Estimate feed requirements, feed bags, feed cost per bird, days on feed, selling price and projected profit for broilers, layers, pullets and custom poultry programmes.
Use the calculator to compare feeding periods, costs and selling prices before placing birds or buying feed.
Estimate total feed required, bags needed, feed cost per bird and projected profit or loss for broilers, layers, pullets or a custom programme. Enter bird numbers, feed intake, bag size, feed price in rand and selling price for South African small-scale or commercial poultry batches before you place chicks or buy feed.
| Phase | Days | Kg/bird | Avg g/bird/day | Total kg | Bags | Rounded bags | Price entered | Cost/kg | Cost | Cost/bird |
|---|
| Scenario | Total days | Extra or fewer days |
Feed kg per bird |
Total feed kg |
Practical bags |
Total feed cost |
Feed cost per bird placed |
Feed cost per saleable bird |
Profit/loss per saleable bird |
Total profit/loss |
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| Period | Days | g/hen/day | Total kg | Bags | Rounded bags | Price entered | Cost/kg | Total cost | Cost/hen/day | Cost/dozen eggs |
|---|
| Phase | Days | Kg/pullet | Avg g/pullet/day | Total kg | Bags | Rounded bags | Price entered | Cost/kg | Cost | Cost/pullet |
|---|
| Phase | Days | Kg/bird | Avg g/bird/day | Total kg | Bags | Rounded bags | Price entered | Cost/kg | Cost | Cost/bird |
|---|
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Choose broilers, layers in lay, pullets or a custom programme. Enter birds placed, feed kilograms per bird (or daily grams for layers), bag size, feed prices, mortality allowance, chick or pullet cost and selling price.
The calculator totals feed required, bags needed, feed cost per bird, total feed cost, projected income and profit or loss per bird and for the flock.
Results are planning estimates. Check them against your feed supplier programme sheet, recent batch records and local selling prices.
Feed per phase (kg) = birds placed × kg feed per bird for that phase
Feed cost per kg (R/kg) = price per bag ÷ bag size, or price per ton ÷ 1 000
Phase feed cost (R) = feed kg for phase × feed cost per kg
Total feed cost (R) = sum of feed costs across all phases
Feed cost per bird (R) = total feed cost ÷ birds placed
Bags needed = total feed kg ÷ bag size (kg), rounded up for practical ordering
Profit or loss per bird (R) = selling price − chick cost − feed cost per bird − other costs (after mortality allowance on income)
A smallholder places 200 broilers with combined feed intake of 4.2 kg per bird to slaughter. Blended feed costs R7.50 per kg — about R31.50 feed per bird before chick, bedding and mortality. With 5% mortality, 190 birds sell at R95 each (R18 050 income). Feed alone is about R6 300 for the batch. Margin depends heavily on chick price, electricity and whether selling price holds in your market that week.
Choose the poultry category, then enter the number of birds, feeding period, feed intake, bag size, feed price and expected selling price.
The calculator estimates:
Use realistic figures from your feed supplier, previous batches and local selling prices. Feed use and growth can vary according to breed, housing, temperature, health, mortality and management.
Total feed required estimates how much feed the flock may consume during the selected feeding period.
Feed bags needed converts the total feed requirement into the chosen bag size so you can plan purchases.
Feed cost per bird shows the estimated feed expense for one bird.
Projected profit or loss per bird compares the expected selling value with the entered chick and feed costs.
Total projected profit or loss applies that estimate across the full flock.
These figures are estimates only. Actual results may differ because of mortality, feed wastage, growth rate, breed, temperature, housing, disease, feed quality and selling price.
Planning other feed costs on the farm? Use the Hay Bale Cost Calculator to estimate bale requirements and feeding costs.
For cattle finishing, use the Cattle Feedlot Calculator to estimate feed intake, weight gain, days on feed and projected profit.
The calculator totals feed required for the flock over your feeding period, then divides by your bag size to estimate how many bags to buy.
It is the estimated feed expense for one bird over the selected period, based on daily intake, bag price and the number of birds in the batch.
Yes. Choose the poultry category that matches your programme, or use Custom to enter your own intake, growth and selling assumptions.
Mortality reduces the number of saleable birds used when estimating total income and flock profit, while feed is still planned for the full batch entered.
No. All results are planning estimates. Actual performance depends on breed, housing, temperature, health, feed wastage, mortality and market prices.