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 Needs in
Patoka, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Patoka 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. Patoka
Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Patoka 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 Patoka IL.
Baby
Chicks In A Box in
Patoka, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Patoka 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
Patoka 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 Patoka
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 Coop in
Patoka, 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
Patoka 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 Patoka,
Illinois Baby chicks are quite
charming and also
difficult to withstand,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
right materials, but
likewise the proper
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
simple, you just should give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Plenty of food and also water Interest and also
love Environment Your environment can be a
simple box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using only
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You also require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Also, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a heat resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
and also each week this can
be reduced by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat source must get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you need to
lower the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is essential and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to transform
the bed linen
usually and
always provide tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow quite fast
which requires plenty of clean
food and also water. Give
enough whatsoever times and examine
usually to prevent thirsty and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
filth 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 shower in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you as well as
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
enjoy their behavior, you can
capture ailment or various
other issues previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to watch out for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
and also move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
section on chicken coops to get more information
regarding cages and also
correct cage environments.
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