Chicken Feed Formulation Calculator
To mix an 18% protein ration from corn at 9% and soybean meal at 44%, use 25.7% soybean meal and 74.3% corn. This chicken feed formulation calculator works out the mix for any protein target from corn, soybean meal and optional wheat, using the Pearson square method. It balances protein only — calcium, vitamins and minerals need a complete ration.
Chicken Feed Formulation Calculator
Planning estimate. Figures vary by breed, strain, climate and management — see the sources cited on this page.
Key facts
- Default ingredient proteins: corn 9%, soybean meal 44%, wheat 13%. Check the label on your actual ingredients — protein varies by batch and supplier.
- Protein targets: starter 20%, grower 16%, layer 16–18%.
- Method: the Pearson square. Soybean meal share = (target − corn protein) ÷ (soy protein − corn protein). For an 18% target: (18 − 9) ÷ (44 − 9) = 25.7% soybean meal and 74.3% corn.
- Protein is only one part of a ration. Energy, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins and amino acids all matter, and layers need far more calcium than this mix provides. Do not feed a home mix as the sole ration without checking it against a complete published ration.
- For how much feed the mixed ration replaces, use the chicken feed calculator; for feed types, see the guide on chicken feed types explained.
How do I mix chicken feed with a calculator?
Pick a protein target, enter the protein of your ingredients, and the calculator works out the shares with the Pearson square. For an 18% layer ration from corn at 9% and soybean meal at 44%, the answer is 25.7% soybean meal and 74.3% corn — 25.7 lb of soybean meal and 74.3 lb of corn in a 100 lb batch. Add wheat by setting its share, and the calculator rebalances the corn and soy around it.
Homemade chicken feed recipe calculator: what the numbers mean
The Pearson square only balances one nutrient: protein. It takes the target protein and the two ingredient proteins and finds the blend that averages to the target. That is why the answer is exact for protein and silent on everything else. A real ration also needs the right energy, calcium for shell strength, phosphorus, salt, vitamins and the amino acid methionine, which is often the first limit in a corn and soy mix.
How to use the result
Use it as a starting point for a home mix, not as a complete feed. Mix a small batch first, weigh ingredients on a scale rather than by volume, and compare the result with a published extension ration for your bird type and age. If you keep layers, add a calcium source separately — oyster shell offered free-choice is the usual approach — because no grain mix provides enough calcium for shells.
What this calculator does not do
It does not balance energy, calcium, vitamins or amino acids, it does not check whether your ingredients are safe or fresh, and it does not replace a formulated ration. Some ingredients need processing before chickens can use them — raw soybeans, for example, must be heat-treated. When in doubt, feed a commercial complete ration and use home mixing only as a supplement.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use a chicken feed formulation calculator?
Enter your protein target and the protein of each ingredient, and it works out the mix with the Pearson square. For an 18% target from corn at 9% and soybean meal at 44%, the answer is 25.7% soybean meal and 74.3% corn. It balances protein only — calcium, vitamins and minerals need a complete ration.
How do I mix chicken feed at home?
Start from a protein target — 20% for starters, 16% for growers, 16 to 18% for layers — and blend a grain with a protein source using the Pearson square. A 100 lb batch at 18% protein needs 25.7 lb of soybean meal and 74.3 lb of corn. Add oyster shell free-choice for layers, and check the mix against published extension ration guidance.
What is a homemade chicken feed recipe calculator?
It works out the ingredient shares for a home-mixed ration from a protein target. Enter the target and the protein of your corn, soybean meal and wheat, and it gives the percentage and weight of each ingredient per batch, using the Pearson square method.
What is a chicken ration calculator?
It calculates a ration mix from your ingredients and a protein target. This one mixes corn, soybean meal and optional wheat to starter (20%), grower (16%) or layer (16 to 18%) protein targets, and gives the weight of each ingredient for your batch size.
What is a poultry feed formulation calculator?
It formulates a feed mix from ingredient protein values and a target protein. This calculator uses corn (9% protein), soybean meal (44%) and wheat (13%) with targets of 20% for starters, 16% for growers and 16 to 18% for layers, and shows the mix per batch.
The What to Feed Chickens guide covers this topic in more detail. Two related calculators worth checking next are the Chicken Feed Cost Calculator and Chick Feed Calculator by Age.