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 Incubator in
Fairmont, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Fairmont Nebraska,
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. Fairmont
Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Fairmont Nebraska, 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 Fairmont NE.
Baby Chicks Home in
Fairmont, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Fairmont Nebraska
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
Fairmont Nebraska * 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 Fairmont
Nebraska * 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 Baby
Chickens in
Fairmont, Nebraska
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
Fairmont Nebraska 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 Fairmont,
Nebraska Baby chicks are quite
adorable and also
difficult to withstand,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
correct products, however
additionally the proper
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you just need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
habitat Plenty of food as well
as water Focus and also
love Environment Your environment can be an easy box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels as well as
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
newspaper or various other sandal
surface areas-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You additionally require
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a family pet store. Likewise, as the chicks get
older you could introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on setting down. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This can be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can take up to 2 months). The recently
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and also 100 levels,
as well as each week this could
be lowered by
about 5 degrees approximately. The heat resource need to get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperature levels. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
light, you should
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not simply cuddling),
you have to put some warmth.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Make sure to transform
the bedding
often as well as
always supply tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks grow very fast
which needs a lot of clean
food and also water. Supply
enough in any way times and examine
commonly to prevent dehydrated as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a somewhat
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks prefer to get a head start on taking
dust baths, while others will not take
up that activity until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to shower in.
Interest and also love There are a couple of advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. First off, they will more than likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
enjoy their habits, you can
catch health problem or various
other issues previously. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
indicators. Make certain to
additionally look at
their poop, as diarrhea could bring about matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Lastly, it is important to look out
for social problems, such as the
tiniest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
security of your home
and also relocate outside into a
coop. Take a look at our
part on chicken coops to read more
about cages as well as
correct cage habitats.
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