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
For Sale Near Me in
Carolina, Rhode Island
We have many Rare Chicken Breeds for sale in Carolina Rhode Island,
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. Carolina
Rhode Island also has poultry equipment for sale, game chickens for sale in
Carolina Rhode Island, 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 Carolina RI.
Baby Chickens Under Lights in
Carolina, Rhode Island
Thumbing through a baby chickens for sale in Carolina Rhode Island
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
Carolina Rhode Island * 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 Carolina
Rhode Island * 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 Breeds in
Carolina, Rhode Island
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
Carolina Rhode Island 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 Carolina,
Rhode Island Baby chicks are extremely
charming and
hard to resist,
but it's best to plan for their
arrival prior to you obtain them. Prepare first
by collecting not just the
appropriate materials, however
also the proper
expertise to look after
them. Raising baby chicks is relatively
basic, you merely need
to give them with the following: A
clean as well as warm
habitat Lots of food as well
as water Interest and
love Environment Your habitat could be a basic box, fish tank,
cat service provider, or guinea
porker cage. Line it with old towels and also
coverings (without any loose
strings!) to begin, and also after a
couple of weeks make use of straw over paper.
Note: Avoid utilizing just
paper or other sandal
surfaces-- or your chicks legs can grow
misshapen. You also require
something to dish out food and also
water in, such as a chicken feeder as well as water
meal from the feed store, or a pickle container
cover for food and also a family
pet bird water dispenser from a
pet dog store. Additionally, as the chicks age you can introduce a perch
into the environment to obtain them
educated on perching. Warmth To
maintain your chicks heat you need to
supply them with a warmth resource.
This could be as basic as a 100 watt
light bulb in a reflective clamp style light from an equipment store, or an infrared reptile heat
light bulb also work very
well (my
referral). Chicks require this
warmth 24/7 up until their downy fluff is
changed with plumes (which can take up to two months). The newly
hatched out need a temperature level
in between 90 as well as 100 levels,
as well as every week this could
be minimized by
about 5 levels approximately. The heat source ought
to be on simply one side of the cage
to permit chicks a variety of
temperatures. The chicks are your best
thermometer- if they are concealing in the
opposite corner of your heat
lamp, you need to
reduce the temperature. If
they are smothering each various other under the
heat (not just curling up),
you need to put some warmth.
House cleaning
Sanitation is key and also it keeps your chicks healthy. Make sure to change
the bed linens
often and
consistently supply clean
food as well as water Food as well as water.
Chicks expand extremely fast
which requires plenty of clean
food and also water. Give
sufficient at all times as well
as check
often to avoid thirsty and
starving chicks. Chick food is different compared
to adult chicken food, and also it is available in both medicated and non-medicated ranges. Feed chick food for the
first 2 months, then
switch over to a raiser food (~ 17 %
healthy protein) for an additional 2 months,
and afterwards to a somewhat
reduced protein feed or a level feed
(if you have levels). Dirt Some chicks like to get a head start on taking
filth bathrooms, while others won't occupy that activity up until they are
older. If you have the area in your chick
unit, introduce a tray of sand or
dirt for them to bathe in.
Focus as well as love There are a couple of advantages to spending time with your chicks. To start
with, they will more than likely bond with you and
not flee as grownups. Second, if you
analyze your chicks daily and also
view their behavior, you could
catch health problem or other troubles earlier. Keep an
eye out for hissing, hopping, or
other undesirable
indications. Make certain to
additionally look at
their poop, as looseness of the bowels can result in matted plumes and also blocked cloaca.
Last but not least, it is necessary to look out
for social problems, such as the
smallest chick obtaining badgered. Vacant nest disorder So your
chicks are currently completely feathered
and its time for them to leave the
security of your home
as well as move outside right into a cage. Look into our
section on chicken cages to read more
concerning cages and
proper cage habitats.
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