{"id":381,"date":"2026-08-12T10:24:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T10:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/tools\/feed-calculator\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T11:41:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T11:41:54","slug":"feed-calculator","status":"publish","type":"tool","link":"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/tools\/feed-calculator\/","title":{"rendered":"Molting &#038; Egg Production Feed Ratio Calculator"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"fl-quick-facts\" aria-labelledby=\"quick-facts-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"quick-facts-heading\">Quick facts<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Daily Feed Consumption<\/th>\n<td><strong>0.25 lbs (115 grams)<\/strong> of complete feed per hen per day<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Monthly Feed Requirement<\/th>\n<td>Approx <strong>7.5 lbs per hen<\/strong> (45 lbs per month for 6 hens = 1 bag)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Active Laying Target<\/th>\n<td><strong>16% Layer Feed<\/strong> (Pellets or Crumble)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Active Molting Target<\/th>\n<td><strong>20% Grower \/ Feather Fixer Feed<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Calcium Protocol<\/th>\n<td>Offer free-choice crushed oyster shell in a separate dish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"fl-at-a-glance\" aria-labelledby=\"at-a-glance-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"at-a-glance-heading\">At a glance<\/h2>\n<dl>\n<dt>\ud83c\udfaf Best for<\/dt>\n<dd>Estimating daily\/monthly flock feed needs and protein targets during molt or winter<\/dd>\n<dt>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f Difficulty<\/dt>\n<dd>Easy; Instant interactive calculation<\/dd>\n<dt>\ud83d\udcb5 Cost<\/dt>\n<dd>Free interactive tool<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/aside>\n<p><!-- flockline:tool --><\/p>\n<section class=\"fl-answer-box\">\n<p><strong>Quick Answer:<\/strong> An average adult laying hen consumes approximately <strong>1\/4 pound (115 grams)<\/strong> of complete feed per day. During fall molt, switch to a 20% protein feed to accelerate feather regrowth.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"fl-figure\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/flockline-learn\/assets\/images\/chicken-feed-protein-matrix-diagram.jpg\" alt=\"Chicken feed protein requirements across lifecycle stages\" \/><figcaption>Protein percentage requirements for starter, grower, layer, and molting feeds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"fl-takeaway\">\n<p><strong>Key takeaway<\/strong> Feathers are 85% keratin protein. Switching to a 20% protein feed during fall feather loss speeds up regrowth so hens resume laying sooner.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"fl-faq\">\n<h2 id=\"faq-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>How much feed does one chicken eat per day?<\/h3>\n<p>An average adult laying hen consumes approximately 1\/4 pound (0.25 lbs \/ 115 grams) of complete feed per day.<\/p>\n<h3>What feed should I give molting chickens?<\/h3>\n<p>Switch to a 20% protein feed (Grower or Feather Fixer pellets) and offer free-choice oyster shell in a separate dish so non-laying hens do not absorb excess calcium while growing feathers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"fl-sources\" aria-labelledby=\"sources-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"sources-heading\">Sources and references<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>NC State Extension:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/content.ces.ncsu.edu\/poultry-litter-as-a-fertilizer-source\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Poultry Nutrition &amp; Feed Ratio Guidelines<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>University of Minnesota Extension:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umn.edu\/small-scale-poultry\/raising-chickens-eggs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Feeding Laying Hens &amp; Molting Protocols<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Calculate daily and monthly feed consumption for your laying hens and determine optimal protein ratios during molt or winter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"cluster":[],"risk_level":[],"review_status":[],"page_type":[],"class_list":["post-381","tool","type-tool","status-publish","hentry"],"flockline":{"content_uuid":"","pipeline_id":"","canonical_keyword":"molting chicken feed protein 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