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 On Sale in
Cebolla, New Mexico
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Cebolla New Mexico,
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. Cebolla
New Mexico also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Cebolla New Mexico, 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 Cebolla NM.
Baby
Chickens Eggs For Sale in
Cebolla, New Mexico
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Cebolla New Mexico
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
Cebolla New Mexico * 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 Cebolla
New Mexico * 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
Cebolla, New Mexico
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
Cebolla New Mexico 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 Cebolla,
New Mexico Baby chicks are quite
cute and also
hard to stand up to,
yet it's finest to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
appropriate materials, yet
additionally the appropriate
understanding to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
easy, you just have to offer them with the following: A
clean and also cozy
habitat Lots of food and also water Attention and also
love Habitat Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
pet cat carrier, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, as well as after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using only
newspaper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
malformed. You also need
something to serve up food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
dish from the feed shop, or a pickle container
cover for food as well as a pet dog bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks get
older you can present a perch
right into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you have to
offer them with a heat resource.
This can be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style lamp from an equipment shop, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb likewise work very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks need this
warmth 24/7 till their downy fluff is
replaced with feathers (which can occupy to two months). The recently
hatched need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 levels,
and every week this could
be lowered by
approximately 5 levels or
so. The heat resource ought
to get on merely one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other edge of your heat
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not simply snuggling),
you have to put some heat.
House cleaning
Tidiness is vital and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make certain to change
the bedding
often as well as
constantly provide clean
food as well as water Food and also water.
Chicks grow extremely fast
which calls for a lot of clean
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as inspect
commonly to
stop thirsty and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to grown-up chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated and
also non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for another 2 months,
and then to a slightly
lower protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Soil Some chicks like to get a running start on taking
filth baths, while others will not take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Interest as well as love There are a
few benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. To start
with, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily as well as
view their behavior, you could
capture ailment or other problems previously. Watch out for hissing, limping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Make certain to
additionally check out
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could result in matted feathers and blocked cloaca.
Finally, it is very
important to look out
for social issues, such as the
smallest chick obtaining teased. Vacant nest syndrome So your
chicks are currently totally feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
as well as relocate outside right into a cage. Check out our
part on chicken coops to read more
concerning cages and also
correct coop habitats.
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