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 Home in
Aldrich, Missouri
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Aldrich Missouri,
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. Aldrich
Missouri also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Aldrich Missouri, 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 Aldrich MO.
Baby Chicks Coop in
Aldrich, Missouri
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Aldrich Missouri
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
Aldrich Missouri * 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 Aldrich
Missouri * 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 House in
Aldrich, Missouri
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
Aldrich Missouri 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 Aldrich,
Missouri Baby chicks are very
cute and
difficult to withstand,
but it's finest to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
proper products, yet
likewise the correct
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
basic, you just should provide them with the following: A
clean and warm and comfortable
environment A lot of food as well
as water Attention and also
love Environment Your habitat could be a
simple box, fish tank,
cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to start, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You additionally require
something to provide food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Also, as the chicks grow older you can present a perch
into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Warmth To
keep your chicks warm you need to
provide them with a heat resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design lamp from a
hardware shop, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb also function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can use
up to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 levels,
as well as weekly this could
be lowered by
around 5 degrees or
so. The heat resource must be on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
contrary edge of your heat
light, you have to
reduce the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should include some warmth.
Housekeeping
Cleanliness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bedding
typically and also
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand really quick
which needs lots of tidy
food and water. Supply
enough in any way times as well
as check
typically to
stop thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, after that
change to a grower 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 levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
dust bathrooms, while others won't occupy that task up until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
room, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Focus as well as love There are a couple of benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will probably bond with you and
not flee as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and
view their actions, you could
capture ailment or other issues earlier. Watch out for hissing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
indicators. Make sure to
additionally look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could bring about matted feathers as well
as obstructed cloaca.
Finally, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
tiniest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your residence
as well as relocate outside into a
coop. Check out our
part on chicken cages to get more information
about cages and
appropriate coop habitats.
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