Poultry Feed Phase & Starter, Grower, Finisher
Feeds broilers
Enter bird numbers, market weight and FCR to get the total feed, the starter, grower and finisher kilos and bags — so you order the right ration for each broiler phase.
Enter your batch
Next: order about 65 bags split 388/1,131/1,712 kg; switch phases on schedule and never run out of starter early on.
Phase split (~12/35/53%) and FCR vary by breed, climate and management; total feed ≈ FCR × live weight (a planning estimate — dead birds also eat).
Poultry feed phases — key facts
- Total feed
- birds × weight × FCR
- Starter share
- ≈ 12%
- Grower share
- ≈ 35%
- Finisher share
- ≈ 53%
- Bags
- phase kg ÷ bag size
- Broiler FCR
- ≈ 1.6–1.8
- Feed per bird
- weight × FCR
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
Feed is most of the cost — split it right
Feed is the biggest cost in a broiler batch, and the birds don't eat it evenly: a chick on day one barely touches the trough, while a near-market bird eats heavily, so the finisher phase swallows over half the total feed. Phase feeding matches the ration to that changing appetite and nutritional need — protein-rich starter for frame, balanced grower for the long middle, and cheaper energy-dense finisher to lay on saleable weight. Order by phase and you neither run short of starter nor over-buy finisher.
This tool turns your flock size, market weight and FCR into the total feed, the kilos and bags of starter, grower and finisher, the total bags and the feed per bird. Use it to place feed orders, budget the batch and check deliveries against plan. Pair it with the Broiler Profit, Feed Conversion Ratio and Poultry Stocking Density tools to run the whole flock by the numbers.
Order by phase
Right kilos of starter, grower and finisher.
Never run short
Bags rounded up so each phase is covered.
Budget the batch
Feed per bird and total bags up front.
Check deliveries
Reconcile feed used against the plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is phase feeding in broilers?+
Phase feeding gives birds a different ration as they grow, because their needs change with age. Broilers are usually fed three phases — a high-protein starter for fast early frame growth, a balanced grower through the main growing period, and an energy-dense finisher to put on weight cheaply before market. Matching feed to stage cuts cost and waste.
How is total feed worked out?+
Total feed = number of live birds × target market weight × feed conversion ratio (FCR). FCR is kg of feed per kg of liveweight, around 1.6–1.8 for modern broilers. For example 1000 birds grown to 2 kg at an FCR of 1.7 need about 3400 kg of feed across the whole batch — the figure this tool then splits across the three phases.
How is feed split across the phases?+
Total feed is divided roughly 12% starter, 35% grower and 53% finisher, because birds eat far more as they get heavier — most of the feed is consumed in the last weeks. So of 3400 kg total, about 410 kg is starter, 1190 kg grower and 1800 kg finisher. The split shows where most of your feed budget actually goes.
How are bags calculated?+
Bags per phase = phase feed (kg) ÷ bag size (commonly 50 kg, sometimes 25 or 40 kg). The tool rounds up so you order enough, and adds the phases for total bags. Ordering by phase avoids running out of starter early or over-buying finisher you can't store before it goes stale.
What is FCR and why does it matter here?+
Feed conversion ratio is the kilos of feed needed per kilo of liveweight gain — the single biggest driver of feed cost. A lower FCR means less feed for the same bird weight, so it directly shrinks total feed and every phase. Good genetics, fresh balanced feed, clean water and a comfortable house all push FCR down.
What is feed per bird?+
Feed per bird = total feed ÷ number of birds, i.e. market weight × FCR. It's a handy figure for budgeting and for checking deliveries against your flock. If actual feed per bird drifts well above the plan, look at wastage, spillage, pests, or birds underperforming on weight.
Can I change the phase split or bag size?+
Yes — the default 12/35/53 split and 50 kg bag follow common broiler practice, but you can adjust them to match your breed, feeding programme and supplier's bag size. Some programmes use a separate pre-starter or a four-phase plan; enter the split your nutritionist or feed company recommends.
Does this work for layers or other birds?+
It's built around the broiler starter-grower-finisher model. Layers and breeders follow different programmes (chick, grower, pre-lay, layer rations) driven by age and lay rather than market weight and FCR, so the totals here won't fit them directly. Use it for meat birds; for layers plan feed on daily intake per bird.
Are the numbers exact?+
They're solid planning figures. Real consumption shifts with breed, weather, health, feed quality and how well the house is managed, so treat the outputs as an order plan and reconcile against actual deliveries and bird weights. Keeping records of feed per phase across batches is the best way to tighten future estimates.