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 Facts in
Wallace, Idaho
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Wallace Idaho,
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. Wallace
Idaho also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Wallace Idaho, 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 Wallace ID.
Raising Baby Quail Chicks in
Wallace, Idaho
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Wallace Idaho
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
Wallace Idaho * 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 Wallace
Idaho * 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 Quail Chicks in
Wallace, Idaho
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
Wallace Idaho 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 Wallace,
Idaho Baby chicks are extremely
charming and
difficult to resist,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct materials, yet
also the appropriate
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you merely should give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment A lot of food and water Focus and
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using just
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can take up to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and weekly this could
be minimized by
about 5 levels or
so. The heat source need to be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you need to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is vital and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bed linens
commonly and also
consistently provide tidy
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which needs plenty of clean
food as well as water. Offer
enough at all times and inspect
typically to
stop thirsty and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you as well as
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their behavior, you can
capture health problem or various
other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
indicators. Be sure to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can cause matted feathers and also blocked cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to watch out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
and relocate outside right into a cage. Check out our
section on chicken coops for more information
regarding cages and also
correct cage habitats.
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