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 Order in
Ida, Louisiana
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Ida Louisiana,
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. Ida
Louisiana also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Ida Louisiana, 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 Ida LA.
Baby Chicks Baby
Chickens in
Ida, Louisiana
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Ida Louisiana
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
Ida Louisiana * 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 Ida
Louisiana * 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 Mail in
Ida, Louisiana
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
Ida Louisiana 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 Ida,
Louisiana Baby chicks are extremely
cute as well as
tough to withstand,
yet it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not only the
correct materials, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
basic, you merely should give them with the following: A
clean as well as warm and comfortable
habitat Lots of food and also water Attention and
love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
feline carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using only
newspaper or various other slipper
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and a pet dog bird water dispenser from a pet store. Additionally, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you have to
give them with a warmth source.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally work effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched need a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 levels,
and every week this can
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat resource need 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 concealing in the
contrary corner of your heat
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you have to put some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bed linen
frequently and also
always provide clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand really quickly
which needs a lot of clean
food and water. Offer
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as check
commonly to
stop dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Interest as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
view their behavior, you can
capture illness or various
other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
additionally take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining badgered. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your home
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken cages to learn more
about cages and also
appropriate coop environments.
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