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 Chickens Under Lights in
Morro Bay, California
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Morro Bay 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. Morro Bay
California also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay CA.
Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Morro Bay, California
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Morro Bay 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
Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay
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 Chickens Diet in
Morro Bay, 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
Morro Bay 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 Morro Bay,
California Baby chicks are quite
charming and
challenging to withstand,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
right materials, yet
additionally the correct
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply should offer them with the following: A tidy and also warm
habitat Plenty of food and also water Focus and also
love Habitat Your habitat could be a
simple box, aquarium,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
misshapen. You likewise need
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
give them with a heat resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also work effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could take up to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also weekly this could
be lowered by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The heat source need to get on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you need to
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you should put some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bedding
often as well as
always offer clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow quite quick
which calls for a lot of clean
food and also water. Supply
sufficient in any way times as well
as check
typically to avoid parched as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Attention and love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not flee as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
see their behavior, you could
capture health problem or other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other undesirable
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted feathers as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and relocate outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
section on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding coops and also
appropriate cage habitats.
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