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 By Mail in
Yoder, Colorado
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Yoder Colorado,
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. Yoder
Colorado also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Yoder Colorado, 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 Yoder CO.
Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Yoder, Colorado
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Yoder Colorado
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
Yoder Colorado * 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 Yoder
Colorado * 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 Male in
Yoder, Colorado
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
Yoder Colorado 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 Yoder,
Colorado Baby chicks are quite
cute and
hard to resist,
but it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
proper materials, yet
likewise the proper
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely have to offer them with the following: A tidy and also warm
habitat A lot of food and water Interest and also
love Environment Your environment could be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loose
strings!) to start, and after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise require
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also work extremely well (my
referral). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and 100 levels,
and each week this could
be lowered by
around 5 levels approximately. The warmth source ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
light, you should
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should add some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is key as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy. Be sure to transform
the bedding
often and
constantly offer clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks expand very quick
which calls for plenty of tidy
food and also water. Provide
enough in any way times as well
as inspect
usually to prevent parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you can
catch illness or various
other troubles previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Be sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and also stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to look out
for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and also move outside into a cage. Take a look at our
area on chicken coops to learn more
regarding coops and
correct cage environments.
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