Chicken Feed Cost Calculator
Feed is the biggest recurring cost of keeping chickens — and the line item waste inflates the fastest. This calculator uses the standard consumption figure (~0.25 lb per standard layer per day), your local bag price, and the waste rate of your feeder setup. The math behind it lives in our no-waste feeder guide.
Your feed budget
| Feed needed per year | |
|---|---|
| Annual feed cost (incl. waste) | |
| Monthly feed cost | |
| Feed cost per hen per year | |
| Cost per dozen eggs (feed only) | |
| Waste you could reclaim |
The math behind the numbers
- Consumption: ~0.25 lb of feed per standard layer per day (~90 lb/year), as commonly published by extension services. Bantams eat roughly a third less; heavy breeds a bit more.
- Waste rates: planning estimates by feeder type — see the waste table in our feeder comparison for how they're derived.
- Cost per dozen divides annual feed cost by your flock's estimated egg output. Real-world output varies hugely by breed, age and season.
- Feed only: bedding, coop, waterer and one-time gear costs are not included — this is the recurring line item, not the total cost of ownership.
Sources: eXtension — Feeds and feeding of poultry, Penn State Extension — small flock guide (consumption rates); waste-rate planning estimates explained in our feeder guide.