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
Hatchery in
Paris, Mississippi
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Paris Mississippi,
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. Paris
Mississippi also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Paris Mississippi, 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 Paris MS.
Baby Chicks Male Or Female in
Paris, Mississippi
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Paris Mississippi
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
Paris Mississippi * 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 Paris
Mississippi * 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 Food in
Paris, Mississippi
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
Paris Mississippi 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 Paris,
Mississippi Baby chicks are really
cute as well as
hard to resist,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not just the
correct products, yet
additionally the proper
knowledge to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply should offer them with the following: A tidy and warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food and also water Interest as well as
love Environment Your habitat can be a basic box, fish tank,
feline service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
cover for food as well as a family
pet bird water dispenser from an animal store. Also, as the chicks grow older you can introduce a perch
right into the habitat to get them
trained on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
offer them with a warmth source.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb likewise function effectively (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which could occupy to two months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature level
between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be decreased by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The warmth resource should be on just one side of the cage
to enable chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermometer- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your heat
light, you need to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to include some heat.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is key as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to change
the bedding
frequently and
consistently provide tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand really fast
which requires lots of clean
food and also water. Provide
sufficient at all times as well
as check
usually to avoid thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a slightly
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks want
to get a running start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't use up that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to shower in.
Interest and also love There are a
few advantages to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
view their habits, you can
catch ailment or other issues previously. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
likewise check out
their poop, as diarrhea can lead
to matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your house
and move outside right into a
coop. Have a look at our
part on chicken coops for more information
concerning coops as well as
correct coop habitats.
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