Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
Raising chickens v. buying eggs: which is cheaper?
, ,
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 Not Eating in
Webster, Iowa
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Webster 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. Webster
Iowa also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Webster 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 Webster IA.
Baby Chicks
Outside With Heat Lamp in
Webster, Iowa
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Webster 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
Webster 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 Webster
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 Eggs For Sale in
Webster, 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
Webster 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 Webster,
Iowa Baby chicks are really
charming and
hard to withstand,
however it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not only the
right products, however
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you simply need
to give them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
habitat A lot of food and also water Interest as well as
love Environment Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can expand
malformed. You likewise need
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you could present a perch
into the environment to obtain them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks heat you need to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as each week this could
be reduced by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth source ought
to be on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your heat
light, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
warmth (not merely curling up),
you need to include some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is crucial as
well as it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to transform
the bed linen
frequently and
always give tidy
food and also water Food and water.
Chicks expand really quickly
which needs plenty of tidy
food and water. Give
sufficient at all times and check
frequently to avoid dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others will not take
up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to hanging
out with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
view their habits, you could
catch health problem or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
indicators. Be sure to
additionally check out
their poop, as diarrhea could result in matted feathers as well
as clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and move outside right into a cage. Look into our
part on chicken coops to read more
about coops and
proper coop habitats.
Baby Chicks NeedsBaby Chickens For Sale Online More Posts Baby Chickens for Sale in Sigourney, Iowa Baby Chickens for Sale in Dana, Iowa Baby Chickens for Sale in Rock Rapids, Iowa Baby Chickens for Sale in Rodney, Iowa Baby Chickens for Sale in Blairsburg, Iowa