Chick Order Calculator & Day-Old Chicks to Buy

Order more than your target to allow for mortality: chicks = target ÷ survival, where survival = (1 − brooding loss) × (1 − growing loss). For 1,000 market broilers at ~10% total loss you'd order about 1,109. For straight-run layers, divide again by the female fraction. This tool computes it.

Brooding (first weeks) mortality is the highest — often 3–8% for broilers, sometimes more for chicks raised in poor conditions; later growing losses are smaller. Layers reared to point-of-lay accumulate more over the longer period. Use your own flock's figures; the tool combines brooding and growing losses.

If you buy unsexed (straight-run) chicks, only about half will be female and useful as layers — so set the female % to 50, and the tool roughly doubles the order. If you buy sexed pullet chicks (female %), set it to 100. Sexed chicks cost more but waste no feed on unwanted males.

Mortality varies — a bad batch, disease or a cold snap can push losses above average. A small buffer (say 3–5%) on top of expected mortality protects you from ending short of your target, which matters when you have firm orders or housing to fill. The tool lets you add a buffer percentage.

Deaths during the brooding period (first 2–4 weeks) when chicks need warmth, clean water, good feed and hygiene. It's the most critical and highest-loss phase. Good brooding — correct temperature, space, ventilation and biosecurity — sharply cuts it, lowering how many extra chicks you must order.

Brood well: right temperature (start ~32–35 °C, reduce weekly), enough floor space, clean dry litter, fresh water and feed from arrival, good ventilation without draughts, and strict biosecurity and vaccination. Source healthy chicks from a reputable hatchery. Lower mortality means you order fewer chicks for the same target.

Both. For broilers (or any meat birds) set female % to 100 — you keep all survivors. For layers, set female % to 100 if buying sexed pullets, or 50 if buying straight-run and keeping only the females. The tool also estimates the males you'd discard with straight-run.

Roughly target ÷ survival: at 90% survival, about 1,111; at 85%, about 1,176. The exact number depends on your brooding and growing mortality and any buffer. Enter your figures and the tool gives the precise order quantity and the expected losses.

If you cull or sell some birds before the target stage, factor that in by raising the target or the buffer. The tool's target is the number you want to keep; add to it any planned culls or sales so your final usable flock still meets your needs.

Knowing the order quantity lets you book the right number of chicks, size the brooder and house, and order feed and vaccines to match. Under-order and you can't fill housing or orders; over-order and you waste feed and space. The tool gets the number right from your target and losses.