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 Information in
Morley, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Morley Iowa,
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. Morley
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Morley Iowa, 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 Morley IA.
Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Morley, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Morley Iowa
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
Morley Iowa * 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 Morley
Iowa * 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 For Sale Free Shipping in
Morley, Iowa
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
Morley Iowa 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 Morley,
Iowa Baby chicks are very
adorable as well as
challenging to stand up to,
yet it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
correct materials, however
also the proper
understanding to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just have to provide them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Lots of food as well
as water Focus and
love Habitat Your habitat could be an easy box, aquarium,
feline carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of only
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and a pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Likewise, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a heat source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could take up to two months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature level
between 90 and 100 degrees,
and also every week this could
be lowered by
about 5 levels approximately. The heat resource should be on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you should add some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is crucial and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to change
the bedding
commonly as well as
always provide clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand very fast
which calls for lots of tidy
food as well as water. Give
enough in any way times as well
as examine
often to
stop parched and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to get a running start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Interest and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their habits, you could
catch disease or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted feathers as well
as clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and relocate outside right into a cage. Look into our
section on chicken cages to find out
more
regarding cages and also
proper coop habitats.
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