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
Chickens How To Care in
Cadiz, Kentucky
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Cadiz Kentucky,
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. Cadiz
Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Cadiz Kentucky, 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 Cadiz KY.
Baby Chickens How To Raise in
Cadiz, Kentucky
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Cadiz Kentucky
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
Cadiz Kentucky * 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 Cadiz
Kentucky * 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 In A Box in
Cadiz, Kentucky
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
Cadiz Kentucky 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 Cadiz,
Kentucky Baby chicks are very
cute as well as
tough to withstand,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not just the
correct products, but
also the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
simple, you just need
to give them with the following: A
clean and also warm
environment A lot of food and also water Interest and
love Habitat Your environment can be a
simple box, aquarium,
feline service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
give them with a warmth resource.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb additionally work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can occupy to 2 months). The recently
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and every week this could
be decreased by
around 5 degrees or
so. The heat source should be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
contrary edge of your warmth
lamp, you need to
lower the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not just cuddling),
you need to add some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is key and it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bed linens
commonly and
consistently offer tidy
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which needs plenty of tidy
food and water. Offer
sufficient at all times as well
as check
usually to
stop dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not escape as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
watch their habits, you can
catch ailment or various
other problems previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other unhealthy
indicators. Make certain to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted feathers and blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to watch out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick getting teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
and also relocate outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken cages to read more
about coops and also
correct cage habitats.
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