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 Male in
Milton, Delaware
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Milton Delaware,
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. Milton
Delaware also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Milton Delaware, 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 Milton DE.
Baby Chicks Types in
Milton, Delaware
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Milton Delaware
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
Milton Delaware * 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 Milton
Delaware * 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
Milton, Delaware
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
Milton Delaware 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 Milton,
Delaware Baby chicks are really
adorable and also
difficult to resist,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
appropriate materials, however
also the proper
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just should offer them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
habitat Plenty of food as well
as water Focus and
love Environment Your environment could be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you should
supply them with a warmth resource.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also weekly this can
be reduced by
about 5 levels or
so. The warmth source need to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you should include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is essential and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bedding
often and also
constantly supply tidy
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow quite quickly
which calls for lots of tidy
food and also water. Provide
sufficient in any way times as well
as check
often to prevent dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will probably bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
watch their habits, you could
capture ailment or other issues earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
various other undesirable
indications. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and also clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to watch out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and also move outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
section on chicken cages to read more
about cages and also
appropriate coop habitats.
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