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 Online in
Grammer, Indiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Grammer Indiana,
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. Grammer
Indiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Grammer Indiana, 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 Grammer IN.
Baby
Chickens How To Care in
Grammer, Indiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Grammer Indiana
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
Grammer Indiana * 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 Grammer
Indiana * 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 Names in
Grammer, Indiana
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
Grammer Indiana 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 Grammer,
Indiana Baby chicks are extremely
adorable and also
hard to stand up to,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
correct products, however
likewise the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely should supply them with the following: A tidy as well as cozy
habitat Plenty of food as well
as water Attention and
love Habitat Your habitat can be an easy box, aquarium,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You additionally need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you can present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
supply them with a warmth resource.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could occupy to two months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and every week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels approximately. The heat resource must get on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not simply cuddling),
you need to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linen
usually and also
consistently give tidy
food and also water Food and also water.
Chicks expand very quick
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Provide
sufficient at all times and inspect
usually to
stop thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various 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
initial 2 months, then
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 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 head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Attention and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their actions, you could
catch health problem or various
other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and obstructed cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety of your house
as well as move outside into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to get more information
about coops as well as
correct coop environments.
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