Feeding chickens the right feed at the right age is one of the simplest things to get right and one of the most common things beginners get wrong. This chart shows what to feed, the protein level, and roughly how much per bird at every stage from day-old chick to laying hen.
Quick answer
Feed starter (18 to 20% protein) from hatch to about 8 weeks, grower (16 to 18%) from 8 to 18 weeks, and layer feed (16% plus calcium) from about 18 weeks or the first egg. Meat birds stay on a higher-protein broiler ration throughout.
| Age | Feed type | Protein | Calcium added | Approx. per bird per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 8 weeks | Starter | 18 to 20% | No | ~0.1 lb (rising) |
| 8 to 18 weeks | Grower | 16 to 18% | No | ~0.15 to 0.20 lb |
| 18 weeks and laying | Layer | 16% | Yes (about 4%) | ~0.25 lb |
| Meat birds (broilers) | Broiler grower | 20 to 22% | No | ~0.33 lb |
Chicks: hatch to 8 weeks (starter feed)
Newly hatched chicks need starter feed, the highest-protein feed they'll ever eat at 18 to 20%, to fuel their fast early growth. Starter comes medicated or unmedicated: use medicated if your chicks were not vaccinated against coccidiosis, and unmedicated if they were, since the two can cancel each other out. Chicks eat only about a tenth of a pound a day at first, scaling up steadily as they grow.
Growers and pullets: 8 to 18 weeks (grower feed)
Once past the fastest growth phase, birds move to grower feed, which drops the protein slightly to 16 to 18% and still holds back the added calcium that layer feed has. This stage carries them through adolescence. Feeding grower a little longer than needed isn't harmful; the goal is simply to match nutrition to the bird's stage rather than rush to layer feed.
Laying hens: 18 weeks onward (layer feed)
At about 18 to 20 weeks, or when the first egg appears, switch hens to layer feed. Layer feed adds calcium (around 4%) for strong eggshells, which is the key difference from grower feed. This is the feed our feed cost calculator assumes by default, since most backyard flocks are laying hens. Don't feed layer feed to chicks or non-laying pullets, as the extra calcium is hard on their kidneys before they need it.
Meat birds: a different track
Broilers and other meat birds stay on a higher-protein broiler ration (20 to 22%) throughout their shorter lives, because they're bred to put on weight quickly rather than lay eggs. They also eat more per day, closer to a third of a pound, which is worth factoring into their feed budget.
When to switch feeds
The two switches that matter are starter to grower at about 8 weeks, and grower to layer at about 18 weeks or first egg. If you keep a mixed-age flock and can't feed each group separately, an all-flock or grower feed with a separate dish of oyster shell for the layers is the usual workaround: the layers take the calcium they need, and the younger birds leave it alone. For more on the differences, see layer feed vs. starter feed vs. grower feed.
Key takeaways
- Starter (18 to 20% protein) from hatch to 8 weeks, grower (16 to 18%) from 8 to 18 weeks, layer (16% plus calcium) from 18 weeks or first egg.
- Only laying hens need the added calcium in layer feed; younger birds don't.
- Daily intake rises from about 0.1 lb for chicks to about 0.25 lb for an adult hen.
- Meat birds stay on a higher-protein broiler feed and eat more per day.
- For mixed ages, use all-flock or grower feed plus separate oyster shell.
Get the stage right and the rest of feeding is simple. Once you know what your flock eats, see what it costs with our feed cost calculator, or read the full breakdown of how much it costs to feed chickens.
Frequently asked questions
What do you feed chickens at each age?
Chicks eat starter feed (18 to 20% protein) from hatch to about 8 weeks, grower feed (16 to 18% protein) from 8 to 18 weeks, and layer feed (16% protein plus calcium) from about 18 weeks or their first egg onward. Meat birds stay on a higher-protein broiler ration.
At what age do chickens switch to layer feed?
At about 18 to 20 weeks, or when they lay their first egg, whichever comes first. Layer feed adds the calcium hens need for strong eggshells, which younger birds don't need yet.
How much do chickens eat per day by age?
Roughly 0.1 lb a day for young chicks, rising through the grower stage to about 0.25 lb a day for an adult laying hen. Meat birds eat more, closer to 0.33 lb a day.
Can I feed all my chickens the same feed?
Not ideally. Chicks need higher protein and no added calcium, while laying hens need calcium that would be too much for young birds. If you must feed one flock-wide feed to mixed ages, use an all-flock or grower feed and offer oyster shell separately for the layers.
Is medicated or unmedicated starter better?
Medicated starter helps prevent coccidiosis and suits chicks that were not vaccinated for it. If your chicks were vaccinated against coccidiosis, use unmedicated starter, since the medication can cancel out the vaccine.