Supplemental feed planning
Chicken treat budget calculator
Estimate a conservative flock-level ceiling for extras while keeping complete, life-stage-appropriate feed as the ration.
OSU Extension describes scratch at about 10–15% of total daily food consumption and applies the same cleanup-time limit to scraps and greens. This tool uses the conservative 10% end by default. It is a planning estimate, not a ration prescription or medical dose.
Keep complete feed available and use the estimate as a ceiling, not a target. A watery vegetable, scratch grain, and dense prepared food are not nutritionally interchangeable. Remove leftovers before they spoil.
Sources and limits
- How to feed your laying hens — OSU Extension Service. Scratch is supplemental; its 10–15% figure is a rule of thumb, not a universal intake requirement.
- Feeds and Nutrition — Mississippi State University Extension Service. Average laying-hen intake is about 1/4–1/3 lb per day and varies with weather, bird size, and productivity.