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 In
The Mail in
Tupper Lake, New York
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Tupper Lake 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. Tupper Lake
New York also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Tupper Lake 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 Tupper Lake NY.
Baby Chickens Bedding in
Tupper Lake, New York
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Tupper Lake 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
Tupper Lake 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 Tupper Lake
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 Chicks Food in
Tupper Lake, 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
Tupper Lake 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 Tupper Lake,
New York Baby chicks are really
adorable as well as
hard to resist,
however it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you get them. Prepare initially
by gathering not only the
proper products, however
also the proper
knowledge to take care of
them. Raising baby chicks is reasonably
easy, you just need
to supply them with the following: A
clean and cozy
environment Plenty of food as well
as water Attention as well as
love Habitat Your environment could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat carrier, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (without loosened
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over paper.
Keep in mind: Avoid utilizing just
paper or various other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can expand
misshapen. You likewise require
something to dish out food and
water in, such as a chicken feeder and also water
recipe from the feed shop, or a pickle container
lid for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a family pet shop. Additionally, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to get them
trained on setting down. Heat To
keep your chicks heat you need to
give them with a warmth resource.
This could be as easy as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb additionally work effectively (my
referral). Chicks need this
heat 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which could occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 and 100 levels,
and also each week this can
be minimized by
around 5 degrees or
so. The warmth resource must get on simply one side of the cage
to enable chicks an array of
temperature levels. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
other corner of your warmth
lamp, you should
minimize the temperature. If
they are surrounding each various other under the
heat (not simply curling up),
you have to add some heat.
Home cleaning
Cleanliness is vital as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make certain to transform
the bed linen
usually as well as
consistently give tidy
food and water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand quite quick
which calls for plenty of clean
food as well as water. Supply
sufficient whatsoever times as well
as check
often to
stop parched and
starving chicks. Chick food is various compared
to adult chicken food, and also it can be found in both medicated as well as non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, after that
switch to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for one more 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a layer feed
(if you have levels). Soil Some chicks like to obtain a head start on taking
dirt baths, while others will not take
up that activity till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
room, present a tray of sand or
filth for them to shower in.
Focus and love There are a couple of benefits to hanging
out with your chicks. Firstly, they will certainly probably bond with you as well as
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
watch their actions, you could
capture ailment or various
other problems earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
also look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels could lead
to matted feathers as well
as clogged cloaca.
Last but not least, it is very
important to keep an eye out for social problems, such as the
littlest chick getting teased. Vacant nest disorder 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 move outside right into a
coop. Look into our
section on chicken coops to find out
more
concerning cages and also
correct coop environments.
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