Quick answer
A 50 lb bag of conventional layer feed costs about $16–$25 in 2026. A small flock of 4–6 hens eats roughly 8–12 bags a year, so plan on about $130–$300 per year for feed — or roughly $30–$55 per hen. Organic feed costs about twice as much.
Feed is the single largest ongoing cost of keeping chickens, so it's the number most people want before they start a flock. The good news: it's predictable. Once you know how much a hen eats and what a bag costs in your area, you can estimate your yearly bill within a few dollars. This guide breaks down the numbers and shows where the savings actually are.
Table of Contents
Cost Per Bag
Chicken feed is sold mostly in 50 lb (or 40 lb) bags. As of 2026, typical US prices are:
- Conventional layer pellets/crumble (50 lb): $16–$25
- Organic / non-GMO layer feed (50 lb): $30–$45
- Chick starter (50 lb): $18–$28
- Scratch grains (50 lb): $14–$22 (a treat, not a complete feed)
Prices vary with grain markets, your region, and whether you buy from a farm-supply chain, a local mill, or online. Local feed mills are often the cheapest for conventional feed, while bulk online orders can win for organic. You can compare current feed prices on Amazon to sanity-check what your local store quotes.
How Much Feed Does a Chicken Eat?
A standard laying hen eats about 1.5–2 pounds of feed per week — roughly a quarter pound (0.25 lb) per day. Over a year that works out to about 80–100 lb per hen, or about two 50 lb bags per hen annually before any free-ranging.
- Bantams: ~0.5–1 lb per week (about half a standard hen)
- Standard layers (e.g. Leghorn, Sex-Link): ~1.5 lb per week
- Large dual-purpose breeds (e.g. Orpington, Brahma): ~2–2.5 lb per week
So a single 50 lb bag feeds 4–6 standard hens for about 4–6 weeks. Want exact numbers for your own flock, breeds and feed price? Use our free feed cost calculator.
Monthly and Yearly Cost by Flock Size
The table below assumes conventional layer feed at about $20 per 50 lb bag and 1.75 lb of feed per hen per week, with no free-ranging (your real cost will be lower if hens forage in summer).
| Flock size | Feed per week | Bags per year | Monthly cost | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 hens | ~5 lb | ~5–6 | $9–$11 | $105–$130 |
| 6 hens | ~10.5 lb | ~11 | $18–$22 | $210–$260 |
| 10 hens | ~17.5 lb | ~18 | $30–$36 | $350–$430 |
| 25 hens | ~44 lb | ~46 | $75–$90 | $880–$1,080 |
For the full picture — coop, birds, equipment and feed together — see our complete cost breakdown for raising chickens.
Conventional vs Organic Feed Prices
If your alternative is mixing your own ration from locally bought grain rather than choosing between bagged products, see local vs commercial chicken feed for where the saving actually appears.
Organic certified feed is the single biggest swing in your feed budget. It typically costs 1.7–2x more than conventional — about $30–$45 per 50 lb bag versus $16–$25. For a flock of six hens, that's the difference between roughly $210 and $430 a year.
Whether the premium is worth it depends on your priorities. Organic feed avoids synthetic pesticides and GMO grains; conventional feed is nutritionally complete and far cheaper. Many keepers compromise with a quality non-GMO (but non-certified) feed. We weigh the trade-offs in detail in our organic vs conventional feed comparison.
Stock up and store it right
Most "wasted" feed is feed that spoiled or fed the local rodents. An airtight bin and a no-waste feeder pay for themselves fast.
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Feed Types and What They Cost
Different birds need different feed, which affects your budget through the year:
- Chick starter (18–20% protein): first 0–8 weeks. A bag lasts a small batch of chicks for most of the brooding period.
- Grower/developer (15–16%): roughly 8–18 weeks, until point of lay.
- Layer feed (16–18% protein, 3.5–4.5% calcium): the staple cost once hens are laying.
- Oyster shell & grit: cheap but important — a bag of oyster shell lasts months and protects shell quality.
- Scratch & treats: keep to under 10% of the diet so they don't dilute nutrition (or your budget).
For what actually goes into a balanced ration, see our chicken nutrition guide.
How to Cut Your Feed Bill
Feed cost is largely fixed by how much your birds eat, but waste and spoilage are where most money quietly disappears. The highest-impact savings:
- Stop the waste. Open trough and ground feeders can waste 20–40% of feed to scratching and weather. A low-waste feeder can cut that to under 5% — often $50–$100 a year saved.
- Store it airtight. Damp feed grows mold and rodents help themselves to open bags. An airtight bin protects both your feed and your flock.
- Buy in bulk. Pallet or multi-bag pricing from a local mill typically saves 10–15%. Just don't buy more than you'll use in ~3 months, as feed loses nutrients with age.
- Let them forage. Free-ranging or a large run with greens can replace 20–40% of feed intake in the growing season.
- Use scraps wisely. Kitchen and garden scraps can supplement up to ~10% of the diet without unbalancing nutrition.
Key Takeaways
- Conventional layer feed: ~$16–$25 per 50 lb bag; organic ~$30–$45.
- Each hen eats ~1.5–2 lb/week (~2 bags a year).
- 4–6 hens cost roughly $130–$300 a year to feed on conventional feed.
- Cutting waste and storing feed airtight are the biggest real-world savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bag of chicken feed cost?
A standard 50 lb bag of conventional layer feed costs about $16–$25 in 2026, depending on region and brand. Organic and non-GMO layer feed runs $30–$45 per 50 lb bag. Buying by the pallet or in bulk usually saves 10–15% per bag.
How much does it cost to feed chickens per year?
A flock of 4–6 hens eats roughly 8–12 fifty-pound bags a year, so expect about $130–$300 annually for conventional feed, or $300–$520 for organic. Per hen, that's about $30–$55 per year on conventional feed.
How much feed does one chicken eat?
A standard laying hen eats about 1.5–2 pounds of feed per week, or roughly 0.25 lb per day. Over a year that's about 80–100 lb per hen. Bantams eat less; large dual-purpose breeds eat a bit more.
How can I reduce my chicken feed costs?
The biggest savings come from cutting waste: use a no-waste or treadle feeder, store feed in airtight bins to stop spoilage and rodents, buy in bulk, and let hens forage to replace 20–40% of their intake in the growing season. Kitchen and garden scraps can supplement up to about 10% of the diet.
Related Guides
Plan the rest of your budget with our full chicken cost breakdown, compare organic vs conventional feed, choose a low-waste feeder, and get the diet right with the nutrition guide.
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