Broiler feed chart by age (day 1–35)
How much should a broiler eat at each age? Use this chart to plan feed purchases, catch under-eating flocks early, and know when to switch feed phases. Values are per bird, based on standard commercial strains (Ross/Cobb) — treat them as a guide; hot weather and feed quality shift real numbers by 5–10%.
Week-by-week chart
| Age | Feed phase | Feed / bird / week | Cumulative feed | Target weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (day 1–7) | Starter (crumble) | ≈ 170 g | ≈ 170 g | ≈ 180–190 g |
| Week 2 (day 8–14) | Starter | ≈ 375 g | ≈ 545 g | ≈ 450–470 g |
| Week 3 (day 15–21) | Grower | ≈ 650 g | ≈ 1.2 kg | ≈ 880–920 g |
| Week 4 (day 22–28) | Grower / Finisher | ≈ 945 g | ≈ 2.15 kg | ≈ 1.4–1.5 kg |
| Week 5 (day 29–35) | Finisher | ≈ 1.2 kg | ≈ 3.3–3.4 kg | ≈ 2.0–2.2 kg |
Rule of thumb at market day 35: ≈ 3.3 kg feed → ≈ 2.1 kg bird → FCR ≈ 1.6. Check your own flock with the FCR calculator.
Feed phases explained
| Phase | Age | Protein | Form | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-starter/Starter | Day 1–10 | 22–23% | Crumble | Organ & skeleton development — never economize here |
| Grower | Day 11–24 | 20–21% | Small pellet | Main muscle growth window |
| Finisher | Day 25–market | 18–19% | Pellet | Cheapest feed; weight finishing |
💧 Water: birds drink roughly 1.8–2× the weight of feed — a 1,000-bird flock in week 5 needs ~350 litres/day. Warm water = less eating; keep it cool and clean.
How to use this chart to catch problems early
- Weigh a sample of 10 birds weekly. If the flock is >10% under target weight, act that week — days lost early are never recovered.
- Track bags against the cumulative column. Feed disappearing faster than the chart with birds on target = spillage or theft; slower = check water, temperature and disease.
- Switch phases on time. Feeding starter too long wastes money; switching too early stunts growth. Blend 50/50 for 2 days at each transition.
- After day 35, FCR climbs fast — each extra day costs more feed per kg of gain. Run the profit calculator before deciding to hold for a better price.
Feeding equipment that pays for itself
Disclosure: links below are affiliate links — buying through them supports this free tool at no extra cost to you.
Automatic poultry feeder
Spilled feed is invisible money loss — up to 0.2 extra FCR.
Automatic drinker set
Consistent water drives consistent intake.
Digital hanging scale
For the weekly 10-bird sample weigh — the habit that catches every problem early.
Related: FCR calculator · Broiler profit calculator