows and supplement with garden scraps and fermented grains, which considerably extends feed.
Pro tip: Soaked or fermented feed increases nutrient absorption and reduces feed waste by up to 30%. That’s real savings!
Truthfully, How Much Do Chickens Cost Per Month?
Let’s get into the math. Because everyone loves math, right? Okay, maybe not, but this will help your budget.
Let’s say you have 10 laying hens:
- Feed: ~$20 per 50-lb bag
2 bags/month = $40 - Bedding (straw, pine shavings): ~$10/month
- Supplements (grit, oyster shell, kelp): ~$5-10/month
- Electricity for heat lamps/water warmers (in winter): ~$5-15/month, depending on your region
- Miscellaneous (health care, coop repairs): ~$5-10/month
Estimated monthly cost for 10 hens: $65-75
Now here’s the flip side—what do you get back?
- An average hen lays 4–6 eggs/week = 40–60 eggs/week for 10 hens
That’s 3–5 dozen.
Your hens almost pay for themselves. And if you scale up like we did?
Cha-ching. You’ve got a full-fledged egg biz on your hands.
What Do Chickens Eat? (Besides Everything They Shouldn’t)
Have you ever watched a chicken try to eat a frog, or your freshly planted strawberry starts? Chickens are omnivores, not insectivores, of the animal kingdom. But just because they’ll try to eat anything doesn’t mean they should.
Here’s what a healthy chicken diet includes:
1. Commercial Layer Feed
- This is their main diet. It contains the perfect balance of protein (16–18%), calcium, and other essential nutrients for laying.
2. Grit & Oyster Shell
- Grit helps them digest their food (they don’t have teeth, after all).
- Oyster shell provides calcium for strong eggshells.
3. Table Scraps (aka chicken dessert)
- Safe scraps: veggie peels, cooked rice, old bread, fruit, etc.
- Avoid: raw potato peels, chocolate, onions, avocado pits, and anything moldy.
4. Foraging Goodies
- Chickens adore bugs, grass, seeds, and weeds.
- Bonus: free-ranging cuts down on feed costs and keeps the flock entertained.
5. Treats (in moderation)
- Mealworms, scratch grains, or fermented goodies.
- Like with toddlers, too many treats = cranky, unproductive chickens.
What’s the Real Difference Between Cage, Free-Range, and Pasture-Raised Eggs?
We’ve all seen the labels at the grocery store and wondered, “Wait, what’s the real difference?” Here’s the deal from a homesteader who’s seen it all.
Cage Eggs
- Hens live in cramped battery cages, often with less space than a sheet of paper.
- No access to the outdoors.
- Cheapest eggs, both nutritionally and ethically.
Free-Range Eggs
- Hens are technically cage-free and have access to the outdoors.
- But that can mean a tiny pop-door to a concrete pad.
- Better than cage eggs, but not what most people picture.
Pasture-Raised Eggs (like ours)
- Hens spend their days outdoors, rotating on fresh pasture.
- They forage, scratch, dust bathe, and soak in the sun.
- Nutritionally superior (more omega-3s, beta carotene, and vitamin D)
- And honestly? They taste like sunshine.
The yolks are so orange, they practically glow.
Once you’ve tasted a pasture-raised egg, there’s no going back.
How to Stretch Chicken Feed Like a Pro
Let me tell you, when feed prices went haywire in 2022, folks had to get really creative. If you're raising birds for your family or scaling up like we did, saving on feed is the name of the game. Thankfully, we have a few local feed mills in our area and weren't affected.
Tips to Stretch Your Feed:
- Ferment it.
- 3 parts water to 1 part feed, let it sit 24-48 hrs.
- Less waste, more nutrition.
- Free-range or rotate pasture.
- Bugs, grass, and weeds are free. Chickens work for it!
- Grow a chicken garden.
- Sunflowers, kale, amaranth, squash, and comfrey all grow great and feed flocks well.
- Add scraps & gleaning.
- Ask local stores for old produce, or save kitchen scraps.
- Mix in whole grains.
- Scratch grains, corn, oats, and soaked barley can round out diets in moderation.
A Peek at Our Daily Routine
For the curious folks wondering how we handle such a big flock (we're talking hundreds of birds now!), here's our rhythm:
- Morning: Check waterers, open coops, fill the feeders.
- Midday: Let out into pasture rotations, collect morning eggs
- Evening: Second feed, coop check, and egg collection
- Weekly: Clean bedding, fluff the egg boxes, add dust bath mix, scrub waterers, schedule deliveries
- Monthly: Health checks, tally egg counts, feed order
It’s work, but it’s our rhythm. And it’s worth every early morning and little chick snuggles.
Are Chickens Worth It?
So, back to the original question: How much feed do chickens eat? Enough to keep them happy, productive, and laying gold. Are they worth it? Without question.
Whether you want a few hens in your backyard or dream of turning your flock into a business, knowing your feed costs, daily routine, and flock management goes a long way. And trust me, from our first weasel incident to where we are now, there’s a steep learning curve, but it’s one heck of a rewarding ride.
If you're raising chickens right now, keep going. You’re building more than food, you’re creating food freedom.
And if you’re just getting started? Lock that chicken tractor. 😅
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