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 Quail Chicks in
Gasquet, California
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Gasquet California,
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. Gasquet
California also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Gasquet California, 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 Gasquet CA.
Baby Chicks Coop in
Gasquet, California
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Gasquet California
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
Gasquet California * 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 Gasquet
California * 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 In The Mail in
Gasquet, California
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
Gasquet California 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 Gasquet,
California Baby chicks are quite
adorable and also
tough to stand up to,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
proper products, yet
additionally the proper
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you merely need
to supply them with the following: A tidy as well as warm
environment Plenty of food and also water Attention and
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, aquarium,
feline provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
paper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You also need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a warmth source.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise work effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could use
up to two months). The freshly
hatched out need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and each week this can
be lowered by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth source ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary corner of your warmth
light, you have to
lower the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bedding
frequently as well as
constantly give tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quickly
which calls for plenty of tidy
food and also water. Provide
sufficient in any way times and also examine
commonly to
stop parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that task up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
see their actions, you can
catch ailment or various
other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other harmful
indications. Make sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted plumes and also blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and move outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops for more information
concerning coops and also
proper coop environments.
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