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 Care in
Clare, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Clare Michigan,
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. Clare
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Clare Michigan, 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 Clare MI.
Baby Chickens How To Raise in
Clare, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Clare Michigan
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
Clare Michigan * 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 Clare
Michigan * 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 Gender in
Clare, Michigan
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
Clare Michigan 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 Clare,
Michigan Baby chicks are very
cute and
challenging to resist,
however it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
appropriate products, however
additionally the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you simply need
to offer them with the following: A tidy and also warm
habitat A lot of food and water Attention and
love Environment Your habitat could be an easy box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Likewise, as the chicks age you could introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
provide them with a warmth source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function very
well (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can use
up to 2 months). The freshly
hatched out require a temperature
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be reduced by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat source need to be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other edge of your heat
light, you should
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just snuggling),
you need to add some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bed linen
typically as well as
consistently provide clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow really quick
which needs plenty of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
enough in any way times as well
as examine
frequently to prevent thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is different than adult chicken food, as well as it comes
in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and after that to a slightly
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
filth baths, while others will not occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Focus and love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
enjoy their actions, you can
catch disease or other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indications. Make certain to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining picked
on. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken cages to read more
about coops and also
proper cage environments.
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