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 Outside in
Waukegan, Illinois
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Waukegan 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. Waukegan
Illinois also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Waukegan 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 Waukegan IL.
Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Waukegan, Illinois
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Waukegan 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
Waukegan 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 Waukegan
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 Types in
Waukegan, 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
Waukegan 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 Waukegan,
Illinois Baby chicks are really
charming and also
tough to resist,
however it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
appropriate materials, yet
also the correct
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
basic, you just should give them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment Lots of food and also water Interest as well as
love Environment Your habitat could be an easy box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using only
newspaper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
into the habitat to get them
educated on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you should
supply them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also every week this could
be minimized by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource ought
to get on just one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you have to
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not merely snuggling),
you need to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is crucial as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to change
the bed linens
typically and
constantly offer tidy
food and also water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which requires lots of clean
food as well as water. Provide
enough whatsoever times and check
often to
stop dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and it is available in both medicated and non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks want
to obtain a head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Attention and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their actions, you can
capture illness or other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Be sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted plumes as well
as blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to look out
for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and move outside right into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages to get more information
concerning coops and also
proper coop habitats.
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