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 For Easter in
Cornville, Arizona
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Cornville Arizona,
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. Cornville
Arizona also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Cornville Arizona, 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 Cornville AZ.
Baby Chicks Names in
Cornville, Arizona
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Cornville Arizona
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
Cornville Arizona * 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 Cornville
Arizona * 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 Chickens Male Or Female in
Cornville, Arizona
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
Cornville Arizona 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 Cornville,
Arizona Baby chicks are very
cute and
hard to resist,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
appropriate materials, but
additionally the correct
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
environment Plenty of food and also water Attention and
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also require
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a heat source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb additionally function effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be reduced by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat source must get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply cuddling),
you have to add some heat.
House cleaning
Sanitation is essential and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bedding
typically and also
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which requires a lot of clean
food and water. Offer
sufficient in any way times and also check
typically to
stop dehydrated as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
see their actions, you can
catch health problem or other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other harmful
signs. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could cause matted plumes and also clogged up cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
as well as move outside into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
concerning coops and
appropriate cage habitats.
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