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
Leroy, Michigan
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Leroy 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. Leroy
Michigan also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Leroy 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 Leroy MI.
Baby Chickens
Black in
Leroy, Michigan
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Leroy 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
Leroy 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 Leroy
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 And Ducks in
Leroy, 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
Leroy 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 Leroy,
Michigan Baby chicks are really
adorable as well as
challenging to stand up to,
yet it's best to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
correct products, but
likewise the correct
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just should give them with the following: A tidy and cozy
environment Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Environment Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
coverings (without any loosened
strings!) to start, and also after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing only
paper or other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks grow older you could present a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks heat you should
offer them with a heat source.
This could be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which could occupy to 2 months). The freshly
hatched need a temperature
in between 90 and 100 degrees,
and also weekly this can
be minimized by
around 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource should be on merely one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
light, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply curling up),
you should add some heat.
Home 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 give clean
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which calls for a lot of tidy
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient at all times as well
as examine
typically to prevent dehydrated and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dirt bathrooms, while others won't use up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Focus and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly most
likely bond with you and
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
see their habits, you can
catch ailment or various
other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
other undesirable
signs. Make sure to
additionally consider
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and also clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to watch out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also move outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
area on chicken coops to find out
more
about cages as well as
appropriate cage environments.
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