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 in
Kilbourne, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Kilbourne 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. Kilbourne
Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Kilbourne 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 Kilbourne IL.
Baby Chicks Online in
Kilbourne, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Kilbourne 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
Kilbourne 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 Kilbourne
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 Chicks
Raising in
Kilbourne, 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
Kilbourne 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 Kilbourne,
Illinois Baby chicks are extremely
cute and
hard to withstand,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
proper products, yet
likewise the proper
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you just need
to offer them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
habitat Lots of food and also water Attention and also
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
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally require
something to serve up food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and a pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch
into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also work effectively (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and every week this can
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source should get on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite edge of your warmth
light, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you should include some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to change
the bedding
commonly as well as
consistently offer clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand extremely quickly
which requires lots of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
enough in any way times as well
as check
frequently to avoid thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly more than likely bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their habits, you can
capture health problem or various
other problems earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
indicators. Be sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and stopped up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also move outside into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding cages and also
appropriate cage environments.
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