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 101 in
Dekalb, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Dekalb Illinois,
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. Dekalb
Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Dekalb Illinois, 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 Dekalb IL.
Baby Chickens Habitat in
Dekalb, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Dekalb Illinois
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
Dekalb Illinois * 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 Dekalb
Illinois * 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 Mail in
Dekalb, Illinois
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
Dekalb Illinois 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 Dekalb,
Illinois Baby chicks are really
cute as well as
challenging to resist,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
appropriate materials, but
additionally the proper
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you just should supply them with the following: A
clean and warm
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Attention and
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You likewise need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
offer them with a warmth resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The recently
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and 100 degrees,
as well as each week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 degrees or
so. The heat source need to get on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you should put some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bedding
commonly and
constantly supply clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very fast
which requires plenty of clean
food and also water. Provide
enough in any way times and also examine
usually to avoid dehydrated as well as
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to obtain a running start on taking
filth baths, while others won't take
up that activity until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will most
likely bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you could
capture health problem or various
other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted feathers and clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your residence
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Look into our
part on chicken coops to get more information
regarding cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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