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 And Ducks For Sale in
Morris, Minnesota
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Morris Minnesota,
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. Morris
Minnesota also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Morris Minnesota, 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 Morris MN.
Baby Chicks In The Mail in
Morris, Minnesota
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Morris Minnesota
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
Morris Minnesota * 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 Morris
Minnesota * 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 And Heat Lamps in
Morris, Minnesota
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
Morris Minnesota 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 Morris,
Minnesota Baby chicks are very
cute as well as
tough to withstand,
however it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
right products, but
likewise the correct
understanding to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
easy, you just need
to provide them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Focus and
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid using only
newspaper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You additionally need
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Also, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
into the habitat to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
provide them with a heat source.
This could be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
light bulb additionally function extremely well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 till their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can take up to two months). The freshly
hatched require a temperature
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
as well as weekly this can
be minimized by
about 5 degrees or
so. The warmth source ought
to be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
opposite edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
decrease the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not merely curling up),
you have to include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Tidiness is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bedding
frequently and
consistently provide tidy
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Supply
sufficient in any way times and examine
often to avoid parched and also
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first two months, then
change to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
reduced 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 take
up that activity up until they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to bathe in.
Focus as well as love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. Firstly, they will most
likely bond with you and
not escape as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
watch their behavior, you can
capture disease or various
other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make sure to
also consider
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted feathers as well
as clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is important to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently fully feathery
and its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
as well as move outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
section on chicken cages for more information
about cages and also
proper cage environments.
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