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 In
The Mail in
Lerose, Kentucky
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Lerose 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. Lerose
Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Lerose 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 Lerose KY.
Baby Chicks Near Me in
Lerose, Kentucky
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Lerose 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
Lerose 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 Lerose
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.
Raising Baby Chickens in
Lerose, 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
Lerose 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 Lerose,
Kentucky Baby chicks are extremely
cute as well as
difficult to stand up to,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
correct products, however
likewise the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
straightforward, you merely need
to offer them with the following: A tidy and cozy
habitat A lot of food as well
as water Focus and
love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to start, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could grow
malformed. You additionally 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 container
lid for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from an animal shop. Likewise, as the chicks age you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you should
provide them with a heat resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched require a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and also each week this could
be reduced by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The warmth source ought
to be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your heat
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you should add some warmth.
Home cleaning
Tidiness is key and it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bed linens
frequently and
always provide tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand really quick
which needs a lot of tidy
food as well as water. Give
enough in any way times and also examine
often to
stop dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of benefits to spending time with your chicks. Firstly, they will more than likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
view their actions, you can
catch health problem or various
other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other undesirable
signs. Make sure to
also look at
their poop, as diarrhea can bring about matted feathers and also blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and also move outside right into a cage. Look into our
part on chicken coops to read more
about cages and also
proper coop habitats.
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