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 Chickens How To Raise in
Atco, New Jersey
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Atco New Jersey,
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. Atco
New Jersey also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Atco New Jersey, 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 Atco NJ.
Baby Chickens
And Ducks For Sale in
Atco, New Jersey
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Atco New Jersey
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
Atco New Jersey * 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 Atco
New Jersey * 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
For Sale Near Me in
Atco, New Jersey
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
Atco New Jersey 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 Atco,
New Jersey Baby chicks are quite
cute as well as
difficult to withstand,
however it's ideal to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by compiling not only the
correct products, but
likewise the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you simply have to offer them with the following: A tidy and cozy
habitat Lots of food and water Interest and
love Environment Your habitat can be a straightforward box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a few weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing only
newspaper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You also require
something to provide food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
recipe from the feed store, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on perching. Heat To
keep your chicks warm you have to
give them with a warmth resource.
This can be as simple as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb additionally function very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which could take up to two months). The newly
hatched require a temperature level
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and weekly this can
be decreased by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The heat source need to get on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a range of
temperatures. The chicks are your ideal
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your warmth
lamp, you should
lower the temperature level. If
they are surrounding each other under the
warmth (not just snuggling),
you should put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is crucial and it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to transform
the bed linen
frequently and
always provide tidy
food and water Food and also water.
Chicks expand extremely fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food and also water. Give
sufficient at all times as well
as examine
usually to prevent thirsty as well as
starving chicks. Chick food is various than grown-up chicken food, and it comes
in both medicated and
also non-medicated varieties. Feed chick food for the
initial 2 months, then
switch to a raiser food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others won't occupy that activity until they are
older. If you have the space in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Attention as well as love There are a
few advantages to spending quality time with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly more than likely bond with you and also
not run away as adults. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily and also
view their habits, you can
catch illness or various
other problems previously. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, limping, or
other undesirable
indicators. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could cause matted plumes and obstructed cloaca.
Last but not least, it is essential to keep an eye out for social concerns, such as the
littlest chick getting picked
on. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and relocate outside right into a cage. Look into our
area on chicken coops for more information
concerning cages and
correct cage environments.
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