Hunger

Hunger is a critical basic need for all beavers in Timberborn. It decays at a rate of 80 points per day, with a maximum value of 100 and a minimum of -300. Each unit of food restores 30 Hunger points, meaning beavers consume approximately 2.67 units of food daily to stay fed. When Hunger drops to zero, beavers enter the Starving status, which inflicts a -50% Work Speed penalty on Adults and a -40% Growth Speed penalty on Kits. Starting from the moment a beaver begins Starving, it takes 3.75 days for them to die if no food is provided. Hunger also impacts Well-Being: a satisfied beaver gains +1 Well-Being from this need, while a starving beaver suffers -10 Well-Being.

Food production is the foundation of any thriving colony. Folktails grow Carrots, Potatoes, Wheat, and other crops in Farmhouses, then process them in Grills, Bakeries, and other cooking buildings. Iron Teeth have access to their own exclusive crops, including Kohlrabi, Cassava, Soybean, Corn, Eggplant, Mushroom, and Algae, processed through the Fermenter, Oil Press, and Food Factory. Berries and other foraged goods from Gatherer Flags provide early-game sustenance. All food items except Coffee satisfy Hunger when consumed, though different foods also satisfy various Nutrition tier needs, making food variety important for overall Well-Being.

Managing Hunger effectively requires careful planning around drought cycles. Players should stockpile food before droughts hit, since crops cannot grow without water. Building multiple Warehouses near residential areas ensures beavers can access food quickly during their breaks. Diversifying food sources is important both for resilience (so one crop failure does not starve the colony) and for satisfying the Nutrition tier needs that boost Well-Being. Monitoring the food supply indicator and adjusting Breeding Pod output or worker assignments to farming can prevent population crashes. In emergencies, reducing the workforce to conserve food consumption and prioritizing critical production can buy time until the next growing season.