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
Raising in
Verdigre, Nebraska
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Verdigre 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. Verdigre
Nebraska also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Verdigre 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 Verdigre NE.
Baby Chicks
Raising in
Verdigre, Nebraska
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Verdigre 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
Verdigre 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 Verdigre
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 To Buy in
Verdigre, 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
Verdigre 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 Verdigre,
Nebraska Baby chicks are very
charming and also
challenging to resist,
but it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare first
by compiling not only the
appropriate materials, yet
likewise the appropriate
expertise to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you merely should give them with the following: A tidy and warm
environment A lot of food and also water Attention and
love Habitat Your environment could be a
simple box, aquarium,
pet cat provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels as well as
coverings (without loose
strings!) to begin, as well as after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You additionally need
something to serve up food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food as well as an animal bird water dispenser from a pet store. Also, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
into the habitat to obtain them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you should
provide them with a warmth resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function very
well (my
suggestion). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with feathers (which can use
up to two months). The newly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 as well as 100 levels,
and each week this can
be reduced by
approximately 5 degrees approximately. The heat 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
opposite corner of your warmth
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each various other under the
warmth (not merely cuddling),
you should put some heat.
Housekeeping
Sanitation is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to alter
the bed linen
frequently and
always provide clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks grow really quickly
which calls for plenty of clean
food as well as water. Give
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as examine
frequently to avoid parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a running start on taking
dust baths, while others won't occupy that task until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dust for them to wash in.
Attention as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
enjoy their behavior, you can
capture disease or other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Be sure to
likewise look at
their poop, as diarrhea can cause matted feathers and also stopped up cloaca.
Lastly, it is necessary to look out
for social issues, such as the
littlest chick obtaining teased. Empty nest syndrome So your
chicks are now completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your house
as well as relocate outside into a cage. Take a look at our
part on chicken cages for more information
about cages and
correct cage environments.
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