How Much Should I Feed My Chicks? A Guide for Families, Backyard Farmers, and Growing Flocks

When we first brought chicks home in 2020, I was a new mom of two little ones and a third older pre-teen — and I quickly learned that caring for baby chicks is a lot like caring for toddlers.

They’re hungry all the time, they grow up fast, and need a lot of attention, but with the right care, they turn into something wonderful for your family and your farm.

Over the years, we’ve raised chickens both as beloved pets for our family and as productive layers for Freshcoln Farms, our small farm here in Franklinville, New Jersey.

Whether you’re starting a backyard flock for fresh eggs or growing a productive group of layers for your community or business, getting their nutrition right from the very beginning is one of the most important steps.

Today, I’m sharing an easy guide to how much food chicks need from hatch to 16 weeks of age.

I hope it helps you plan better, waste less, and raise happy, healthy chickens for years to come!

Why Chick Starter-Grower Feed Matters

From the moment they hatch, chicks need a high-protein, nutrient-rich feed to help their tiny bodies grow bones, feathers, and muscles. A good quality, non-medicated, 20% Starter-Grower feed (such as Dumor Starter/Grower) is specially formulated to meet these needs. We use it exclusively from hatch until around 16 weeks when they’re ready to transition to layer feed.

Keeping fresh food and water available at all times gives them the best chance at strong, healthy development — and healthy chicks grow into productive, reliable egg layers.

Chick Feed Consumption Chart (Hatch to 16 Weeks)

Here’s a simple breakdown of how much food your chicks will need at each stage:

Chick Feed Chart (Week 1 - 16), by Freshcoln Farms, LLC

Quick Feeding Tips from Our Farm to Yours:

• Feed Free-Choice: Let your chicks eat as much as they want. Healthy chicks regulate their own intake!

• Clean Water Matters: Always provide fresh, clean water alongside their feed. Add apple cider vinegar (with the mother) or probiotics once per week for good gut health.

• Keep Feeders Raised: To prevent spills and waste, keep feeders off the ground once chicks are mobile.

• Transition to Layer Feed: Start offering layer feed once your pullets are about 16 weeks old and close to laying age. Offer them free choice oyster shell as well, for added calcium to help build healthy, strong egg shells.

Planning Ahead: How Much Total Feed Will You Need?

If you’re wondering how much chick feed to buy when you’re first starting out, here’s a helpful estimate:

Plan for about 8–10 pounds of feed per chick to get them from hatch to 16 weeks old.

That means for a small flock of 6 chicks, you’ll want about 50–60 pounds of feed on hand to get through the starter phase.

At Freshcoln Farms, this has been such a helpful guide for managing costs and making sure we’re raising strong, healthy hens — not just for our family’s egg basket, but also for our farm fresh egg share customers who count on us for fresh, beautiful eggs grown right here in South Jersey.

Final Thoughts: Raising Chicks is a Family and Farm Adventure

Raising chicks is one of those special experiences that never loses its magic — whether you’re doing it for the first time with your kids or you’re expanding a farm operation like we have at Freshcoln Farms.

Watching those tiny fluffballs grow into feathered, reliable layers is something that still amazes me, even after all these years.

With good food, clean water, and lots of love, you’re setting your chicks up for success — and your family, your community, and your farm will all reap the rewards.

If you’re raising chicks this season, enjoy every minute — it goes by fast!

To recap, here’s a quick Chick Care Card we created, that goes home with our new chick orders, that you can download and reference:

Chick Care Card (Weeks 1-7), by Freshcoln Farms, LLC

And if you’re in the South Jersey area and ever need fresh eggs, farm-fresh blooms, or starter chicks of your own, we’d love to be part of your family’s farming journey.

Happy chick-raising from our family to yours!