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
Clairton, Pennsylvania
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Clairton Pennsylvania,
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. Clairton
Pennsylvania also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Clairton Pennsylvania, 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 Clairton PA.
Baby Quail Chicks For
Sale in
Clairton, Pennsylvania
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Clairton Pennsylvania
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
Clairton Pennsylvania * 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 Clairton
Pennsylvania * 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 Food in
Clairton, Pennsylvania
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
Clairton Pennsylvania 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 Clairton,
Pennsylvania Baby chicks are very
adorable as well as
tough to resist,
but it's best to prepare for their
arrival before you obtain them. Prepare first
by gathering not just the
correct products, however
also the proper
expertise to care for
them. Raising baby chicks is fairly
straightforward, you merely have to give them with the following: A tidy and warm
habitat Lots of food and water Interest and
love Environment Your environment could be a
simple box, fish tank,
feline provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
blankets (with no loose
strings!) to begin, and after a
couple of weeks use straw over newspaper.
Note: Avoid using just
paper or other slipper
surfaces-- or your chicks legs could expand
misshapen. You likewise need
something to dish out food as well as
water in, such as a chicken feeder and water
meal from the feed shop, or a pickle jar
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Also, as the chicks get
older you can introduce a perch
right into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Heat To
maintain your chicks warm you have to
give them with a warmth resource.
This can be as straightforward as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp design light from a
hardware store, or an infrared reptile heat
bulb additionally work effectively (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
replaced with plumes (which can occupy to 2 months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature
between 90 and also 100 degrees,
and also weekly this can
be minimized by
roughly 5 levels or
so. The warmth resource should get on merely 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
other corner of your heat
light, you need to
minimize the temperature. If
they are smothering each other under the
heat (not simply cuddling),
you should put some warmth.
House cleaning
Cleanliness is essential as
well as it maintains your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bedding
usually and also
constantly provide tidy
food and water Food and water.
Chicks expand extremely quick
which calls for a lot of tidy
food as well as water. Offer
enough in any way times and examine
often to avoid dehydrated and
hungry chicks. Chick food is various than adult chicken food, as well as it can be found in both medicated and
also non-medicated selections. Feed chick food for the
first two months, then
switch over to a grower food (~ 17 %
protein) for another 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have layers). Dirt Some chicks prefer to obtain a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others will not take
up that task till they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
enclosure, present a tray of sand or
dirt for them to wash in.
Interest and love There are a
few benefits to spending quality time with your chicks. First of all, they will certainly probably bond with you and also
not run away as grownups. Second, if you
examine your chicks daily as well as
view their actions, you can
catch illness or other troubles earlier. Watch out for wheezing, limping, or
various other unhealthy
signs. Make certain to
also take a look at
their poop, as diarrhea could lead
to matted plumes as well
as clogged cloaca.
Lastly, it is very
important to look out
for social concerns, such as the
smallest chick getting badgered. Empty nest disorder So your
chicks are currently totally feathery
as well as its time for them to leave the
safety and security of your residence
and move outside right into a cage. Have a look at our
area on chicken coops to get more information
concerning cages and also
appropriate cage environments.
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