Broiler Feed Calculator
Enter your batch size and bird type to estimate total feed, bags to buy, and cost from chick to butcher weight.
Total feed, chick to butcher375 lb
Starter feed (weeks 1–3)75 lb
Grower/finisher feed300 lb
Bags to buy8
Total feed cost$176.00
Typical butcher age8 weeks
Rule of thumb
A Cornish Cross eats about 15 lb of feed to reach butcher weight at ~8 weeks. Slow growers (Red Ranger types) eat about 20 lb over ~11 weeks.
How we calculate it
Total feed = birds × per-bird total (15 lb Cornish Cross, 20 lb slow grower). Starter = birds × 3 lb. Bags = total ÷ bag weight, rounded up. Cost = bags × price.
Based on:
- Broiler crosses eat 15 to 18 pounds of feed per bird to processing (University of Minnesota Extension)
- Cornish Cross feed consumption and 12-hour feed restriction schedule (Backyard Poultry)
- Real-world feed totals for a batch of Cornish Cross (A Farmish Kind of Life)
Figures are typical guidelines for planning. Your birds, breed, climate, and feed will vary.
Frequently asked questions
How much feed does a Cornish Cross eat?
A Cornish Cross broiler eats roughly 15 pounds of feed from chick to butcher weight at about 8 weeks: around 3 lb of 20-22% starter in the first three weeks, then grower/finisher to processing day.
When do you butcher meat chickens?
Cornish Cross are typically processed at 7–9 weeks (5–6 lb live weight). Slow-growing breeds like Red Rangers take about 10–12 weeks and eat more total feed, but forage better and have fewer health problems.
What feed do broilers need?
Start with a 20–22% protein starter for about the first three weeks, then switch to an 18–19% grower/finisher until processing. Many keepers also restrict feed to 12 hours on / 12 hours off after week two to slow Cornish Cross growth to a healthy rate.