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 As
Pets in
Brunswick, Georgia
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Brunswick Georgia,
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. Brunswick
Georgia also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Brunswick Georgia, 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 Brunswick GA.
Baby Chicks Buy in
Brunswick, Georgia
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Brunswick Georgia
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
Brunswick Georgia * 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 Brunswick
Georgia * 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 Supplies in
Brunswick, Georgia
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
Brunswick Georgia 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 Brunswick,
Georgia Baby chicks are quite
cute and also
tough to stand up to,
however it's ideal to plan for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
correct products, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you merely should offer them with the following: A
clean as well as cozy
environment Lots of food and water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be an easy box, aquarium,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise require
something to provide food and also
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 an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a heat source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be lowered by
around 5 levels approximately. The heat source must get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not just curling up),
you need to add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Be sure to change
the bed linen
commonly and
consistently offer tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks expand very fast
which needs plenty of clean
food and water. Provide
enough in any way times and also check
typically to avoid thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their actions, you can
catch ailment or other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other harmful
indications. Make certain to
additionally look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could lead
to matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to read more
about coops and
correct cage habitats.
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