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
Breeds in
Poland, New York
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Poland New York,
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. Poland
New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Poland New York, 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 Poland NY.
Baby Chickens
And Ducks For Sale in
Poland, New York
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Poland New York
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
Poland New York * 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 Poland
New York * 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 Coop in
Poland, New York
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
Poland New York 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 Poland,
New York Baby chicks are really
charming and
challenging to resist,
yet it's ideal to prepare for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare initially
by collecting not only the
right products, but
also the appropriate
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
simple, you simply should offer them with the following: A
clean and cozy
habitat Plenty of food as well
as water Attention and
love Environment Your environment can be a
simple box, fish tank,
pet cat provider, or guinea
pig cage. Line it with old towels and
blankets (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a few weeks utilize straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid making use of just
newspaper or various other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
malformed. You additionally require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
lid for food and also an animal bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Likewise, as the chicks grow older you could introduce a perch
into the environment to get them
educated on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you have to
supply them with a warmth source.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile warmth
bulb also function very
well (my
recommendation). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can occupy to two months). The newly
hatched out require a temperature
in between 90 and 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be decreased by
around 5 levels or
so. The heat resource need to be on just one side of the cage
to allow chicks a variety of
temperature levels. The chicks are your finest
thermostat- if they are hiding in the
other corner of your warmth
lamp, you have to
decrease the temperature level. If
they are smothering each other under the
warmth (not merely snuggling),
you need to add some warmth.
House cleaning
Tidiness is crucial and also it maintains your chicks healthy and
balanced. Be sure to alter
the bedding
typically and
constantly offer clean
food as well as water Food and water.
Chicks expand quite quickly
which calls for a lot of clean
food and water. Give
enough at all times and inspect
often to avoid parched and also
starving chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it is available in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
very first 2 months, after that
change to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for an additional 2 months,
then to a somewhat
lower healthy protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dust baths, while others won't take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the room in your chick
enclosure, introduce a tray of sand or
filth for them to bathe in.
Focus and love There are a
few benefits to spending time with your chicks. First off, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not escape as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and
enjoy their behavior, you could
catch illness or other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for wheezing, hopping, or
various other harmful
indicators. Be sure to
likewise take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted plumes and clogged up cloaca.
Finally, it is necessary to watch out for social issues, such as the
smallest chick getting picked
on. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are now fully feathered
and also its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your home
and move outside right into a cage. Check out our
part on chicken cages to read more
about coops and
correct coop habitats.
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