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 Diet in
Avon, Massachusetts
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Avon Massachusetts,
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. Avon
Massachusetts also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Avon Massachusetts, 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 Avon MA.
Baby Chickens On
Sale in
Avon, Massachusetts
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Avon Massachusetts
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
Avon Massachusetts * 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 Avon
Massachusetts * 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 101 in
Avon, Massachusetts
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
Avon Massachusetts 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 Avon,
Massachusetts Baby chicks are very
adorable as well as
difficult to stand up to,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
appropriate products, however
additionally the appropriate
knowledge to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you simply need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
habitat Lots of food and water Attention and also
love Environment Your environment could be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks utilize straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to provide food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a warmth resource.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb likewise function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The newly
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
and also each week this could
be minimized by
around 5 levels approximately. The heat source need to get on simply one side of the cage
to allow chicks an array of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
light, you need to
decrease the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply curling up),
you should put some heat.
Home cleaning
Sanitation is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make certain to change
the bed linen
commonly and also
constantly provide clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow very fast
which requires lots of clean
food as well as water. Give
enough whatsoever times as well
as examine
often to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is different than grown-up chicken food, and it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't use up that task until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Interest and love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
see their actions, you can
catch ailment or other troubles previously. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Make sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and relocate outside right into a
coop. Check out our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
regarding cages and also
proper cage environments.
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