Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
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Some friends in Portland, OR have four pet chickens that lay about as many fresh eggs as poops in their backyard. I was curious if raising chickens saved them money so I asked them to break it down for me.
On a monthly basis they pay…
Pine shavings for litter: $5
Organic feed: $10
Total cost for four chickens: $15
Monthly egg yield: 78 eggs
Cost of 78 organic eggs in the store at $3/dozen: $19.50
Monthly savings: $4.50
But the monthly cost analysis does not take into account all the expenses so let’s look at the yearly investment.
Buying the birds: approx. $5 per chick x 4 chicks = $20
Cost of chicken coop: $500 (They made a very impressive coop themselves. One could be made for much less.)
Yearly upkeep (12 x monthly cost): $180
Yearly cost of chickens: $700
Yearly egg savings (12 x monthly egg costs): $234
Yearly savings: -$466
By this analysis, our friends are going broke raising chickens. However, there are other factors that have an intangible cost benefit. These are impossible to put a dollar figure on because each person values them differently.
These factors include the time spent tending the chickens, the money saved from eating less meat because you are getting more protein from eggs, the value of a constant source of fertilizer, pride in raising your own chickens, enjoyment gained from having perky pets, and the value of fresh eggs.
There is also the WOW factor when you show guests your chickens, which is generally offset by the poop everywhere factor.
Depending on how you value these factors, raising your own chickens could be just the thing for you. Just don’t hold chickens too close to your face. Peck!
A great resource for anyone interested in pet chickens is .
Thanks Alisa!
Baby Chicks Facts in
White Mountain, Alaska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in White Mountain Alaska,
including Sussex Chickens, Welsummer Chickens, Turken Chickens and more.
Be sure to check out the Bargain Specials, as you can combine different
egg layers in smaller amounts and buy as an assortment. White Mountain
Alaska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
White Mountain Alaska, bantams for sale, ducks for sale, geese for sale,
turkeys for sale, guinea for sale, peafowl for sale, pheasant for sale,
chukar partridge for sale, bobwhite for sale, many different breeds of
baby chicks for sale in White Mountain AK.
Baby Chicks Supplies in
White Mountain, Alaska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in White Mountain Alaska
catalog is a yearly traditions in many houses. My kids and I eagerly await
the Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog. We love looking at all the cool and
different chicken breeds available. Catalogs are free so head on over to
their site and request one if you are interested.
Typically hatcheries online offer both standard breeds
and bantams. Bantams are fun hardy little chickens, they lay tiny eggs
that kids especially love collecting. Bantams typically weigh less than 2
pounds when full grown. Just like ordering anything online there are pros
and cons to ordering baby chicks online. Pros of buying baby chicks in
White Mountain Alaska * Big Selection - If you are wanting a large
variety of different chicken breeds and egg colors, you will find the best
selection at an online hatchery. * Both Bantams and full sized chickens
available * You get to choose what sex you want. If you want a mixture of
both male and female then choosing a "straight run" will save you money
and you will get a mixture of male and female chicks. You can also choose
all males or all females too. * Weekly specials. Hatcheries have sales on
chicks, you are likely to get a good deal if you are flexible with the
breeds you are wanting. Cons of buying baby chicks in White Mountain
Alaska * Order early to get the best selection. Certain breeds sell
out fast, sometimes as early as 6 months in advance of shipping! If you
are wanting a certain breed it's best to order your chicks in the fall
before their orders sell out.
Baby Chicks Needs in
White Mountain, Alaska
Quantity - you must order a certain number of chicks. Typically hatcheries
will require you buy a minimum of 25 chicks at a time. The number is
necessary for the chicks survival during shipping. All 25 chicks are put
in one small box without heat. They are crowded in the box and produce
enough body heat to arrive in good shape. * The wait - If you choose to
buy chicks from a feed store you will have them the same day but if you
choose to go with a hatchery you have to wait until they are ready to ship
and then wait for the chicks to arrive. Ordering baby chicks online in
White Mountain Alaska is easy and has always been a very pleasant
experience of me. It can be a little frustrating waiting for the chicks
but it's so worth the wait. When the post office calls and you hear all
those little "cheeps" or "chirps" in the background you'll know the wait
was worth it! How to Care for your new baby chickens in White Mountain,
Alaska Baby chicks are quite
charming as well as
tough to resist,
yet it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
proper materials, but
also the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you simply need
to give them with the following: A tidy and also warm
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks age you could present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb likewise function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 degrees,
and also each week this can
be reduced by
about 5 levels or
so. The warmth source ought
to be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you have to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is essential and it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bedding
typically and also
always supply clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very quick
which needs lots of clean
food and water. Supply
sufficient at all times and check
typically to
stop thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't take
up that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their habits, you could
catch health problem or various
other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indications. Be sure to
also consider
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted plumes and also clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and relocate outside right into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to get more information
regarding coops and
correct cage environments.
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