How Much Do Chickens, Ducks, Geese & Game Birds Eat Per Day?

One of the most common questions from new flock keepers: how much feed do my birds actually need? The answer varies by species, age, season, and whether your birds have access to pasture — but here’s a practical guide to get you started.

The General Rule: Free-Choice Feeding

For most backyard poultry, free-choice feeding — keeping feed available at all times — is the recommended approach. Poultry self-regulate their intake reasonably well when fed a complete, balanced feed. Restricting feed can lead to nutritional deficiencies, stress, reduced egg production, and poor growth.

The daily intake figures below are averages for birds on free-choice complete feed with no significant pasture access. Birds with access to good pasture will eat less commercial feed — sometimes significantly less in summer.

Chickens

Laying Hens

A laying hen eats approximately 4–6 oz (115–170g) of feed per day — roughly ¼ lb. Smaller breeds like Leghorns eat toward the lower end; larger breeds like Buff Orpingtons or Brahmas eat toward the higher end.

Factors that increase feed consumption:

• Cold weather — birds eat more in winter to generate body heat. Expect 10–20% higher consumption from November through March in Minnesota.
• Peak laying — actively laying hens need more energy and calcium than non-layers
• Molt — feather regrowth is protein-intensive; hens may eat more during molt even though they’re not laying

Chicks (0–8 weeks)

Day-old chicks eat very little — starting at less than ½ oz per day and gradually increasing. By 8 weeks, a chick is eating approximately 2–3 oz per day. Keep starter feed available at all times; chicks eat frequently in small amounts throughout the day.

Growers (8–20 weeks)

Growing pullets eat approximately 3–4 oz per day, increasing as they approach laying age. Transition to layer feed around 18–20 weeks or when the first egg appears.

Roosters

Roosters eat slightly more than hens of the same breed — typically 5–6 oz per day — due to their larger body size.

Rough Feed Budget for Chickens

A flock of 6 laying hens will consume approximately 1.5–2 lbs of feed per day, or 10–14 lbs per week. A 50 lb bag lasts a flock of 6 roughly 3–5 weeks depending on breed, season, and pasture access.

Ducks

Ducks are enthusiastic eaters and tend to consume more feed than chickens of similar size — partly because they’re messier and waste more feed in the process of dunking and splashing.

• Laying ducks: approximately 5–6 oz (140–170g) per day
• Ducklings (0–3 weeks): starting at under 1 oz, increasing rapidly
• Juvenile ducks (3–8 weeks): approximately 3–4 oz per day

Ducks must always have water deep enough to submerge their bills when eating — they need to wash feed down and keep their nostrils clear. Factor in water access when planning your feeding setup.

Ducks on good pasture with access to ponds, puddles, or wet areas will forage heavily and eat significantly less commercial feed in summer.

Geese

Geese are the most efficient grazers of all common backyard poultry. Given access to good pasture, geese can meet a significant portion of their nutritional needs from grass alone — they’re essentially lawnmowers with feathers.

• Adult geese on pasture: as little as 2–3 oz of supplemental feed per day in summer when grass is abundant
• Adult geese without pasture: approximately 6–8 oz per day of complete waterfowl feed
• Goslings (0–3 weeks): start on waterfowl starter crumble free-choice; intake increases rapidly
• Breeding season: geese eat more during breeding and laying — increase feed availability accordingly

In Minnesota winters when pasture isn’t available, geese need full rations of complete waterfowl feed. Don’t rely on pasture-based estimates year-round.

Game Birds

Game birds vary significantly by species, but all share one trait: they have high protein demands relative to their body size, especially in early growth stages.

Turkeys

• Poults (0–8 weeks): free-choice 30% starter; intake grows rapidly from under 1 oz to approximately 4–5 oz per day by 8 weeks
• Growers (8–16 weeks): approximately 6–8 oz per day, increasing as they approach market or breeding weight
• Adult turkeys: 8–12 oz per day depending on breed and size — heritage breeds eat less than broad-breasted commercial types

Turkeys are the heaviest feed consumers of common backyard poultry. Budget accordingly if you’re raising them to full size.

Pheasants

• Chicks (0–6 weeks): free-choice 30% starter; approximately 1–2 oz per day by 6 weeks
• Growers (6–16 weeks): approximately 2–3 oz per day
• Adults: approximately 2–3 oz per day of complete game bird feed; pheasants are efficient eaters

Quail

Quail are small but eat proportionally more than their size suggests due to their fast metabolism.

• Coturnix quail (adults): approximately 0.5–1 oz (15–25g) per day
• Bobwhite quail (adults): similar to coturnix
• A flock of 20 coturnix quail consumes roughly 10–15 oz of feed per day

Guinea Fowl

• Adults on pasture: approximately 2–3 oz of supplemental feed per day — guineas are excellent foragers
• Adults without pasture: approximately 3–4 oz per day
• Guineas are among the most feed-efficient poultry you can keep

Factors That Affect Feed Consumption

• Pasture access: Birds with access to good grass, bugs, and forage eat significantly less commercial feed — especially in summer
• Season: All poultry eat more in cold weather to maintain body temperature. Minnesota winters can increase consumption by 15–25%
• Life stage: Growing birds and laying hens have higher demands than non-laying adults
• Breed size: Larger breeds eat more; bantams eat considerably less than standard breeds
• Treats and supplements: Every oz of scratch, mealworms, or table scraps displaces some complete feed — keep treats under 10% of total intake
• Feed waste: Ducks and geese waste more feed than chickens. Use feeders designed to minimize spillage.

How to Calculate Your Feed Order

A simple formula for estimating monthly feed needs:

(Number of birds) × (daily intake in oz) × 30 days ÷ 16 = lbs of feed per month

Example: 8 laying hens × 5 oz/day × 30 ÷ 16 = ~75 lbs per month (1.5 × 50 lb bags)

Add 15–20% in winter. Subtract 10–20% if birds have good summer pasture access.

Questions about feed quantities or which feed is right for your flock? Browse our full feed collection at BloomingtonFarmAndFeed.com or stop in — we’re happy to help you plan.