Animal Feed Calculator
How much feed a month, how many bags, and what it costs, for any number of animals.
Part of the 🌾 Farmers toolkit, with more tools made for the job.
From the feeding guide on the bag, your vet, or by weighing what you give for a week.
Type how many animals you have, how much each eats and the price of a bag, and the feed you need appears here.
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Enter how many animals you have, how much each eats a day, and the size and price of a bag of feed. This gives the feed per month and per year, the bags to buy and the cost.
How much an animal eats depends on its type, size, age, whether it is laying or growing, the weather and what else it can graze or scratch for. This tool does not guess, so use the feeding guide on your feed bag, your vet, or your own weighing. Weigh what you feed for a week if you are unsure.
How it’s worked out
- Feed per month is the animals times the amount each eats a day, times the days in an average month (about 30.4).
- Feed per year is the same sum over 365 days.
- Bags a month is the feed per month divided by the bag size.
- Cost is the feed times the price per kg (or per lb), worked out from the bag price.
6 hens eating 110 g a day each use about 20 kg a month. In 20 kg bags at $18 that is one bag a month, so about $18 a month, or $3 per hen.
Common mistakes
- Using the amount for a growing animal when yours is fully grown, or the other way round.
- Forgetting waste. Spilled and scratched-out feed is real feed you pay for, so weigh what you put out.
- Ignoring the season. Animals often eat more in cold weather and less in heat.
- Leaving out treats, supplements and bedding, which are extra costs on top of the main feed.
Questions
How much does one animal eat?
It depends on the animal and its stage. Check the feeding guide on the bag, ask your vet or supplier, or weigh the feed you give for a week and divide by the animals.
Can I use it for any animal?
Yes. It is just animals times amount times days. Chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, rabbits, sheep and cattle all work, as long as you enter the right amount per animal.
What about hay and grazing?
Run it for each feed separately, like grain and hay, and add the results. Grazing is free but depends on the grass, so do not count on it without checking.
Why grams and ounces?
Small animals eat small amounts a day. Metric uses grams per animal and kilograms per bag. Imperial uses ounces per animal and pounds per bag.
Where the method comes from
Estimates only
These are estimates and general information, not agronomic, financial or professional advice. Yields, laying rates, feed amounts, prices and rainfall vary a lot, so use your own numbers and local advice.
Rain stopped play. Officially research.