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 Needs in
Tyner, Kentucky
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Tyner 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. Tyner
Kentucky also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Tyner 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 Tyner KY.
Baby Chicks On Sale in
Tyner, Kentucky
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Tyner 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
Tyner 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 Tyner
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 Incubator in
Tyner, 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
Tyner 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 Tyner,
Kentucky Baby chicks are extremely
adorable as well as
tough to resist,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by collecting not just the
proper products, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply need
to offer them with the following: A
clean and also warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Attention as well as
love Environment Your environment can be a straightforward box, aquarium,
pet cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (with no loosened
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid making use of only
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You additionally need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a
pet dog shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you should
provide them with a heat source.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also work extremely well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and also weekly this could
be minimized by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth source should get on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
lamp, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
heat (not merely cuddling),
you have to add some heat.
House cleaning
Tidiness is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to alter
the bedding
typically and
constantly offer tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks grow very quickly
which requires lots of tidy
food and water. Offer
enough in any way times as well
as examine
typically to prevent parched and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial two months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Attention and love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will most
likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
see their habits, you can
capture illness or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other harmful
signs. Be sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted feathers as well
as stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is essential to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our
section on chicken cages to read more
about cages and also
appropriate cage habitats.
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