Tool
Egg Production Cost Calculator for Laying Hens
Calculate nowQuick answer
Cost per dozen comes from feed eaten divided by eggs laid. NC State Extension puts a laying hen at about 1/3 lb of feed a day and about 5 lb of feed per dozen eggs. Multiply the pounds per dozen by the price per pound of feed, then compare with your selling price per dozen: the difference times the dozens per month is your margin.
Spreadsheet · $9Chicken Egg Production Tracker (Excel)How the math works
- Eggs per month = hens × laying rate × 30 days.
- Feed per month = hens × daily feed (lb) × 30 days.
- Total cost = feed × price per lb + other costs.
- Cost per dozen = total cost ÷ (eggs ÷ 12).
- Margin = dozens × selling price − total cost.
The defaults
| Input | Default | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Feed per hen | 0.33 lb/day | about 1/3 lb a day while laying |
| Laying rate | 49% | up to 15 dozen eggs in year one; up to 12 in year two |
| Feed per dozen | — | about 5 lb |
All from Keeping Garden Chickens in North Carolina. In the second year production drops, so a dozen costs more. Track it week by week with the chicken egg production tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Where do 0.33 lb of feed and 49% laying rate come from?
From NC State Extension: about 1/3 lb of feed a day while laying and up to 15 dozen eggs per hen in the first laying year. 15 dozen is 180 eggs, or about 49% over 365 days. Use your own records if you have them.
Why is the feed price blank?
Feed prices change by region and month, and a sample price would look like data. Divide the bag price by the bag weight and type the price per pound.
Does this include buying the hens?
No. It measures a flock already laying. Pullets eat for months before laying; put that cost in the other costs field, spread over the laying months, if you want to include it.
Sources
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